General Catalog - John F. Kennedy University

School of Education and Liberal ArtsSchool of Educationand Liberal ArtsTeaching Credential ( Traditional and Intern )The one-year credential program provides preparation for teachingin elementary and secondary classrooms. Students typically beginthe program in the summer, complete it the following spring, andbegin their teaching careers in the fall. To further accommodateworking adults, alternate schedules may be discussed with thedepartment chair.Foundation courses provide students with broad knowledge oflearning and teaching theories with an emphasis on methods toenhance young people’s self-esteem and receptivity to learning.Coursework addresses classroom dynamics, language andcommunication, and teachers working with each other and withparents, school districts, and state and other agencies to improveeducation.Curriculum-development courses provide students with thetheoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to createsuccessful, cogent, interdisciplinary curricula.The fieldwork component is designed to develop competence andconfidence in the classroom. Beginning with a short course inobservation, students are given increasingly responsible teachingopportunities. Supervising teachers observe progress in the classroomand hold regular meetings for problem solving, feedback,and support. Field placements provide students with teachingexperience with different age groups in both public and privateschools, and in both urban and suburban settings, working withdiverse populations.Program Content and SequenceThe curriculum develops over four or six quarters from theoreticalto applied work. The first several quarters are weighted towardacademic work focusing on fundamental concepts of teaching.As students progress, the curriculum moves from theoreticalacademic assignments to the application of theory and thepractice of teaching. During the last two quarters, students spendfour full days per week at their field placement, culminating in twoto three weeks of solo teaching. Throughout the program, studentsmeet regularly with their supervising teachers and universitysupervisors to reflect upon and critique their progress.Program Learning Outcomes• Assess learning and use data to inform teaching.• Make subject matter comprehensive and accessibleto students.• Engage and support students in learning.• Plan instruction and design learning opportunities.• Create/maintain effective environments for learning.• Reflect, assess and plan for professional development.Credentialing ProcessStudents complete a curriculum designed to prepare them to meetall standards of performance required by the California Commissionon Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) for the awarding of thecredential. All credential candidates are required to pass taskscontained in the California Teaching Performance Assessment(CA TPA) System as part of their eligibility for the preliminaryteaching credential.In both the multiple- and single-subject credential programs,students complete a 42-unit preliminary credential. Uponcompletion of the Multiple- or Single-Subject Credential programand with approval of representative faculty and the departmentchair, the university recommends the candidate to the CCTC forthe credential.The preliminary credential is recognized as the credential foremployment purposes and is valid for five years. The professionalclear credential, which is recommended by the employing district,must be obtained within five years after the date of the preliminarycredential.AdvisingTeaching is a sophisticated and demanding profession, and graduatestudents working to become teachers need careful advising todevelop academic, personal, and professional knowledge and skills.The program is organized to give students feedback each quarterand in every course and experience. The department chair workswith students to solve problems and assess progress throughoutthe program.The John F. Kennedy University Department of Education seeksto build a community of teachers and learners that supports andchallenges students and gives them a vision of a learning communitythey can carry throughout their careers.Credential RequirementsTo receive the university’s recommendation for the Californiamultiple- or single-subject preliminary credential, students mustcomplete the following:• An overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 (B) must bemaintained in all work completed for the program.• Prerequisite areas of knowledge, if not previously completed(0–6 units).• Multiple- or Single-Subject Preliminary Credential program(42 units) or equivalent.• Apply online for credential authorizing public school servicewith the university’s department of education credentialanalyst.• Submit the Petition for Credential Program CompletionCertification with appropriate fee to the registrar’s office.• All financial obligations to the university must be paid in full.To receive the university’s recommendation for the Californiamultiple- or single-subject professional clear credential, thestudent must complete the above six requirements plus the fourone-unit courses listed in the table below.Prerequisite Areas of KnowledgeIt is recommended that students complete coursework to satisfythe following areas of knowledge before beginning graduateeducation courses:• Human development and health• U.S. government and constitution (or pass exam offered bythe education department)42 School of Education and Liberal ArtsJohn F. Kennedy University