MAJOR - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Department of Elementary Education
Department Mission: Guided by the tenets of Catholicism and the Benedictine hallmarks, the Department of Education’s mission is to promote commitment among students to serve and to be advocates for those most vulnerable in society, children. By our own example, we teach our students to understand the responsibilities and privileges entailed in this commitment. Through the study of the liberal arts and the knowledge, skills, and dispositions inherent in education courses and field experiences, we help our students develop minds that are both broad and agile, so they are equipped to make wise and ethical decisions that benefit them and those whose lives they touch.
Department Goal: The goal of the Elementary Education Teacher Licensure Program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children in kindergarten through grade six (K-6). Preparation for entering an elementary teaching career includes an integration of theoretical study, a variety of selective field experiences, and systematic reflection concerning one’s professional and personal experiences and goals.
B. A. in Elementary Education (Traditional students only):
To be eligible for acceptance into the degree program, the student must declare the major, have completed at least 12 hours of education coursework, and have on file a cumulative Praxis I score of at least 522, or an SAT score of at least 1100, or an ACT score of at least 24. In addition, a student must have at admission, and maintain throughout the program, a GPA of 2.75 with no grade lower than a “C-” in major courses. A student must submit an Application for Admission to the Elementary Education Teacher Licensure Program and must be accepted into the program before beginning the Professional Sequence courses.
Major requirements: Prerequisites for Professional Sequence
- ED 300 - Introduction to Education
- ED 303 - Children’s Literature
- ED 305 - Introduction to the Exceptional Child
- ED 310W - Educational Development & Psychology
- ED 399 - Diversity in Education
Before taking any coursework in the Professional Sequence, a student must be accepted in the Elementary Education Teacher Licensure Program.
Professional Sequence: The Professional Sequence is comprised of three (3) distinct semesters (I, II, & III).
Professional Sequence I:
- ED 400 - Classroom Management
- ED 402 - Curriculum and Instructional Design
- ED 403 - Arts Integration
Professional Sequence II:
- ED 407 - Literacy Assessment
- ED 408 - Teaching Social Studies in Elementary School
- ED 409 - Teaching Science in Elementary School
- ED 410 - Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School
Professional Sequence III:
- ED 471 - Student Teaching Seminar
- ED 475 - Student Teaching
Recommendation for Licensure: Upon completion of all program requirements, including those summarized below, a student is eligible for recommendation for teacher licensure in North Carolina. Recommendation for licensure in other states is subject to the laws and requirements of those states, and compliance with those regulations is the responsibility of the student. The process for recommendation for licensure is explained in the Student Teaching Handbook.
To receive Belmont Abbey College’s recommendation for licensure in North Carolina a student must:
- Complete all required coursework with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.
- Achieve NC passing scores on the appropriate PRAXIS II Specialty Area Exams.
- Pass an Exit Portfolio review.
- Receive the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Education and of the Licensure Officer.
- Receive the recommendation of the student teaching supervisors (IHE and LEA) and the designated LEA official responsible for LEA coordination of the senior-year student-teaching experience (Form IHE-01b).
- Successfully pass a background check conducted du
- Complete all necessary application materials, obtain official transcripts and pay any required state licensure fee(s).
State Compliance:
The Elementary Education Teacher Licensure Program at Belmont Abbey College is fully accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
The Sister Christine Beck Department of Education of Belmont Abbey College is in compliance with Section 207 of Title II of the Higher Education Act of the United States Department of Education. This act requires Institutions of Higher Education (IHE’s) to report to the federal and state governments, as well as to the public. These reports and relevant data are available upon request from the Sister Christine Beck Department of Education Office.
Minor in Education:
For students not pursuing a major in elementary education but who are interested in the study of education, an education minor is available. A student interested in pursuing a minor in education must formally apply to the Department of Education for approval and complete 15 hours within the department with a grade of a "C" or better. Five of the following six courses are required for a minor:
- ED 300 - Introduction to Education
- ED 303 - Children's Literature
- ED 305 - Introduction to the Exceptional Child
- ED 308 - Perspectives in Education
- ED 310W - Educational Development and Psychology
- ED 399 - Diversity in Education
Elementary Education Resources:
Kappa Delta Pi
Honor students in education are invited to join the Upsilon Eta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an international society promoting excellence in education. Membership is open to honor students who have shown commendable personal qualities, worthy educational ideals, and sound scholarship.
Involvement in KDP provides students with the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other members of the teaching profession, inspires students to strive for individual and professional growth, and encourages them to become active participants in state, regional, and national meetings.
Curriculum Resource Center
The Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) is a resource facility (located in room 112, William Gaston Science Building) that provides a variety of education services for students and faculty. The CRC houses curriculum materials, professional literature, and instructional equipment. It supports the goals and objectives of the Department of Education, which reflect the instructional needs and practices of teachers in elementary schools. The center serves as an active learning environment for students and provides opportunities for examination, production, and evaluation of educational resources.
Federal and State Compliance
The teacher education program at Belmont Abbey College is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and its program in teacher education is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
The Sister Christine Beck Department of Education of Belmont Abbey College is in compliance with Section 207 of Title II of the Higher Education Act of the United States Department of Education. This act requires Institutions of Higher Education (IHE’s) to report to the federal and state governments as well as to the public. These reports and relevant data are available upon request from the Sister Christine Beck Department of Education Office.
Faculty:
Dr. Tara Galloway - Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Pembroke State University
M.Ed., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Dr. Carroll Helm – Associate Professor of Education
B.A., Carson-Newman College
M.S., University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Ph.D., East Tennessee State University
Dr. Julie Kohlbrenner - Lecturer in Education
B.A., University of Florida-Gainesville
M.Ed., University of Florida-Gainesville
Dr. Judith McDonald - Assistant Professor
B.S., in Secondary Education, West Virginia University
M.Ed., in Science Education, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Ph.D., in Curriculum and Instruction, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Dr. Lisa O'Neill - Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Appalachian State University
M.Ed., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Ed.D., Gardner-Webb University
Dr. Sara Davis Powell– Chair and Professor of Education
B.S., in Mathematics, Southern Nazarene University
M.A.T., in Math Education, University of Colorado
Ph.D., in Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum Development, University of Colorado.
Dr. Melinda Ratchford - Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Appalachian State University
M.S.L.S., University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Ed.S., Appalachian State University
Ed.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Dr. Benette Sutton - Instructor of Education and Director of Student Teaching
B.A., Sacred Heart College
M.Ed., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
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