Teacher Education

Chairperson: Jonas Cox
Elementary Program Director: Deborah Booth
Secondary Program Director: Jennifer Nelson

Directed by our Jesuit mission, we prepare educational leaders to serve others in need and demonstrate a commitment to social justice. The Teacher Education program offers a thorough preparation in professional teaching at the undergraduate level. It provides teacher candidates with the opportunity to become reflective learners and practitioners of elementary or secondary education. Many courses in the program offer a community based service learning activity providing candidates an opportunity to experience servant leadership.

As a community of reflective learners, faculty, staff, and teacher candidates are involved in a supportive relationship which encourages service for others and responsibility to one another.

The Teacher Education program is advised by a Professional Education Advisory Board composed of area teachers, school administrators, and representatives of professional organizations, teacher candidates, and faculty from the following programs: Teacher Education, Special Education, Physical Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language.

The Teacher Certification program meets standards specified by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Northwest Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).

The teacher candidate is assigned an advisor in Teacher Education during the Teacher Certification Orientation (EDTE 101L). The role of this advisor is to guide the teacher candidate through the certification program. The teacher candidate’s academic advisor (assigned when admitted to the University) will advise the teacher candidate regarding degree requirements.

There are different options to obtain certification. One option is a Bachelor of Education degree in Physical Education or Special Education which includes teacher certification or teacher candidates can combine certification requirements with a degree from one of the other schools/colleges in the University.

Applicants seeking Elementary Education Certification will receive an Elementary endorsement and can teach grades K-8 as generalists in a self-contained classroom. Secondary Education Certification candidates can teach grades 5-12 and choose a specific content area (endorsement) to teach. The content area must be selected from one of the following approved endorsements offered at Gonzaga: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English/Language Arts, History, Health and Fitness, Mathematics, Music, Special Education, Social Studies, Theater Arts, and designated World Languages.

Additional endorsements offered include: English as a Second Language, Reading, and Early Childhood Special Education.

Washington State can change certification requirements, so it is the applicant’s responsibility to stay current by checking with their School of Education advisors and the Certification Office.

All teacher candidates are required to have a current Character and Fitness form and FBI/Washington State Patrol fingerprint clearance on file to take part in any type of Teacher Education Field Experiences.

Admission into Teacher Certification Program is Dependent on Completion of the Following:
  1. 1) 12 credits of education coursework successfully completed including one field experience
  2. 2) 2.00 in each certification program course
  3. 3) Cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher across G.U. courses
  4. 4) Cumulative GPA of 3.00 across EDTE courses
  5. 5) Passing score on all three sections of WEST-B test
  6. 6) Character and Fitness Form on file
  7. 7) FBI/Washington State Patrol Fingerprint Clearance on file
  8. 8) No documented disposition concerns
  9. 9) English Composition / Grammar or equivalent
  10. 10) Speech-Communications or equivalent

Elementary Education Certification Program Requirements: 68 Credits
Level I:
EDTE 101 Foundations of American Education 3 credits
EDTE 101L Teacher Certification Orientation 0 credit
**EDSE 150 Psychology of Children with Exceptionalities
(Fulfills core requirement if candidate remains in certification) (Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 315)		 3 credits
EDTE 201 Learning Theories 3 credits
EDTE 221E Elementary Differentiated Instruction and Assessment
(PE majors equivalent course EDPE 311 and EDPE 413)		 3 credits
EDTE 221L Field Experience I
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 311 and 413)		 1 credit
EDTE 231 Instructional Methods Reading, Writing, Communications I 3 credits
ENGL English Composition/Grammar or equivalent 3 credits
*SPCO Speech – Communications or equivalent
The Following Core Courses Must Be Taken Prior to Level II Corresponding Methods Courses
*POLS 101 American Politics 3 credits
*HIST 112 Survey of World Civilization 3 credits
** MATH 203 Math for Elementary Teachers or equivalent 3 credits
* MATH 121 Introductory Statistics 3 credits
* HIST 201 or 202 History of the U.S. I or II 3 credits
HIST 206 Washington State History 1 credit
BIOL 222 Science for Teachers BIOL w/lab
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 376 and lab) (SPED majors can take EDPE 376 and lab or any other life science with lab)		 4 credits
EDTE 304 Concepts in Science 3 credits
Level II:
EDTE 301L Field Experience II
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 497) (Special Education majors equivalent EDSE 406)		 1 credit
EDTE 303 Elementary Methods: Mathematics
(Special Education majors equivalent EDSE 452)		 3 credits
EDTE 331 Instructional Methods: Reading, Writing, Communication II
(Special Education Majors equivalent EDSE 451)		 3 credits
EDTE 400 Elementary Methods: Music
 1 credit
EDTE 401L Field Experience III
(Co-requisite: EDTE 404) (Physical Education major equivalent EDPE 497)		 1 credit
EDTE 402 Elementary Methods: Social Studies 3 credits
EDTE 403 Elementary Methods: Art
 1 credit
EDTE 404 Elementary Methods: Science
 3 credits
EDPE 415 Physical Education Methods
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 204)		 1 credit
EDPE 416 Health Education Methods
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 312)		 1 credit
EDPE 417 Abuse Prevention 1 credit
EDTE 460E Classroom Management and Communication: Elementary
(Special Education majors equivalent EDSE 465)		 3 credits
Level III: Admission to Student Teaching
EDTE 496E Elementary Student Teaching 12 credits
1) Completion of all coursework in the elementary certification program
2) 2.00 in each endorsement course
3) Cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in all GU courses
4) Cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all EDTE courses
5) Passing score on all three sections of WEST-B test
6) Character and Fitness form on file
7) FBI/Washington State Patrol Fingerprint Clearance on file
8) No documented disposition concerns
9) WEST-E test taken prior to Student Teaching. Passage of Elementary WEST-E for program completion.
NOTE: *Fulfills University Core requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences.
**Fulfills Elementary Certification Program requirements and core requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences providing candidate graduates with a teacher certification.

Secondary Certification Requirements: 37 credits
Level I: Requirements
EDTE 101 Foundations of American Education 3 credits
EDTE 101L Teacher Certification Orientation 0 credit
EDSE 150 Psychology of Children with Exceptionalities
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 315)		 3 credits
EDTE 201 Learning Theories 3 credits
EDTE 221S Differentiated Instruction and Assessment
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 311 and EDPE 413)		 3 credits
EDTE 221L Field Experience I
(Physical Education majors equivalent EDPE 497 or EDPE 497B)
 1 credit
EDTE 241 Teaching in the Middle School 3 credits
* ENGL English Composition /Grammar or equivalent 3 credits
* SPCO Speech Communication or equivalent
Level II:
EDPE 417 Abuse Prevention 1 credit
EDTE 418 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum 3 credits
Secondary Specific Methods
One methods course is required for each endorsement area.
EDTE 454D Secondary Methods-Theater Arts 3 credits
EDTE 454E Secondary Methods-English 3 credits
EDTE 454F Secondary Methods-Social Study 3 credits
EDTE 454M Secondary Methods-Mathmatics 3 credits
EDTE 454S Secondary Methods-Science 3 credits
EDTE 454T (MTSL 454)Secondary Methods-World Language
(Music Education and Physical Education majors will take methods in their degree program)		 3 credits
EDTE 454L Secondary Field Experience II
(Physical Education Major equivalent EDPE 497C).		 2 credits
EDTE 455L Field Experience: Additional Endorsement
(Required for additional endorsements)		 1 credit
EDTE 460S Classroom Management: Secondary 3 credits
Level III: Admission to Student Teaching
EDTE 496S Secondary Student Teaching 12 credits
1) Completion of all course and endorsement work in the Secondary Certification Program
2) 2.00 in each endorsement course
3) Cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in all G.U. courses
4) Cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all EDTE courses
5) Passing score on all three sections of WEST-B test
6) Character and Fitness Form on file
7) FBI/Washington State Patrol Fingerprint Clearance on file
8) No documented disposition concerns
WEST-E test taken prior to Student Teaching. Passage of Elementary WEST-E for program completion.
NOTE: *Fulfills University Core requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences.
**Fulfills Elementary Certification Program requirements and core requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences providing candidate graduates with a teacher certification. Descriptions of courses from other departments are listed elsewhere in this catalogue under the particular program which offer them (EDPE is Physical Education and EDSE is Special Education).


Core Curriculum of the School of Education

Core Curriculum of the School of Education The core curriculum or common body of knowledge of the School of Education consists of 47 credits which are common to and required of all undergraduate degree programs: the first 31 credits are from the University core; the remaining 16 credits are specific to the School of Education. Transfer students should consult the General Degree Requirements and Procedures section of this catalogue for possible modifications to the philosophy and religious studies core requirements.

University Core
  1. Thought and Expression (7 credits): ENGL 101, SPCO 101, and PHIL 101 (preferably taken in the same semester)
  2. Philosophy (9 credits): PHIL 201, PHIL 301, and PHIL elective
  3. Religious Studies (9 credits): RELI 100, RELI 200, and RELI 300 levels: one course from each level
  4. Mathematics (3 credits): MATH 100 level or above. Students pursuing teaching certification should consult their education advisor for a math course that will count toward certification and satisfy this core requirement.
  5. English Literature (3 credits): ENGL 102, ENGL 103H, ENGL 105 or ENGL 106 School of Education Core
School of Education Core
  1. Fine Arts (3 credits): at least a total three credits in VART, MUSC, or THEA
  2. Laboratory Science (4 credits): one course with laboratory in either BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, EXSC, or EDPE (Physical Education majors must take EDPE 376/EDPE 376L)
  3. Social Science (6 credits): A History course plus an elective from the following: ECON, SOCI, POLS, PSYC, HIST: as recommended by your education advisor
  4. Social Justice: Social Justice is a common component of all education coursework. This requirement can only be met by completing any course designated by the College of Arts & Sciences as a social justice course on Zagweb.