1. Can I graduate in 4 years?
Yes, most of our programs are designed to be completed in four years.
2. Can I graduate with dual certification in Special Education and
Elementary Education in four years?
Yes! Now before you get too excited, you need to understand that our
mandate is to offer coursework so that you can get either one in four
years...but the SPED and Elementary Education Programs have worked
together so that such an outcome is possible. The typical load per
semester is 16-18 credits so it is a heavier academic load to carry.
However, the requirements for both endorsements have been dovetailed
with the liberal arts requirements of NWU to provide an efficient
and well articulated program. Please make sure that you work closely
with your advisor to ensure that you take the appropriate courses
each semester. With planning, commitment and hard work, dual certification
is a possibility within 4 years.
3. Does the Education Department supply appropriate supports for
me to achieve academically if I have special cognitive, social or
physical needs?
NWU has a commitment to provide appropriate supports to individuals
with disabilities. Once a student has had their disability formally
verified, the Office for Students with Disabilities will coordinate
support services as needed and deemed appropriate. Faculty members
will be notified of the appropriate accommodations and modifications
necessary to assist a student and they are then legally responsible
to fulfill them. So, I guess the answer to the question is that the
responsibility for verification, discernment of services and coordination
of service delivery is all outside of the department; however education
faculty are responsible for actually implementing the requirements
and are willing to do so. Just notify your department advisor and/or
instructors.
4. How is the Special Education Program at Nebraska Wesleyan
University unique?
There are several aspects of the SPED program at NWU that make it
stand apart from its contemporaries. First, the philosophical foundation
of this program is rooted in a person centered, social justice framework.
Consequently, the emphasis of this program is not on what a person
CANNOT do, but what the significance of discerning that a person CAN
DO! As you look through the Program of Studies, you will notice that
the emphasis of the program is upon teaching strategies that assist
students with mild/moderate disabilities. This is unique because the
emphasis is clearly upon how teachability is central to Special Education
practice, not Disability.
Second, collaborative practice is a critical skill set that is becoming a hallmark of the Special Education professional. The faculty of the Elementary Education and Special Education Programs are committed to not only teaching ABOUT this practice, but also demonstrating. Consequently the core Literacy, Math and Science courses are team taught with adaptations, accommodations, handicapping conditions, collaboration skills, etc. all being discussed as a natural part of the regular education curriculum. Having models of how SPED and regular education teachers can collaborate is critical to graduates actually using these in their own practice.
Finally, the best practices of teaching in special education (cooperative learning, cognitive strategy training and direct instruction strategies) form the core of the SPED training. While students examine the issues and challenges facing students with mild/moderate disabilities, the emphasis is always on what kids need the most…teachers who know how to teach!
5. Is my major “education?”
If you decide to earn K-6 or 4-9 certification then, yes, your major
is education. You would major in Elementary Education, Middle Grades
Education or Special Education. If you are seeking K-12 or 7-12 certification
then, no, you would not major in education. You would major in the
content area that you hope to teach in schools.
6. How much time will I spend in K-12 schools?
You will spend a minimum of 100 hours observing and assisting in K-12
schools before student teaching. Your experiences will vary from observation
or working with an individual student to teaching complete lessons.
The plan is to increase your responsibilities and experiences as you
expand your knowledge.
7. Who are the students in the Lincoln Schools where I will visit?
Lincoln Public Schools is comprised of 32,272 students, 55 schools
(36 elementary, 11 middle, 6 high schools and 2 alternative). Diversity
of students includes 18% minority, 30% free/reduced lunch, 15% special
ed, and 5.5% ELL with Spanish and Vietnamese the most frequently spoken
languages. 52 different languages are represented, 13% gifted.
8. Can I get to my school placements without a car?
All first year field experiences are within walking distance of campus.
Often times students form carpools when placements are farther away.
If students inform instructors, accommodations can be made for those
who need transportation either by matching them up with another person
or altering the placement site.
9. If I’m going to teach high school, is it good to have 2
majors?
Most graduates graduate with one major. Two majors would add considerable
time to your under graduate commitment.
10. Are there minors that might help me get hired for teaching?
No, a minor does not prepare you to teach a subject in a school. However,
an endorsement in Spanish or a minor in Computer Science with an Elementary
degree may help you in special situations.
11. What are my opportunities for study overseas?
Students may complete 8 weeks or one half of their student teaching
experience overseas in an English speaking school. It is also possible
to study overseas for a semester or year. This information can be
accessed through the Office of International Studies.
12. When, where, and how long do I student teach?
Students typically student teach during their last semester before
graduation. Students teach in an all-day, all-semester assignment
in a local private or public school. Options for student teaching
also include Chicago Public Schools through our connection with the
Chicago Urban Life Center. A third option is the overseas student
teaching.
13. I was involved in a lot of activities in high school. Can I still
do that?
Yes, an important part of college life is participating in school
sponsored activities. Being a smaller campus makes it possible for
everyone to find activities in which to participate. Besides athletics,
music, theatre, and the Greek system, there are 40+ clubs and activities
on campus.
14. What involvement with technology will I get?
Web Advisor is the on-line system used campus wide. It provides registration,
transcript, financial aid updates, plus many other things. Technology
is infused into education classes in numerous ways such as presentations,
Black Board conversations, LiveText submission and scoring of assignments.
Ed 187 is a technology class requirement for all education majors.
15. How big will my classes be?
Most education classes are 20-25 students; however you will find many
classes that are smaller.
16. What is the Teacher Education Program?
The Nebraska State Department of Education sets standards for certification
of the teachers exiting teacher colleges/universities within the state.
In order to prepare students to meet these requirements, the teacher
education institutions establish TEPs to guide students appropriately.
Therefore to assure promotion of students apt to achieve certification,
criteria are set for admission to the TEP.
17. How and when will I get accepted into the TEP?
Students apply to the TEP as early as their first year, but may apply
at any point. The Policies and Procedures Statement lists all the
criteria but the major ones included: acceptable performance on the
PPST, grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and speech
clearance (through speech class). When all criteria are met you are
accepted into the TEP and may begin taking upper-level (200s) classes.
18. What’s the PPST?
The Pre-Professional Skills test measures performance in the areas
of reading, writing and math. The State Department of Education sets
a cut score for certification. This same level of performance is accepted
for admittance into the TEP. Reading and Math portions are composed
of multiple-choice questions. The Writing test includes both multiple-choice
and essay sections. These are available both in paper-pencil and computer
forms. You will learn more about this in your classes.
