Is Shepherd University’s Educator Preparation Program accredited?
Yes, our Educator Preparation Program (EPP) is fully accredited. We are fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). For more information, visit Shepherd.edu/CAEP.
How long will it take me to get my degree in Education?
This depends in part on what program you are interested in, whether you are a beginning first-year student or a transfer student, and whether or not you meet the requirements in a timely fashion. Both the elementary education program and the secondary education program can be completed in four years and many of our graduates (those coming into Shepherd as a first-year student) have done just that.
The Professional Education requirements for both Elementary and Secondary Education specializations require 7 semesters to complete. In both degree programs, the extra semester (to total 8 semesters) is required to complete the required content in both the General Studies / Core Curriculum and the Specialty Studies curriculum. Detailed information on which courses are required may be found within the Program Specific Handbooks located on the School of Education Resources page.
There are specific requirements that students must meet in order to enter the Educator Preparation Program (referred to as “Juncture,” which occurs after the third course in the professional studies curriculum [EDUC 320], typically during Semester 5 for those entering as Freshmen). Until these requirements are met, the student cannot progress forward in any Professional Education course requirements. More information on Juncture and its requirements is found within our Practicum Manual.
To graduate from Shepherd University, you must successfully complete 120 credit hours (with 45 of these hours in classes at the 300-level or above). For more information on Shepherd’s Graduation Requirements, click HERE.
Do I need a minor?
No. Both the Elementary and Secondary Education majors are comprehensive degree programs, meaning that you will have completed the graduation requirements by taking the required courses in the degree program, plus a few electives. Detailed information on which courses are required may be found within the Program Specific Handbooks located on the School of Education Resources page.
Will I have an advisor?
All students who identify their major as Elementary Education are assigned an advisor within the School of Education. You will be assigned an advisor at the beginning of your first semester at Shepherd University. Students who identify their major as Secondary Education are assigned an advisor in their field of certification. For example, if you are interested in Art Education, your advisor is the Specialization Coordinator for Art Education, while other Secondary Education students have advisors who are full-time faculty within their content areas (e.g., music, English). In this way, you have an advisor who understands both the education program requirements and the particular content-area requirements for your field.
What makes Shepherd University’s Educator Preparation Program unique?
There are many things that make our program unique. First, we incorporate field experiences in all Professional Education courses. Thus, a student will find out early in the program if teaching is the right career path for them. Furthermore, students have discovered that instead of elementary education, they may be interested in secondary education, or vice versa.
Second, we believe strongly that an attention to diversity and social justice, a focus on students with exceptionalities, and incorporating technology into teaching and learning are essential components of education that need to be discussed and examined throughout our education courses. Therefore, students examine these issues throughout their individual programs. More information may be found within the Practicum Manual and EPP Student Handbook.
Another aspect of uniqueness is in relation to our geographic location. Shepherdstown West Virginia, where Shepherd University is located, is 70 miles from both Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Students have the opportunity to work in schools that are both rural and suburban, with placements throughout the region in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. (NOTE: Placements outside West Virginia are reserved for the final clinical practicum during the last year of the student’s experience.) An idea of where students may be placed is found within our Practicum Manual.
Do I need to have a foreign language?
The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education does not have a foreign language requirement, but some of the Secondary Education programs do have a foreign language requirement (e.g., English and Spanish). Detailed information on which courses are required may be found within the Program Specific Handbooks located on the School of Education Resources page.
Can I get a master’s degree?
Shepherd University now offers two master’s degrees in education. The Master of Arts in Teaching is a degree program that leads to Certification; for more information, visit HERE. The Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction is intended for people who already have a degree in education and does not lead to certification; for more information, visit HERE.
I am a transfer student; will my courses count at Shepherd University?
The courses that transfer into your Education degree at Shepherd will depend upon the courses you took and the grades you received in those courses. Transfer students must have a “transcript evaluation” completed upon admission to determine which courses from your previous institution(s) will count toward requirements in our program. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office.
Can I take classes at night?
Because many of the Professional Education and Specialty Studies courses that are offered within the School of Education have corresponding field components that take place in the public schools, they must be offered at the same time that public schools are in session. There are some courses each semester, however, that are offered during the evenings, depending on the student’s specific program of study. For an idea of which classes are offered and when they are offered each semester, check out the Class Schedule.
What courses do I need to take?
The courses that you need to take fall into three categories: General Studies, Professional Studies, and Specialty Studies. These are listed in our catalog, on our web page, and within the Program Specific Handbooks for each specialization. The Program Specific Handbooks for each specialization are found on the School of Education Resources page.
What is the sequence of courses I need to take?
The Professional Education and Specialty Studies courses do have a required sequence, which is located within the Practicum Manual. The sequence for each of the Specialty Studies courses is identified within each of the Program Specific Handbooks for each specialization (located on the School of Education Resources page).
What is the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (Core), Praxis II: Specialty, and Principles of Learning and Teaching? Where do I sign up to take them?
The Praxis Series are standardized tests which are required by different states in order for you to be certified.
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CASE) are college-level Reading, Writing, and Math assessments. Passing scores [and/or exemptions as mandated by the State of West Virginia Department of Education] are needed to pass Juncture 1 and be formally admitted into the Educator Preparation Program.
Praxis II Content-Area assessments examine your understanding of your content area (e.g., social studies, math, science) as well as the principles of teaching and learning that you have acquired throughout the Educator Preparation Program. These assessments are taken near the end of your studies, and passing scores are required before Juncture II (Admission to Student Teaching/Residency). Passing scores on these content tests are also required for you to be eligible for certification/licensure within the State of West Virginia [as mandated by the WV Department of Education]. For more information, visit the School of Education Praxis Resource page.
What GPA do I need in the following: Education (including Professional Studies and Specialty Studies) and Overall (including all University coursework?)
In order to be certified in the state of West Virginia, you must have a GPA of 2.5.
However, in order to pass Juncture 1 and be formally admitted into the Educator Preparation Program, you must have an overall GPA of 2.75 as well as a Shepherd University GPA (on at least 9 credit hours) of 2.75.
To be admitted to the final clinical practicum (pass Juncture 2 / enter Student Teaching/Residency), you must have an Education GPA of 2.75, plus an overall GPA of 2.75, and a Shepherd University GPA of 2.75.
More information on these requirements may be found within our Practicum Manual.
How do I find out what is needed to teach in states other than West Virginia?
The best way to get this information is to contact the Department of Education within the state where you are interested in teaching.
I’ve been admitted to Shepherd University and have declared Education as my major. Am I automatically admitted to the Educator Preparation Program? If not, what should I do to apply to the Educator Preparation Program?
No, you are not automatically admitted to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP). You must apply for Juncture 1, which is usually done while enrolled in EDUC 320 (typically in Semester 5 for those entering as Freshmen). Juncture 1 is a set of criteria that you must meet (outlined within the Practicum Manual and throughout your program). If you pass Juncture 1 (by meeting all the criteria), you are admitted into the EPP.