Introduction
The mission of the College of Education is to prepare educators, counselors, and administrators to be life-long, reflective, informed decision makers effectively trained to achieve the goals, competencies, and skills identified by the Alabama State Department of Education as requisite for educating children and youth. 

The College of Education is accredited by the Alabama Department of Education and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to offer programs that lead to state certification. The college offers undergraduate degree programs in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education and special education as well as an undergraduate degree in psychology.

General Information
Senior Examination
All seniors will be required to complete successfully a comprehensive examination prior to graduation. The Dean of the College of Education will announce the dates and times of the examination. The format and requirements of the examination vary according to the major.

Certification in Alabama
All Troy State University Dothan teacher preparatory programs have been approved by the Alabama State Board of Education and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students completing one of these programs are eligible to receive the Alabama Class B professional certificate provided they have a grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) in their teaching fields, in their professional education courses, in all course work applied toward their degree, have successfully completed a comprehensive examination, and the Alabama Prospective Teacher Test. A grade of C or above must be earned in professional and teaching field courses for baccalaureate level certification. Additional curricular and examination requirements will be necessitated as new regulations are approved by the State Board of Education.

Certification in Other States
Students may also be eligible to receive certification in other states with which the Alabama State Board of Education has reciprocal agreements, although some states have additional requirements. Students who plan to qualify for certification in other states should contact the department of education in the state concerned.

Certification Only
Students who are completing teacher education certification requirements identified by the Alabama State Department of Education or any state teacher certification office must complete all prerequisites for the required courses. Students must participate in all course requirements, which are identified as components of an education course in the course syllabus.  In addition, students must complete all comprehensive exam and any state certification exam requirements prior to being recommended for Alabama Certification.

Areas of Study
The secondary education student (grades 6-12) must complete a comprehensive major in English/language arts, general science or social science, or a single major in biology, history, or mathematics.
Teachers with certification in elementary education or secondary education are eligible to complete a middle school (grades 4-8) endorsement option in biology, English language arts, history, mathematics, general science, and social science. If the applicant is currently teaching in a public school classroom in the appropriate subject area, grades 4-8, a practicum will be substituted for an internship.

There are no minors in the field of education.

The complete programs in early childhood (grades P-3), elementary education (grades K-6), secondary education (grades 6-12), and special education collaborative teacher (K-6) and collaborative teacher (6-12) are outlined on the following pages.

Transfer Credit Allowances
Transfer credit for professional education courses and teaching area courses which give consideration to pedagogical application is allowable only for courses taken at an institution with a teacher education/certification program. Other transfer credit is subject to approval.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
All undergraduate and Alternative Class A students must make written application to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Undergraduate students must enroll in EDU 3310 Professional Educator. Prereq: Second semester sophomore standing, completion of freshman English and one general studies Math (MTH 1101 or MTH 1112), minimum of 33 hours completed in general studies and permission of assigned College of Education advisor. Alternative Class A students must enroll in EDU 3310 Professional Educator and complete the TEP requirements prior to admission to the graduate program.

Several requirements must be met, including:

A minimum grade of "C" in each of the freshman English composition courses.

A minimum grade of "C" in the General Studies mathematics courses.

A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 (4.0) calculated on work used to meet General Studies requirements, all work attempted in professional studies, and all work attempted in the teaching fields, including transferred work in the teaching fields and professional studies.

A passing score on the College Base exam.

Other specific requirements which will be a part of the course assignments in EDU 3310 Professional Educator include an oral competency assessment, an advisor interview, and formal observations of teaching in the public schools.
Students not admitted to TEP may select specified courses representing no more than 12 semester hours from the professional core and designated courses in the teaching fields. Exceeding the 12-hour limit in the professional core will mean loss of credit. Students who have been admitted to TEP at another institution must enroll in EDU 3310. For additional information, consult the Dean of the College of Education, the Assistant Dean of the College of Education, or the Director of the Professional Internship Program.

No grade below a "C" in professional studies and the teaching field may be used to meet certification requirements.

College of Education Statement of Guarantee for New Educators
Students who are recommended for Alabama state teacher certification have completed an approved preparation program and have demonstrated the essential knowledge and skills required of new educators. Any beginning teacher who is (1) recommended by the TSUD College of Education, (2) is assigned in the area(s) for which he/she is prepared and (3) receives unsatisfactory job performance scores on The Alabama Professional Education Personnel Evaluation Program will be provided remediation by the College of Education at no cost. A new educator is considered a beginning teacher for three scholastic years following certification.

The Professional Internship Program
The Professional Internship Program is the culminating clinical field-based experience for students seeking certification in a teaching field. The Professional Internship Program provides the student with the opportunity to conduct classes and assume the role of teacher while receiving supervision from a classroom teacher and a university supervisor. This is a full-time assignment for 14 weeks (485) clock hours) with a minimum 12 week placement in a public school. Instructions regarding qualification and applications should be obtained from the Director of the Professional Internship Program at least two semesters prior to the semester in which the student plans to intern.

General Prerequisites:
1. Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP);
2. Undergraduates must have a minimum 2.75 overall grade point average (4.0 scale), a minimum 2.75 GPA in professional course work, and a minimum 2.75 teaching field grade point average; completion of all course work;
3. Graduate students (Alternative Class A) must have a minimum 3.0 GPA;
4. Favorable recommendations from faculty members and the student’s academic advisor;
5. Evidence of current professional liability coverage on file with the Director of the Professional Internship Program;
6. Completion of all professional laboratory experiences, including school, community, and professional;
7. Completion of end of program examinations and/or any examinations required by the Alabama State Department Of Education;
8. Approval of the Director of Professional Internship.

Credit Hours Required:
1. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree with Troy State University Dothan must complete 9 semester hours of internship;
2. Students with a baccalaureate degree who are changing majors and/or specialization and who have two years’ appropriate successful teaching experience will complete a 3-9 hour internship.

Observation and Participation
Before being approved for internship, the student must complete a minimum of 120 clock hours of professional laboratory experiences. In addition to these hours the student must complete a “Start of School” experience (S.O.S.) in a public school in the fall of the year prior to the internship experience. S.O.S. shall include a minimum of five days of full-time structured and supervised field experience. Additional clinical laboratory experiences are required in specified courses. Students must make application for the S.O.S. and internship experiences. For further information, contact the Director of the Professional Internship Program.

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GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION MAJORS

Education majors are required to take 60-61 hours of General Studies.

Below is the complete listing of the General Studies requirements for the College of Education majors. Some majors in the College of Education require specific courses from the General Studies listing. These specific requirements are noted in the section where the requirements for each major are outlined.

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION

Early Childhood Education Program (ECE)

Expected Student Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in early childhood education will be eligible to receive Alabama Teacher Certification for preschool through third grade and will:

• Be effective educators of young children, birth through age eight.
• Be able to make autonomous decisions about all areas of early childhood programs.
• Have an operational knowledge of how young children think and learn, the nature of the knowledge to be learned, and instructional and assessment methods that facilitate that learning.
• Value life-long learning and serve as advocates for young children and professionalism in the field of early childhood education.

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in early childhood education, students must complete: 

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Elementary Education Program (ELE)

Expected Student Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in elementary education will be eligible to receive Alabama Teacher Certification for grades K-6 and will:
• Effectively integrate a firm knowledge base with student-centered pedagogy.
• Prepare and implement a developmentally appropriate program for grades K-6.
• Use a wide variety of instructional strategies, including computer based 
technologies, to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and physical 
needs of all children.
• Work collaboratively with parents, teachers, and other school personnel.
•·Appropriately access and evaluate children's learning and development 
as well as their own decisions and practices.
• Be an advocate for children and for best practice in elementary classrooms.
• Value continual professional growth and lifelong learning.

To earn a bachelor of science degree in education in elementary education, students must complete: 

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Early Childhood / Elementary Education Dual Program

This program is designed for students who desire a broader knowledge base and teaching certification. Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a dual major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education will be eligible to receive Alabama Teacher Certification for preschool through sixth grade. The expected student outcomes are those found in the Early Childhood and Elementary Education programs. 

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a dual major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, students must complete:

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Secondary Education Program

Expected Student Outcomes
The undergraduate secondary education program provides opportunities for students to major in the following teaching fields: biology, history, mathematics, comprehensive general science, comprehensive social science, and comprehensive language arts. Students who complete the program are eligible to apply for the Alabama Teacher Certification for grades 6-12 in their academic field.

Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in secondary education will:

• Function in secondary classrooms as informed, reflective decision makers.
• Demonstrate the academic competence in their teaching field(s) and knowledge of best practice and current educational theory which is demonstrated in the professional laboratory experiences and the internship.
• Understand the necessity of teaching today’s students with authentic learning tasks that integrate the skills and knowledge of a broad spectrum of academic areas.
• Understand the need to include reading, writing, speaking, and computer literacy activities in their classroom, regardless of the subject matter being taught.
• Value life-long learning and appreciate the importance of professionalism in
all aspects of their chosen profession.

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in secondary education (grades 6-12), students must complete:

Select a comprehensive or single major.

Biology Education Major
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in biology education (high school, grades 6-12), students must complete:

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English Language Arts Education Major
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in English language arts education (high school, grades 6-12), students must complete: