Nevada State University Catalogs - Teacher Preparation Program
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Teacher Preparation Program

Learner Outcomes

The program offered by the Teacher Preparation Program is standards-based. The standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) are integrated into the program’s framework. Common Core Standards are used in appropriate classes. The framework is the benchmark by which student performance competencies and the effectiveness of all school programs and activities are assessed.

Accreditation

The School of Education programs are approved for licensure by the Nevada Department of Education.

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Elementary Bilingual Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Elementary Special Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Secondary Education with a Concentration in English (students may choose to double major in English and Secondary Education)
  • Bachelor of Arts Secondary Education with a Concentration in History
  • Bachelor of Science Secondary Education with a Concentration in Biology (students may choose to double major in Biology and Secondary Education)
  • Bachelor of Science Secondary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics
  • Bachelor of Science Secondary Education with a Concentration in Physical Science

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Education Program (PB-TEP)

The School of Education offers coursework leading to initial teacher licensure for students who have an undergraduate degree.

Initial Licensure:

  • Elementary Education
  • Special Education
  • Autism
  • Secondary Education Biology
  • Secondary Education English
  • Secondary Education General Science
  • Secondary Education History-Social Studies
  • Secondary Education Mathematics

Endorsement Coursework

This coursework is for certified teachers seeking to add an endorsement in specified fields to their license.

  • Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
  • Bilingual Education
  • Educational Technology

Field Experiences

Field experiences are a requirement of all undergraduate education majors. ALL education majors in the Nevada State College Teacher Preparation Program must participate in a planned series of field experiences as an integral part of their training. Field experiences begin with the first education course, and culminate with student teaching. This enables pre-service teachers to receive guidance and feedback as they apply educational theory and practice in school settings. Opportunities to gain first-hand experience are provided in courses held at partnership schools, weekend student workshops, and arranged field work placements.

NSC field experiences are designed to:

  1. provide the opportunity to immediately apply course content to classroom settings;
  2. provide an opportunity for pre-service teachers to work cooperatively with professional teachers;
  3. provide pre-service teachers with an opportunity to gain knowledge and insight about themselves as professionals;
  4. enhance awareness of the teaching profession through reflection;
  5. assist pre-service teachers in gaining evaluative feedback about their proficiencies as potential educators; and
  6. expose pre-service teachers to a variety of cultural and socioeconomic settings.

Program Admission

To establish eligibility for admission into the Teacher Preparation Program, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Admission into Nevada State College;
  • Completion of at least 24 credit hours (applies to degree seeking students only);
  • Degree Seeking Students: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
  • Post-Baccalaureate Students: Bachelor’s degree or higher with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5;
  • A 500-word typed essay entitled: "Why I Want to Become a Teacher";
  • Passing score on the reading, writing, and mathematics portions of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) exam;
  • Signed Disposition statement.

Program applications are accepted no later than March 1st for the fall semester and October 15th for the spring semester.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is a full-time, semester long experience in an elementary or secondary classroom. A mandatory weekly seminar accompanies the supervised teaching during which the student gradually assumes classroom teaching responsibilities. Student teachers receive continual coaching and mentoring through regularly scheduled observations and evaluations by the cooperating teacher and the NSC supervisor. Outside employment during student teaching is strongly discouraged due to the intensity of this experience.

Passing scores on Praxis II are required for both student teaching at Nevada State College and licensure by the Nevada Department of Education. To ensure timely submission of the scores students are strongly encouraged to take the test(s) early enough to obtain their scores prior to applying for student teaching. When completing registration materials for the Praxis II, students must list NSC (R9020) and the Nevada Department of Education (R8670) as score recipients.

Before acceptance into student teaching, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Admittance to the Teacher Preparation Program;
  • Submission of student teaching application;
  • Earned minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better;
  • Completion of all courses in the program of study required prior to student teaching;
  • C- or higher in all major coursework;
  • Clear FBI fingerprint report;
  • Proof of possession of $1 million in liability insurance;
  • Substitute Teaching License in Nevada (optional for Southern Nevada students).
  • Passing scores on the Praxis II exam is a student teaching application requirement.

Student teaching applications are accepted no later than March 1st for the fall semester and September 15th for the spring semester.

Student Teaching Completion

Development and presentation of a web-based portfolio is the culminating project required upon completion of student teaching. The web-based portfolio is a collection of artifacts from the students’ NSC coursework, observations and student teaching experience.

Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to collect artifacts site throughout their course of study beginning with EDU 250. The artifacts should reflect knowledge and skills and be organized around SOE School Learning Outcomes. They are evaluated by faculty and the NSC student teacher supervisors.

This developmental portfolio is a reflective exercise for the students and outlines their growth as a teaching professional. They can also highlight their exceptional accomplishments and focus on goals for the future. Students utilize their portfolio for employment purposes, as they can be forwarded to prospective employers.

Program Completion

Requirements:

  • Successful completion of student teaching requirements and portfolio;
  • Completion of a minimum of 120 credits in the program of study;
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

School of Education Policies

  1. Students transferring to the NSC School of Education with all coursework completed, except student teaching, will be required to see a School of Education faculty advisor to select 15 credits of residency coursework to be taken prior to student teaching.
  2. Teacher education coursework that applies towards a degree or initial licensure program at Nevada State College may not be older than 5 years at the time of admission to the program.
  3. Grades below a “C-”, in major coursework, are not applied to the degree.