Education Minor

REQUIRED COURSE FOR MINOR: A course designed to give students an introduction to the field of education, including a look at the historical, philosophical, and modern development of educational theory and practice.

REQUIRED COURSE FOR MINOR: A survey of special education in modern schooling, including the diversity of learners and the varied models for delivering instruction.

The course will engage students in in-depth analysis of core education issues of both a theoretical and practical nature. Topic areas include standards; learning environment, curriculum, student diversity; evaluation, technology, and professional ethics.

This course examines language development, including speech and language processes for communication. It explores the language development stages and theoretical perspectives of language acquisition and knowledge.

This course will engage students in the exploration of all aspects of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). They will explore how students understand, practice, and manage their emotions through setting and achieving positive goals, while simultaneously learning to identify, feel and show empathy for others. Students will explore these social and emotional components to learning by identifying aspects of their own SEL and develop skills to help in the SEL development of others.

This course examines child and adolescent development and focuses on developmental stages, learner motivation, student interests, creating a healthy learning climate, language development, and individual differences. (NJPST 1)

This course will develop the student’s ability to critically analyze and enhance literacy-based early childhood environments. It will provide a comprehensive overview of birth to age 8 settings to ensure students are able to plan and support developmentally appropriate materials and methods that meet the diverse needs of children, staff, and families. Learners will explore the importance of play, the effects of family and community on young learners, and the needs of multilingual, special needs, and at-risk students. (NJPST 2, 3, 4, 10)

An examination of the foundations of teaching and instruction based on the New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers. The completion and documentation of the 50-hour clinical experience is a course requirement. (NJPST 1-11) 

This introductory course will examine the critical areas of language development, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, word study, comprehension, and digital literacy.  Students will investigate the ways in which these topics inform early literacy programs and reflect on the philosophical and theoretical perspectives that shape their teaching practice. (NJPST 3, 4, 7)

This course focuses on preparing pre-service teachers to develop, plan, and evaluate math lessons that are developmentally appropriate for learners from early childhood to 6th grade.  Students will learn how to assess student math knowledge and skills based on content outlined in the NJSLS through a student-centered inquiry approach, working with manipulatives, different technologies, and other methods to build mathematical knowledge. (NJPST 4, 7)

This course will focus on developing literacy practices across the curriculum for middle and high school grades. Emphasis on higher order comprehension skills, vocabulary development, and content area reading and writing.