Secondary Education, BA

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

Specific expected learning outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Secondary Education are measured and monitored by Tougaloo College, the School of Education, and the Teacher Education Advisory Council (TEAC), whose members are representatives from public schools and community educational partners. The elementary and secondary education degrees are essentially structured to meet the Mississippi Board of Education and Mississippi Department of Education standards, such as complying with state and national curriculum standards as well as guidelines and standards of Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) and the Council of Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Table 1, Standards Utilized for Expected Student Learning Outcomes, serves as the expected student learning outcomes that are used to continuously assess, document, and improve the curriculum and overall education program. The standards below serve as the primary learning outcomes of the degree programs:

Table 1, Standards Utilized for Expected Student Learning Outcomes

Program Name	Specialized Professional Association (SPAs)	Expected Learning Outcomes
Education	Council of Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)	Standard 2: Understanding and Applying Content and Curricular Knowledge for Teaching
		Standard 3: Assessing, Planning, and Designing Contexts for Learning
		Standard 5: Developing as a Professional

Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) Application Deadlines for Students

Spring Admission: Due by November 15
Fall Admission : Due by April 15

Candidate Admittance Requirements

Each applicant for entry into a teacher licensure program shall demonstrate minimum academic ability prior to being admitted to a teacher education program. For traditional and alternate route candidates, these skills are:

1. completion of an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) application with recommendations
2. completion of a minimum of 60 hours of course credit with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 system; or
3. ACT 21 or SAT equivalent; or
4. qualifying passing score on the Praxis CORE; ACT score of 21 or above; or SAT score of 1060
5. have passed the English Writing Proficiency Exam (EWPE)
6. have written the first three chapters of the senior thesis and been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to conduct research to complete chapters 4 and 5.

Candidate Retention Requirements

Students must be admitted to and complete the College’s Educator Preparation Program successfully. Requirements for elementary and secondary education majors to remain in the program include the following:

1. have an overall 2.8 GPA or above (including transfer credits)
2. have a 2.8 GPA or above in education major courses
3. have a “C”/2.0 or better in supplemental endorsement courses (i.e., Reading, Special Education, core content area)
4. pass the Praxis CORE examination: Reading 156; Writing 162; Mathematics 130; or have an ACT composite score of 21 or above or SAT score of 1060 or above (math and verbal)
5. progress successfully and continuously in professional dispositions and courses
6. have high professional standards, in order to advance in the program and to complete student teaching clinical experience.

Candidate Exit Requirements

All elementary, secondary, and special area teacher education candidates shall complete a teacher education program that is approved by the Mississippi Board of Education (MBE) and nationally accredited. Successful completion of a program is determined by the following criteria:

1. Candidate met program entrance requirements.
2. Candidate demonstrated proficiency on statewide common assessments for skills, knowledge, and dispositions.
3. Candidate successfully completed a clinical experience.
   1. Traditional candidate successfully completed a minimum of 12 weeks (60 full days) student teacher clinical experience in a K-6 or 7-12 setting.
   2. Alternate route candidate successfully completed a full academic year as the teacher of record
4. Candidate successfully passed all state required licensure assessments, including the Foundations of Reading Assessment. (Note: The Foundations of Reading Assessment is applicable to K-6 only.)
5. Score 80% or above on culminating portfolio that demonstrates the content, pedagogy, and professional responsibility related to teacher education and licensure.

Upon completion of all state and graduation requirements, the teacher candidate will be recommended for standard, five-year educator licensure. All requirements are listed on the Advising and Grade Verification Form and are included in the School of Education Handbook.

Elementary Education and Special Education majors are encouraged to attend summer school sessions.

Curriculum Outcomes Redesigned for Engagement (CORE)/General Education Requirements

Click to see the Curriculum Outcomes Redesigned for Engagement (CORE)/General Education Requirements.