Course Descriptions
Education Courses
EDUC 150 Introduction to Education
An introductory and exploratory course for those considering education as a career. The course is designed to assist each prospective teacher in gaining a valid and comprehensive knowledge of what is involved in a teaching career. Emphasis is placed upon inquiry and personal involvement in planning an effective and successful career in education. Includes field-based experiences. This course is only for traditional students in a 4-year plan. Credit 2 hours.
EDUC215 Foundations of Education
This course explores the theories and applications of educational philosophies for prospective teachers’ use in both the classroom and their personal and professional lives. Additionally, educational institutions will be examined from historical, economic, sociological, and political perspectives. Includes field-based experiences. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC216 Diversity Field Experience
This course provides an opportunity for prospective teachers to observe, tutor, or mentor students in a school where there is a diverse population. Includes field-based experiences. Includes field-based experiences. Prerequisites: EDUC 215 (or concurrent enrollment.) Credit 1 hour.
EDUC220 Educational Technology
Prospective teacher education candidates will investigate and evaluate the significant impact technology has on learning, motivation, and pedagogy. Prospective candidates will interpret and implement the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards and apply the ISTE standards for teachers to construct valuable teaching experiences, as well as experiences to highlight student learning that reflect the ISTE standards for students. Technology integration across the curriculum will be explored and students will develop and design lessons and use technology tools to support learning in an educational environment. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC223 Fine Arts in the Elementary School
The course provides students with the design, implementation, and evaluation of fine arts (music, art, dance) learning activities that are developmentally appropriate, meaningful, and challenging for all K-6 students, and the learning activities lead to positive learning outcomes that develop positive dispositions toward artistic explorations and expression. While designed for prospective teacher education candidates, this course would benefit any student who might spend time working with or mentoring children in the arts. Cross-listed with Integrative Arts. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC238 Teaching (subject) in the Secondary Schools
This course provides secondary education candidates with instructional strategies, methods and familiarity with current trends in their content area. Students are involved in a mentoring triad with public school teachers, subject area faculty, and the secondary education director. In conjunction with his or her mentor partners, each student develops a plan for study, observation, and practice in the public schools and on campus. Includes field-based experiences. Students seeking History and Government licensure must pass the Comprehensive Content Exam covering social science disciplines. Credit 3 hours.
238E Teaching English in the Secondary Schools
238H Teaching History and Government in the Secondary Schools
238M Teaching Math in the Secondary Schools
238P Teaching Health and Physical Education in the Secondary Schools
238S Teaching Science in the Secondary Schools
238T Teaching and Directing Theatre, Forensics, and Debate in the Secondary Schools
EDUC280 The Other Literacies
Prospective teacher education candidates will familiarize themselves with the literacy components of writing, speaking, and listening. Prospective candidates will refine their own writing skills, explore the writing process, understand the role of grammar in writing, and identify strategies to help PK-12 learners develop their own writing skills. The skills needed to view and comprehend material, arrange it, and aid PK-12 learners in the various ways information can be processed will also be addressed. Additionally, prospective candidates will examine the benefits of cooperative learning in enhancing the speaking and listening skills of PK-12 learners, as well as the characteristics of exemplary speakers and listeners in the classroom. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC312 Introduction to Inclusive Early Childhood Education
This is an introductory course for those preparing for licensure to teach in the early childhood setting. This course is designed to assist each prospective teacher education candidates in gaining a valid and comprehensive knowledge of what is involved in early childhood inclusive education. Emphasis is placed upon reflection, inquiry and personal involvement in planning an effective and successful career in early childhood, and developing an understanding of how children develop and learn successfully. Candidates will be grounded in a child development knowledge base and will understand and value learner differences. They will use their understanding of young children’s development and learning to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each learner. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC318 Numbers, Computation, and Mathematical Processes
A course focusing on number sense, number systems, and their properties with an emphasis on analyzing age- appropriate standards (State Early Leaving Standards and State Math Standards). An introduction of theorists, theories, and developmental stages will be addressed and integrated into activities and lessons. This course includes development and understanding of the five process standards, connections, and application with number sense in the classroom. All methods, concepts, and strategies will be applied to a classroom environment and differentiated for all learners. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC322 Educational Psychology
A course designed specifically to study the behavior of individuals and groups in educational settings. Emphases are placed upon development, motivation, assessment, individual differences, teaching modalities and learning preferences. Attention is also given to character education and attitudes. Directed observation and participation in the public schools provide practical application of course theory. Lecture and clinical field experience. Prerequisite: PSYC 112 and admission to Teacher Education program. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC323 Introduction to Exceptionalities
A course designed to prepare elementary and secondary education candidates in the understanding and appreciation of students with exceptionalities. Emphases are placed upon characteristics and categories of exceptionality, processes of referral, assessment, and placement of exceptional students. Effective teaching practices and observations in the public schools provide practical application of course theory. Lecture and clinical field experience. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC325 Methods of Teaching Motor Development, Expressive Arts, Social Studies
This course will examine the curricula, instructional strategies, and classroom organization for motor development, expressive arts, and social studies relevant to children ages birth through 8. Emphasis will be placed on the uniqueness as well as interrelatedness of the content areas, teaching methodology, and their successful implementation in the classroom environment. The course is designed as lecture with a co-requisite 45 hours field-based experience with children in an early childhood setting. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC328 Instructional Strategies in Physical Education for the Elementary Classroom Teacher
This course addresses the major concepts of health education, human movement, and physical activity as essential elements which foster a healthy lifestyle. Content includes health, nutrition, safety, impact of movement on brain development and learning, and integrates movement learning theories and practice across all curricular areas and instruction. Credit 2 hours.
EDUC329 Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature
This is a survey of literature K-12. It explores literature and relevant contemporary issues regarding literary works and pedagogy pre-K through 12th grade. Students will also become familiar with text complexity and its use in helping readers progress into more challenging levels of literature. Credit 2 hours.
EDUC335 Infant Development
The purpose of this course is to introduce early childhood teacher candidates to growth and development issues related to infants and toddlers and to provide experiences with the organization and management of high quality environments for infants. Appropriate play activities will be introduced. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC336 Introduction to the Reading Process
This course introduces prospective early childhood and elementary teacher candidates to children’s speech and language development, the recognition and development of emergent literacy, and the foundational knowledge of the reading process. This will include an understanding of basic literacy development and the cultural and linguistic diversity issues related to this development, knowledge of the major components of reading, appropriate methodologies for building an effective balanced reading program, and a variety of assessment tools and practices used to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction. Credit 3 hours
EDUC337 Science in the Elementary School
A course focusing on age-appropriate standards (State Early Learning Standards and State Science Standards) with methods of science instruction, organizing and presenting science materials for instruction, observation of classroom science presentation, familiarization with current trends in science education, and the development of a background in the content areas of science. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC338 Math in the Elementary School
A course focusing on principles and methods of mathematics instruction at the elementary level organized around the age-appropriate standards (State Early Learning Standards and State Math Standards). Development and presentation of math materials and units of instruction, familiarization with current trends in math curriculum and instructional methodology, and attention to evaluating and adapting instructional materials and delivery methods to the needs and learning styles of students are components of this course. Prerequisite: EDUC 318. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC340 Assessment Strategies in Inclusive Early Childhood
This course prepares early childhood teacher candidates to understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of early childhood professionals. They will know about and understand the goals, benefits and use of assessment. They will know about and use systematic observation’s, conduct reliable and valid assessments of children’s growth and development in the early childhood arena. Candidates are introduced to and have an opportunity to practice developing formal and informal assessment devices. Practice in developing and evaluating both open and closed assessment format is also provided. Special attention is given to performance-based assessments, particularly in the context of instruction that is developmentally appropriate. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC343 Home, School, and Community
The purpose of this class is to promote the understanding that quality services for young children and their families are best ensured by establishing collaborative relationships between the home, school, program, and community. A portion of the course focuses on techniques for establishing collaborative relationships with parents and involving family members in the growth and development of the young child. Health, nutrition, and safety issues also will be explored. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC344 Content Area Literacy
This course will address the content area literacy movement and the philosophy behind this approach to instruction in K-12. Schema activation for pre-reading, metacognitive monitoring for during reading and post-reading discussion building and critical thinking will be addressed. This class will also address vocabulary and concept development, study skills, effective writing prompts, assessments and considerations for special-needs and English language learners. Includes field-based experiences. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC345 Social Science in the Elementary School
This course emphasizes the relationship of the various social science areas and the elementary school curriculum. Content includes unit and instructional material development and presentation, familiarization with current trends in social studies instruction. Emphases include multicultural instruction, interdisciplinary unit development, and the methodology of content delivery. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC349 Reading in the Elementary School
This course will emphasize the various methods of teaching and assessing reading in the elementary and provide candidates with an opportunity to work directly with K through 6th grade students in schools, providing literacy help through assessment, data analysis, intervention, and remediation. It will prepare teacher candidates to develop programs to strengthen vocabulary and comprehension skills, assess growth in reading skills, diagnose reading problems, and adapt instructional materials and delivery methods to meet the special needs and learning styles of students. In conjunction with regular course work, the candidate will gain experience through practical application through field based experiences. Candidates will spend 20 hours in the field tutoring young students, and then reflect on their effectiveness as teachers of literacy. Lecture and clinical field experience. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC352 Principles of Effective Secondary Instruction
This introductory course is designed to provide an overview of essential elements of planning and implementing effective instruction at the secondary level. Emphasis will be given to integrating fundamental concepts and processes of curriculum development with select instructional strategies and models that can best be employed to enhance student learning. Includes clinical experiences. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education program. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC362 Professional Development School Seminar A
This seminar focus includes acquaintance with PDS site, explorations of “specials” (art, music, library) and their relation to the educational process of the school program, observations, curricular review, and presentations in the content areas of math, social studies, children’s literature, art, and music, and lesson design, planning, and methodology. This seminar is taken during the first PDS Module. Open only to and required for candidates accepted into the Professional Development School program for Elementary Education majors. Credit 1 hour.
EDUC363 Professional Development School Seminar B
This seminar focus includes exploration of effective teaching practices, observation, curricular review, and presentation in the content areas of science, language arts, and physical education, familiarization with the state and local testing programs, acquaintance with food service and transportation resources and the particulars associated with the planning and implementation of classroom field trips. This seminar is taken during the second PDS Module. Open only to and required for candidates accepted into the Professional Development School program for Elementary Education majors. Credit 1 hour.
EDUC420 Oral Language Development
This course introduces candidates to children’s speech and language development, recognition and development of readiness skills, and appropriate methodologies for developing the communications skills of young children. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC425 Administration, Guidance, and Behavior
This course will provide an overview of the responsibilities of administrators, directors, and teachers in school and program management. Legal and financial issues also will be covered, as well as ethical aspects of early childhood programs. Additionally, candidates will be introduced to successful classroom management strategies. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC432 Technology in Special Education
The course provides an overview of technology, specifically, assistive technology and what it can do for learners with special needs. In addition, candidates will be able to implement a framework for identifying student needs and determining desired outcomes when choosing technological solutions. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC436 Early Childhood Methods and Management
This course focuses on the development of professional teaching skills for the early childhood teacher, including: a personal philosophy of education; classroom management procedures; a discipline plan; instructional methods. Lecture and clinical field experience. Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program and senior standing. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC437 Elementary School Methods and Management
This course focuses on the development of professional teaching skills for the elementary and middle school teacher, including: a personal philosophy of education; classroom management procedures; a discipline plan; instructional methods and strategies; program, course, unit, and lesson planning; awareness of current trends in education; and assessment/evaluation strategies. During this semester, candidates complete their professional portfolio and make application for the Capstone which includes the student- teaching placement. This course is taken immediately prior to the professional block. Lecture and clinical field experience. Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program and senior standing. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC439 Secondary School Methods and Management
This course focuses on the development of professional teaching skills for the secondary and middle school teacher, including: a personal philosophy of education; classroom management procedures; a discipline plan; instructional methods and strategies; program, course, unit, and lesson planning; awareness of current trends in education; and assessment/evaluation strategies. During this semester, candidates complete their professional portfolio and make application for the Capstone which includes the student- teaching placement. This course is taken immediately prior to the professional block. Lecture and clinical field experience. Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program and senior standing. Credit 4 hours.
EDUC440 Student Teaching Seminar
A seminar course designed to be taken in conjunction with the student teaching block. This course focuses on the development and completion of the Kansas Performance Teaching Portfolio as well as the practical steps needed for obtaining a teaching position. Candidates practice reflection and problem solving of professional issues and tasks which may be encountered by the beginning teacher. Prerequisites: Unconditional admission into student teaching. Concurrent enrollment with either EDUC 446, 447, 448, 449. Course graded S/U. Credit 1 hour.
EDUC446 Observation and Supervised Teaching in Early Childhood Programs
Clinical experiences in Pre-K through third grade accredited schools for teacher licensure candidates. Concurrent enrollment with EDUC 440. Prerequisites: Unconditional admission into student teaching. Credit 12 hours.
EDUC447 Observation and Supervised Teaching in the Elementary School
Clinical experiences in accredited schools for teacher licensure candidates. Concurrent enrollment with EDUC 440. Prerequisites: Unconditional admission into student teaching. Credit 12 hours.
EDUC448 Observation and Supervised Teaching in the Middle School
Clinical experiences in accredited schools for teacher licensure candidates. Concurrent with EDUC 440. Prerequisites: Unconditional admission into student teaching. Credit 4-12 hours.
EDUC449 Observation and Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School
Clinical experiences in accredited schools for teacher licensure candidates. Concurrent enrollment with EDUC 440. Prerequisites: Unconditional admission into student teaching. Credit 4-12 hours.
EDUC450 Introduction to Language, Linguistics, and Culture in the Context of Second Language Acquisition
This is an introductory course in language and linguistics, which explore the nature, structure and diversity of language, emphasizing the phonological, syntactic and semantic patterns of English. Candidates will explore the principles of linguistic systems and major theorists and schools of linguistic thought in anticipation of working with communities of nonnative English-speakers. Theories and research of secondary language acquisition will also be explored, along with the relationship of communication, culture, and identity as it relates to language learning. This course is designed as one of two courses to prepare candidates for the ESOL Praxis II exam. Credit 3 hours.
EDUC490 Teaching English as a Second Language and Assessing Language Competency
This course provides the foundation for second language instruction by examining a broad range of methodologies to provide academic experiences for English Language Learners. (SIOP model included.) Application of these "best practice" concepts will be used to plan, implement, and evaluate instruction for ESOL students. An opportunity to volunteer with ESOL students for 8 hours during the course will be included. Credit 3 hours.
Please note the following: The KSDE approved and CAEP accredited Teacher Education Program offered by Southwestern College provides the study and practice of the essential knowledge, skills, and depositions for obtaining a teaching license. In addition to successfully completing the program of study, each student is required to take and pass one or more KSDE identified licensure exam(s) at or above the level of performance specified by KSDE. With successful completion of the teacher education program of study as well as passing the required licensure exam(s), Southwestern College will be able to recommend the successful student for a specific teaching license or endorsement.
