EDUC 115 Early Field Experience
Pre-student teaching experience during sophomore and junior years. Observation and teacher-aiding in a variety of elementary, secondary, and special education settings. Minimum 20 hours per experience. Expenses are the responsibility of the student. Two enrollments in Education 115 (with passing grade) are required of all teacher preparation students. Students are urged to make early contact with one of the Neff Center faculty to discuss the teacher preparation program and register for an initial field experience. The 115 experience may begin as early as the sophomore year and must be completed before the professional semester. Some courses related to teacher preparation will require a concurrent 115 registration. Prerequisite: 114. Each 115 registration earns one-half semester hour. May be taken up to two times for credit. Pass-Fail only.

EDUC 116 Field Experience/Tutoring
Intensive training as reading or math tutors, and then one-on-one work with children in area elementary schools, typically twice a week for one hour each visit. Expenses are the responsibility of the student. Each 116 registration earns one semester hour. May be taken twice for credit. Teacher preparation students may substitute one semester of 116 tutoring for one of their required 115 early field experiences. Pass-Fail only.

EDUC 310 Teaching Reading and Language Arts
Introduction to the reading process; exploration of how meaning is constructed in relation to written texts, and the teacher’s role in helping elementary and middle school students including those with cultural, linguistic, and other learning differences learn this developmental process. Comprehension, skill acquisition, and assessment; explanation of how to provide students with integrated language arts instruction that includes a strong systematic, explicit phonics component; Virginia Standards of Learning. Prerequisite: junior status.

EDUC 330 Contemporary Teaching of School Science
Current curricular methods, materials, philosophies, and Virginia Standards of Learning in elementary school science education. Developing and identifying science materials and approaches appropriate to a child’s developmental level. Prerequisites: Education 115, junior status, and one course in laboratory science (biology, chemistry, or physics). Lecture and practicum hours. Four semester hours.

EDUC 370 Survey of Exceptional Children
A study of diverse and exceptional students, their learning needs and protection under the law. Focus on creating instructional contexts and using appropriate teaching strategies to accommodate the special learning needs of students who are academically at-risk, including the handicapped, the gifted and talented, and those who come from culturally, linguistically, socioeconomically, or multiculturally diverse backgrounds. Prerequisite: Psychology 305. Students preparing to teach should take 370 concurrently with 115.

EDUC 401 Practicum in Middle Education
Required of all persons seeking a licensure which includes grades 6, 7, or 8. Approximately 80 hours on-site experience. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and Education Department. Two semester hours. Education practicum fee.

EDUC 402 Curriculum Design and Instruction in Special Education
Understanding and application of service delivery, curriculum, and instruction of students with high incidence disabilities. Theories, characteristics, etiology, and needs of students with specific learning disabilities, students with emotional disturbance, and students with mental retardation. Application in the classroom setting. Prerequisites: 370 and permission of the Director of the Neff Center.

EDUC 403 Assessment in Special Education
Understanding of the assessment and evaluation of students with disabilities. Hands-on application of assessment and evaluation strategies with targeted students in public school settings. Collaboration among general and special educators and family members as a key component of successful inclusive education within the context of the assessment process. Prerequisites: 370 and permission of the Director of the Neff Center.

EDUC 410 Practicum in Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Problems
Techniques in evaluation of reading process, difficulties encountered by children in reading-learning process, and diagnostic techniques used by the classroom teacher. Individualized instruction; pragmatic corrective measures. Prerequisites: 310 and senior status.

EDUC 411 Managing the Learning Environment
Understanding and application of diverse educational approaches to classroom management techniques, and individual and small-group intervention strategies which address emotional well-being, behavioral conduct, self-direction, and conflict management skills. Consideration of medical approaches to behavioral and emotional problems. Experience with functional assessment of learning environments and individual behavior and the development of positive behavioral support plans with school-age students identified as presenting significantly challenging behaviors and labels of ADD/ADHD or emotional disturbance. Prerequisites: Psychology 305 and Education 370.

EDUC 445 Foundations of Education
History and contemporary issues in education. Historical, philosophical, social, political, and cultural factors affecting the nature of schooling, curriculum, individual educational attainment, Virginia Standards of Learning, and the organization of schools. Prerequisite: senior status.

EDUC 449 Reading, Writing, and Instruction in Content Areas
Instructional techniques useful to secondary teachers in supporting and guiding students prior to, during, and after reading, writing, and learning experiences. Discipline-specific methods during content instruction, including the appropriate use of technology and texts, and specific strategies for supporting students with cultural, linguistic, and other learning differences. Must be taken in the semester immediately prior to student teaching. Prerequisite: senior status or permission of department. Corequisite: Education 115 or 401.

EDUC 451 Curriculum Design and Instructional Methods for Teaching English as a Second Language
Introduction to and practice of effective strategies and methods for teaching English to speakers of other languages, for future teachers. Practicum included. Prerequisite: permission of Neff Center Director.

EDUC 452 ESL Curriculum Development
Current second language curriculum models, with emphasis on theoretical and practical aspects of cross-cultural communication which underlie their use in various classrooms. Prerequisite: permission of Neff Center Director.

EDUC 453 ESL Assessment Principles
Testing methods for the second language classroom. Design of various assessment tools for use in practical settings, implementing a selection, and reporting on their relative effectiveness. Prerequisite: permission of Neff Center Director.

EDUC 454 Cross-Cultural Education
Survey of cultural and language differences that affect communication and education. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

EDUC 460 Independent Study
Supervised research in selected areas. Offered to advanced students on individual basis with approval of instructor and department chair. One to four semester hours.

Note: for education courses at the 500 level and above, see the Graduate Studies section of this catalog.