Chair: Teresa G. Wojcik, Ph.D.
Program Director: Madora Soutter, Ed.D.
Office Location: 302 Saint Augustine Center
Telephone: 610-519-8103
Website
About
The Education and Counseling Department undergraduate offerings include a Major in Secondary Education, two different Minor in Education programs, a Minor in Counseling, and a combined BA/MA in Education. The Secondary Education degree has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to recommend candidates for Level I Certification in order to teach in grades 7 through 12 in Pennsylvania's public schools. Faculty in the department are highly engaged in both theoretical and practical research related to education and counseling.
PRIMARY MAJOR (123 credits)
To be accepted into the major, students must have a 3.0 GPA, 6 credits in English and 6 credits in math completed prior to the start of their junior year. Candidates for the major should apply as soon as possible and no later than sophomore year
Required Major Credits (46 credits + Concentration)
In addition to demonstrating competence within their chosen academic discipline, as well as fulfilling the College of Arts and Sciences’ core curriculum requirements, students participate in a wide variety of classroom field experiences. Such experiences are carefully selected and supervised and always appropriate to both the academic and professional competence of the students.
Program Notes:
- PDE requires all Education Majors to take two Math and two English courses before the end of their sophomore year. This is part of the state certification requirement. One Math and one English is taken in the Core Curriculum.
- Teacher certification is embedded within the B.A. program. Visit this page to learn more.
Advanced English Elective for EDU SPA
- Take one three credit (3 cr) Advanced English elective, ENG 1000:5000, except ENG 1975.
MAT, STAT or CSC elective for EDU SPA
- Take one three credit (3 cr) MAT 1000:9999, STAT 1000:9999, or CSC 1000:9999.
Teaching Spanish Concentration (36 credits)
Concentration Notes:
- Students must be a declared education major to have this concentration.
- Students in the education major with a Spanish emphasis fulfill their Social Science, and Language requirements with courses taken in the major.
SPA 2138 or SPA 2140
Spanish Electives for EDU SPA
Select 4 Classes from: SPA 3000+ (12 cr).
Additional SPA elective or SPA 3970
SPA Elective #6 or SPA 3970 Research Seminar needed for double major.
- Please speak to the Department of Spanish to review the requirements for the double major.
Core Curriculum Requirement (38 credits)
Education Majors with the Teaching Spanish Concentration meet the following core requirements in the major and therefore are omitted from the summary below:
- Core Language
- Social Sciences (6 cr)
Mathematics or Statistics (1 course)
Students must take one course in either Mathematics or Statistics. Any course offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics fulfills the Core Curriculum requirement. Certain courses offered by other departments (e.g., Computer Science and Philosophy) also fulfill the requirement. These courses are designated by the Mathematics A & S Core attribute.
Natural Science (2 courses with laboratory)
Non-science majors meet the Core Curriculum Natural Science requirement by taking two semesters of Mendel Science Experience (MSE), thematically-based lecture/laboratory courses designed for non-science majors; or two semesters of lecture/laboratory courses designed for science majors.
Science (AST, BIO, BIOC, CHM, CBN, CSC, ENV, MAT, PHY - B.S. only, PSY - B.S. only) majors meet the science requirement through the regular program of study in their major.
Literature and Writing Seminar (1 course)
All students take a thematic literature and writing seminar course. Courses designated with the Core Lit & Writing Sem attribute fulfill the requirement.
History (1 course)
This requirement is met by taking a specifically designed course designated by the Core History attribute.
Fine Arts (1 course)
The requirement is met by taking a course that focuses either on the creative processes that go into making a work of art, or on analysis and interpretation of the products of that artistic creativity. All courses designated with the Fine Arts Requirement attribute fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement.
Upper-Level Theology (1 course)
The upper division Theology and Religious Studies Core Curriculum requirement develops the theme of faith seeking understanding, engaging culture from a specific disciplinary perspective. Students must take THL 1000 before taking an upper division course designated by the Core Theology attribute.
Diversity Requirement (2 courses)
Diversity Courses
Courses that fulfill Core Diversity requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Overview
Consistent with the University’s Mission Statement and its implementation of the new Core Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences, students will take at least two courses designated as “diversity.” Learning to see through the eyes of other peoples and cultures is essential to becoming a citizen of the world. Beyond introducing students to the contextual study of diverse groups, diversity education must foster understanding of how individuals are affected within systems of power, oppression, deprivation, marginalization, and privilege.
Students are required to select two courses, covering two out of the three areas below:
Diversity 1: Courses that focus on populations (often named as non-dominant, minority, or impoverished groups) in the U.S. or Western Europe, and the systems or mechanisms that give rise to the experiences of power, privilege, and marginalization.
Diversity 2: Courses that focus on women’s experiences and/or highlight the relationship between gender, culture, and power.
Diversity 3: Courses that focus on the culture, economics, politics or ecology of societies and nations other than those of Western Europe and the United States and that emphasize power, privilege, and marginalization or a critical analysis of how these cultures define and express themselves.
NOTES:
- Service-learning courses, internships, and other experiential or community-based learning courses may be applied toward the Diversity requirement, provided they include a significant reflective component and have been pre-approved for diversity course credit.
- Study abroad courses may be applied toward this requirement; such courses will be assessed the same way as Villanova courses.
- Although some courses have more than one Diversity attribute, all students must take two different courses; a single course with multiple attributes may not be used to fulfill both Diversity course requirements.
- The Diversity Requirement cannot be fulfilled by independent study or a senior thesis.
- Language courses cannot fulfill the requirement, although literature courses in another language may fulfill the requirement if they are designated with a Diversity attribute.
- A student may fulfill one Diversity course requirement (DIV 1) by taking three 1-credit IGR workshops.
Free Elective Requirement (3 credits)
Students with an Education primary major with a concentration in Teaching Spanish have three (3) required free elective credits.
Degree Credit Summary
- Major Credits: 46 credits
- Concentration: 36 credits
- Core Credits: 38 credits
- Free Electives Credits: 3 credits
- Total Required Credits: 123 Credits
Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area.