School of Teacher Education and Leadership

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Associate Dean/Department Head of School of Teacher Education and Leadership: Martha T. Dever
Location: Emma Eccles Jones Education 385A
Phone: (435) 797-2225
FAX: (435) 797-0372
E-mail: teal@usu.edu
WWW: teal.usu.edu

Associate Department Head, Elementary Education and Secondary Education Programs:

Sylvia Read, Education 382, (435) 797-0382

Student Teaching Director:

Vesna Jenkins, Education 330, (435) 797-0371, vesna.jenkins@usu.edu

Director of Advising:

Denise E. Taylor, Education 383, (435) 797-0391, denise.taylor@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisors:

Shannon M. Burgin, Coordinator of Recruitment, Education 377, (435) 797-0377, shannon.burgin@usu.edu
Chad Downs, Education 378, (435) 797-3397, chad.downs@usu.edu
Stephanie Podgorski, Education 376, (435) 797-2224, stephanie.podgorski@usu.edu
Shelly Wiegand, Education 375, (435) 797-0383, shelly.wiegand@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Education (MEd), and Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum and Instruction; BS and BA in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education; Kindergarten through Grade 6 (K-6). The School of TEAL administers the Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, with a Curriculum and Instruction specialization.

Graduate Concentrations: MEd—Early Childhood Education; ESL Education; Gifted and Talented Education; Instructional Leadership, Math and Science Education; Reading, Writing, and Language Arts; and Social Studies Education; EdD, PhD and EdD-Curriculum and Instruction

Elementary Education Student Teaching Director
Vesna Jenkins

Elementary Education Advisors
Shannon M. Burgin, Education 377, (435) 797-0377, shannon.burgin@usu.edu
Chad Downs, Education 378, (435) 797-3397, chad.downs@usu.edu

Secondary Education Student Teaching Director

Mary Bedingfieldsmith, Education 330C, (435) 797-0958, mary.bedingfieldsmith@usu.edu

Secondary Education Advisors:

Stephanie Podgorski, Education 376, (435) 797-0391, stephanie.podgorski@usu.edu
Shelly Wiegand, Education 375, (435) 797-0383, shelly.wiegand@usu.edu

Secondary Education Degrees Offered: Second Bachelor of Science (BS), Second Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Education (MEd), and Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum and Instruction; BS and BA in Composite Teaching—Social Studies. The School of TEAL administers the Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, with a Curriculum and Instruction specialization.

Graduate Concentrations: MEd—Administration and Leadership (admission to A/SC program required); Gifted and Talented; English as a Second Language (MEd only); Instructional Leadership; Second Language Teaching; English/Language Arts; Mathematics; Reading; Science; Social Studies; PhD/EdD—Early Childhood Education; Reading/Writing; Schooling, Cultural Studies; Instructional Leadership

Undergraduate Programs

Elementary Education

Objectives

The purposes of the Elementary Education Program are:

1. To develop professional educators;
2. To advance knowledge in the field of education.

These purposes are realized through teaching, scholarly activities, and service. The program provides leadership in the preparation of teachers, supervisors, curriculum specialists, and other professional personnel for careers in elementary education, early childhood education, and middle education.

The Elementary Education Program at Utah State University offers nine programs leading to licensure as a teacher. In the following list, each program name is followed by the licensure obtained (shown in parentheses). (1) Elementary Education (grades 1 through 8); (2) Early Childhood Education (preschool through grade 3); (3) Elementary Education K-6 (kindergarten through grade 6); (4) Elementary and Early Childhood Education (preschool through grade 6); (5) Composite Elementary Education/Special Education—Mild/Moderate (grades 1 through 8, K through 6, and Special Education grades kindergarten through 12); (6) Composite Elementary Education/Special Education—Severe (grades 1 through 8, K through 6, and Special Education grades kindergarten through 12); (7) Composite Early Childhood Education/Special Education—Early Childhood (preschool through grade 3, and Special Education birth through age 5); (8) Composite Elementary Education/Deaf Education (grades 1-8, K through 6, and Master’s in Deaf Education); (9) Composite Early Childhood Education/Deaf Education (preschool through grade 3, and Master’s in Deaf Education).

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research opportunities are available with many departmental faculty members. Interested students should contact Francine Johnson, Associate Dean in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, (435) 797-2714, francine.johnson@usu.edu.

Assessment

To review Elementary Education Program assessment information, visit: http://teal.usu.edu/htm/assessment/elementary-program-assessment

Requirements

Provisional Admission Process and Requirements

More students major in Elementary Education at USU than in any other major. Therefore, competition for admission into the program is very keen. Due to increased demands for admission, coupled with limited resources, a ceiling of 180 students has been placed on admissions each year. Thus, admission to USU does not necessarily guarantee admission into the Elementary Education Program.

Provisional admission to the Elementary and Early Childhood Teacher Education Program is determined by (1) the student’s GPA in a set of core courses, (2) ACT scores or PPST test results, (3) the number of credits a student has taken, and (4) successful completion of a group assessment interview. (Additional factors to be considered may be gender and/or minority status consistent with applicable law.) Additional requirements for application to the program are a speech and hearing test, a Teacher Education Writing Exam, and a background check through the Utah State Office of Education. Students must also pass and provide written evidence of the Praxis II Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam with a score of 150 or higher prior to admission. Applications are accepted each semester. Because there are typically more applicants than there is space available, the number accepted is limited. Students who are not accepted may reapply.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a prerequisite for enrollment in the major, starting with Level II. A student desiring admission to the Teacher Education Program should file an application in the Elementary Education Office, located in room 373 of the Emma Eccles Jones Education Building.

Our program is centered around the Utah Effective Teaching Standards (UETS), which draw heavily on the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standard. Students complete a portfolio based on the UETS as the capstone project required for graduation.

Continuing Status Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required to remain in good standing and to graduate from the program.

All students majoring in Elementary Education must be registered in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. An advisor will be assigned from the Elementary Education Program. Programs of professional education courses, as well as teaching support courses and an area of emphasis, have been developed by the Elementary Education Program and approved by the Council on Teacher Education and the Utah State Office of Education. For a complete description of the program and requirements for graduation and licensure, students should visit the Elementary Education Program website: http://www.teal.usu.edu/htm/eled/

Each student completes a professional semester of student teaching. An application for student teaching must be made at least one semester in advance, and credentials are reevaluated at that time. Since not all student teachers can be accommodated by the schools located within Cache Valley, placements are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should be financially prepared to spend that time off campus in the event such an arrangement is necessary. Students must be responsible for their own transportation.

Students who carefully select  their elective courses may also qualify for a special endorsement to the basic professional teaching license. Additional Praxis exams may be necessary for teaching minors and endorsements. All students complete an area of emphasis in a subject matter field, in addition to the teaching support courses. Information concerning special endorsements and additional areas of specialization may be obtained from the Elementary Education Program.

Students who have teaching licenses in areas other than elementary education may obtain the elementary license by meeting the same or equivalent requirements for licensure expected of an elementary education major. Those desiring to acquire a dual license should work with an advisor from the Elementary Education Program.

All courses listed as major subject courses must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis and the grade point average for these courses must be 2.75 or better. Major subject courses passed with less than a C grade must be repeated.

Endorsements

The USU Elementary Education Program and Secondary Education Program jointly offer a K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement, as well as a Middle-Level Math Endorsement. Graduate endorsements are also available in Early Childhood Education, ESL, Reading,  and Gifted and Talented.

Suggested Four-year Plans

Suggested semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward bachelor’s degrees within the Elementary Education Program of the School of TEAL can be found in the department.

These plans are models of the requirements and possible sequences of courses. However, students may progress through their program or have more flexibility if they have high ACT scores, CLEP credit, concurrent enrollment credit, AP credit, and/or transfer credit; or if they attend during summer semesters.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual circumstances.

Departmental Honors

Students having majors within the Elementary Education Program may choose to add breadth and depth to their regular course offerings by enrolling in the departmental honors program. A cumulative GPA above 3.5 is required for enrollment.

Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level.

For additional information about departmental honors within the Elementary Education Program, contact Deborah Byrnes, (435) 797-0396, deborah.byrnes@usu.edu.

Additional Information

For more information concerning requirements for University graduation and for basic professional teaching licensure in elementary education, early childhood education, and middle education, see major requirement sheets available from the Elementary Education Program Advisement Center, Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 373. 

Financial Support

The following scholarships are available to junior and senior students: Ballam, Blair, Bowen, DeHart, Frye, Hales, Jackson, Kurzhals, McEvoy, Stewart, Taylor, Vest, Watterson, and Young. To be eligible, students must have completed Level II of the Elementary Education Program and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Applications are available from the Elementary Education Program and are due by February 1.

Undergraduate Programs

Secondary Education Program

Objectives

The Secondary Education Program coordinates state-approved programs for secondary teacher licensure across campus. The program offers the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), a sequence of courses and field experiences designed to prepare students for teaching careers in secondary schools. The STEP program is fully accredited by the Utah State Board of Education and is a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. Students who successfully complete the program are recommended for secondary licensure in the State of Utah, enabling them to teach in grades 6-12.

Requirements

Program Entrance Requirements

In addition to meeting the admission requirements for the University, students in good standing must have a minimum entrance GPA of 2.75 and maintain that GPA in order to student teach. Students must complete all requirements of the premajor prior to being admitted to the full major. All students must be admitted to the teacher education program. See details below.

Admission to Teacher Education

Prior to enrolling in STEP courses, students must be admitted to the teacher education program. Criteria for admission include completion of a minimum of 60 semester credits, and (1) minimum ACT scores, (2) University Studies requirements, (3) a speech and hearing test, (4) successful completion of the Teacher Education Writing Exam, (5) recommendations from advisors in major and minor fields, and (6) completion of fingerprinting for a background check (a legislative mandate). Application forms are available from advisors; from the Office of Graduation, Educator Licensing, and Accreditation, Room 103, Emma Eccles Jones Education Building; and from the Secondary Education Program, Room 385, Emma Eccles Jones Education Building.

Students must submit copies of University transcripts, including transfer coursework, verifying a minimum total GPA of 2.75. Verification of fingerprinting for criminal background check must also be submitted at this time. Application for initiating the background check process with the Utah State Office of Education can be accessed online at the following site: https://secure.utah.gov/elr/ebc/welcome.html

Students are required to attend an orientation meeting prior to beginning the program. Questions about admission requirements may be directed to a Secondary Education advisor.

Composite Majors, Teaching Majors, and Teaching Minors

Secondary Teacher Licensure requires that students complete a composite teaching major or a combination of a single-subject teaching major and teaching minor. Students are strongly encouraged to meet as soon as possible with advisors in their declared teaching major and minor. The following composite teaching majors, single-subject teaching majors, and teaching minors are approved for Utah State University.

Composite Teaching Majors (46 credits minimum)

Agricultural Education, Art Education, Biological Science, Earth Science, Engineering and Technology Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Music Education, Mathematics and Statistics Education, Physical Science, and Social Studies Education.

Teaching Majors (30 credits minimum)

Chemistry, English, Geography, Health Education, History, Human Movement Science (Physical Education K-12), Mathematics, Modern Languages, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Theatre Arts.

Teaching Minors (16 credits minimum)

Chemistry, English, English as a Second Language, Geography, Health Education, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Physical Education Coaching, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, School Library Media, Sociology, Speech Communication, and Theatre Arts.

Suggested Four-year Course of Study for Social Studies Composite Teaching Major

A suggested semester-by-semester four-year plan for students working toward the Social Studies Composite Teaching Major can be found in the department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Assessment

The Secondary Education Program is committed to principles and practices of continual assessment of its programs and its students. Information about current assessment tools that are being used by the program can be found at: http://teal.usu.edu/htm/assessment/secondary-program-assessment

Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in honors. Through original, independent work, honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://www.usu.edu/honors/

Additional Information

For detailed information about requirements for teaching majors and minors, students should see the major requirement sheet(s) for the subject area(s) in which they plan to seek licensure or receive a teaching minor.

Graduate Programs

Admission Requirements

Students applying for admission to master’s programs must have verbal and quantitative GRE or MAT scores at or above the 40th percentile. For the Education Specialist (EdS) degree and the doctoral degree, GRE scores at or above the 40th percentile are also required on the verbal and quantitative tests. Admission committees also consider experience, undergraduate record, curricula completed, and formal recommendations. One year of successful teaching experience is required for the master’s program. Two years of teaching experience is required for admission to the EdS or doctoral program.

Admission to graduate programs is contingent upon (1) completion of an application to graduate school and (2) recommendation by the School of TEAL screening committee for the master’s program or the Curriculum and Instruction admissions committee for the EdS or doctoral program. 

Degree Programs—On Campus

Three avenues exist for on-campus students wishing to pursue a master’s degree in the School of TEAL at Utah State University. They are as follows:

• Master of Education —Plan B
• Master of Education —Plan C

Degree Programs—Off Campus

Two avenues exist for students wishing to pursue a master’s degree in the School of TEAL at Utah State University primarily through offerings at USU Distance Education centers. They are as follows:

• Master of Education —Plan B
• Master of Education —Plan C

Doctoral Programs (PhD and EdD)

The School of TEAL administers the Doctoral Program in Education, which includes the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Doctor of Education (EdD). For information about admission requirements, as well as other information, see Education - EdD  and Education - PhD .

Additional Information

The Program of Study form for the Master’s degree described above should be approved by the committee and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at least two months prior to the oral exam, oral review, or presentation appropriate to that degree. For the EdS, EdD or PhD, the Program of Study form must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the end of their third semester of coursework.

After matriculation into the program, a master’s degree must be completed within a six-year time period. Pass/fail grades will be accepted only for seminars, special problems, interdisciplinary workshops, thesis or dissertation research, and continuing graduate advisement. A maximum of 8 workshop credits may be included. Transfer credit accepted toward a degree is normally limited to 6 credits; however, with prior approval, 12 transfer credits may be accepted. A maximum of 15 credits taken during one summer may be counted toward the degree. A maximum of 12 credits taken before admission to the program may be counted toward the degree. All coursework in a student’s area of specialization must be taken at the 6000 level or above, in order to be applied toward a graduate degree in the School of TEAL. Coursework expires after eight years.

Admission deadlines for students applying to graduate programs are: June 15 for fall semester, October 15 for spring semester, and March 15 for summer semester. For the EdD and PhD programs, the application deadline is February 1 for the Logan campus. The distance doctoral program admission deadline is March 15 of even-numbered years.

Research

Cooperation with other departments and research centers at the University, as well as with public school and State Office of Education collaborators, permits strong graduate programs. Research opportunities are available with the Edith Bowen Laboratory School, cooperating school districts in Utah and surrounding states, the Utah State Office of Education, and the United States Department of Education.

Financial Assistance

Both departmental and School of Graduate Studies support are available for the regular academic program and are awarded on a competitive basis. Students requesting financial support should apply to the School of TEAL by March 15. No financial assistance is available for summer semester.

Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are available through the School of TEAL. Some research assistantships are available through faculty members who have ongoing projects with off-campus funding agencies. Students are not eligible for assistantships or any form of financial assistance from the University until all application procedures are completed and the student is formally admitted to a program of studies. Acceptance to pursue graduate study does not guarantee student financial assistance. Inasmuch as funds are limited, the assistantships are awarded by the School of TEAL to cover specific teaching assignments and by the faculty to provide for research. Doctoral students desiring information about financial assistance should write to: Martha Dever, Associate Dean and Department Head, School of Teacher Education and Leadership, 2805 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan UT 84322-2800.

Career Opportunities

Positions in Higher Education—Master Teachers

Many school districts support and encourage teachers to further their education and expertise by obtaining a master’s degree. Added financial remuneration generally accompanies the completion of such a degree. Supervisors, curriculum specialists, and other professional careers are enhanced by completion of a master’s degree.

Completion of a doctorate degree qualifies the graduate for a wide variety of careers, including positions in higher education, curriculum specialist positions in school districts and state offices of education, positions in educational agencies of the United States government, and education specialist positions in business and industry.

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty

Professor
Barry M. Franklin, curriculum policy, theory, and history

Professors Emeritus
Ross R. Allen, mathematics education, comparative education
Eldon M. Drake, journalism, general student teaching
Richard S. Knight, social studies specialist
Izar A. Martinez, administration, research methods, measurement/evaluation
Walter L. Saunders, science specialist
James P. Shaver, social studies, former School of Graduate Studies Dean
William J. Strong, content area reading, Utah Writing Project Director

Associate Professor Emeritus
Varnell A. Bench, extension, administration, supervision

Associate Professor
L. Joseph Matthews, educational leadership, curriculum and assessment

Clinical Associate Professors
Steven Laing, Coordinator of Administrative/Supervisory Certificate Program; educational leadership
Susan Turner, instructional leadership

Assistant Professors
Todd Campbell, science
Spencer Clark, social studies education
Sherry Marx, ESL/bilingual/multicultural
Nicole Pyle, adolescent literacy
Amy Alexandra Wilson, content area reading/writing, adolescent literacy

Senior Lecturer
Barbara Cangelosi, classroom management and English methods

Lecturer
Fawn C. Groves, multicultural education

Director, Secondary Education Student Teaching
Mary Bedingfieldsmith

Undergraduate Advisors
Stephanie Podgorski
Shelly Wiegand

RCDE Faculty
Vini Exton, assistant professor—Uintah Basin/Vernal
Marilyn Hetzel, lecturer—Uintah Basin/Roosevelt
David Vernon, lecturer—Salt Lake City

Emma Eccles Jones Distinguished Professor
D. Ray Reutzel, reading

Professors
Deborah A. Byrnes, social studies education, early childhood education
Martha T. Dever, Department Head; foundations, early childhood education
James T. Dorward, Associate Dean for Research; mathematics, program evaluation
Patricia Moyer-Packenham, mathematics education

Associate Professors
Michael K. Freeman, educational leadership
Scott L. Hunsaker, gifted/talented education, foundations
Francine Fukui Johnson, Associate Dean for Teacher Education, Graduation, and Licensure; foundations, gifted/talented education, supervision
Sylvia Read, Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Programs, language arts education
Martha L. Whitaker, foundations

Clinical Associate Professor
Steven Laing, Coordinator of Administrative/Supervisory Certificate Program

Assistant Professors
Suzanne Broughton, literacy, teaching/learning foundations
Steve Camicia, social studies
Sarah Kartchner Clark, preservice teacher preparation, novice teacher competency
Cindy Jones, literacy
Cinthya Saavedra, English-as-a-second-language Education

Clinical Assistant Professors
Barbara DeBoer, early childhood education
Richard Rhees, Coordinator of Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)

Senior Lecturer
Eric Packenham, science education

Lecturers
Dorothy Dobson, social studies

Temporary Lecturers
Janet Adams
Chad Downs, advisor; generalist

RCDE Faculty
James J. Barta, Associate Department Head for RCDE; associate professor; mathematics, early childhood education
Amy Brown, assistant professor, mathematics, Tooele
Laura Foley, assistant professor, literacy, Uintah Basin/Vernal
Anne Mackiewicz, instructor, early childhood, USU-Eastern
Gary Parnell, associate clinical professor, foundations, Ephraim

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