Dean: Dr. Samuel Engel, Interim Dean

The School of Education includes the undergraduate and graduate Professional Education Programs, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Social Work. The School offers majors leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the following areas: Birth to Kindergarten Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education, Educational Studies, and Psychology. The Social Work major leads to the Bachelor of Social Work degree. In addition, the School of Education offers the professional education component for undergraduate teacher licensure in Biology, English, Mathematics, Music, Health and Physical Education, Social Studies, Studio Art, and Spanish. A minor in Psychology or Social Work is available.

Purpose

The mission of the School of Education is to develop professionals in the fields of Education, Psychology, and Social Work for service, primarily but not exclusively, in rural settings. To accomplish this mission, a carefully planned sequence of educational experiences that blends the theoretical, the professional, and the practical and that emphasizes the development of problem-solving skills is provided by each one of the three major program areas. Professional Education extends the scope of this goal by providing graduate programs at the master’s level.

Accreditation

All the Professional Education programs are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP); the last accreditation review took place in April 2017. The Social Work program, accredited through the Council on Social Work Education, received its initial accreditation in February 1995, and the accreditation was re-affirmed in February 2015.

Graduate Programs in Education

Graduate programs in professional education have been offered since the summer of 1977. Programs leading to the Master of Education degree are currently offered in the following areas: Counselor Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, English Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematics Education, Health and Physical Education, Social Studies Education, Academically or Intellectually Gifted Education and Curriculum and Instruction. The Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling and the Master of School Administration are also offered. Add on licensure programs are offered in Academically or Itellectually Gifted Education, English as a Second Lanugage, or Instruction Technology. Students with bachelor’s degrees may also enter the “I-plus-Masters” program, which leads first to an initial licensure to teach, and later to the master’s degree.

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