Undergraduate Education Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Associate Professor: Joan Swanson, John Villemaire
Assistant Professor: Dale Boyle, Elizabeth Lapon
Mission
Through a professional education sequence that emphasizes instructional strategies,
including technology, that are effective and relevant to teaching and learning in
today’s schools, Franklin Pierce seeks to prepare educators who:
• Work collaboratively within professional communities to support inclusive learning
environments where all learners thrive;
• Continually deepen their own understanding of specific disciplines and high impact
pedagogical practices, including the integration of technology,
• Support student learning by using multiple methods of assessment to guide instruction
and facilitate meaningful learning based on a continual cycle of evidence- based assessment;
and
• Demonstrate ethical responsibility to children, parents, local, national, and global
communities in their professional lives as leaders of conscience.
Teacher Certification
Education majors will complete programs leading toward teacher certification in the
state of New Hampshire. However, students who are interested in obtaining certification
in a state other than New Hampshire will need to consult with the Department of Education
in the state for which they desire to obtain a teaching license.
Undergraduate Education Programs
Major Honors
Undergraduate degree-seeking student must have earned at least 50% of major credits
at Franklin Pierce University to be considered eligible for major honors.
An Honors candidate in a Teacher Certification Major is required to have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average and a 3.33 grade point average in Education. A High Honors designation is awarded to students who have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average and a 3.67 grade point average in Education.
An Honors candidate in Educational Studies must have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average and a 3.25 grade point average in all major courses with no grade lower than C-. A High Honors candidate in Educational Studies must have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average and a 3.50 grade point average in all major courses with no grade lower than a C-.
Pi Lambda Theta
A Franklin Pierce University's chapter of Pi Lambda Theta Honors Society member must
have a Junior or Senior status, with a 3.5 GPA or higher pursing and Education major.
National membership is given directly through Pi Lambda Theta.
Teacher Licensure Gates
Gate 1 |
· Gain Admission into Franklin Pierce University · Pass a New Hampshire background check and a background check from every state you have lived in for the past 5 years.
*Gate 1 is a requirement for any courses that require field experience. |
Gate 2 |
· Fulfilling the Basic Assessment of Academic Skills requirement · Pass courses ED105, ED112 and ED224 with a C grade or higher · Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 · Submit a Teacher Licensure Program Application.
*Gate 2 is a requirement for official acceptance into a Teacher Licensure Program. |
Gate 3 |
· Open an on-line account with the New Hampshire Department of Education · Be in good academic standing · Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 · Complete all required courses in Education with a C grade or higher · Complete all field placement requirements and receive positive results on evaluations · Complete all content area requirements · Submit an application for student teaching.
*Gate 3 is a requirement for student teaching |
Gate 4 |
· Complete all subject area testing · Complete student teaching seminar and the New Hampshire TCAP assessment · Successfully complete your undergraduate degree requirements · Successfully complete the student teaching experience · Apply for recommendation to the state of New Hampshire (optional)
*Gate 4 is a requirement for graduation and recommendation for licensure. |
Education Studies Major
The Bachelor’s in Education Studies prepares students to work in educational settings outside of the traditional public school classroom settings. An Education Studies major does not qualify students for recommendation for New Hampshire teaching certification.
Students are encouraged to think broadly about an area of interest to develop an interdisciplinary plan which will include a content area sequence of classes with no less than 6 courses (18 credits). The Educational Studies Major must include approximately 50 hours of field placement or lab experiences and must include a capstone experience through an internship or thesis.
Required Education Courses for Education Studies
Course number and name
ED105 Educational Psychology 3 Credits
ED112 Teaching and Learning in a Democratic Society 3 Credits
PS220 Group Dynamics 3 Credits
ED275 Community Education 3 Credits
ED373 Legal issues in Community Education 3 Credits
PS230 Child and Adolescent Development or
PS231 Adult Development and Aging
A Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in the following majors:
Majors: Non-Certification:
• Educational Studies
Teacher Certification:
• Elementary Education (K-6 or K-8)
• Middle (5-8) or Secondary English (5-12)
• Secondary Life Science (7-12)
• Middle (5-8) or Secondary Social Studies (5-12)
• General Special Education (K-21)
Requirements for Education Certification Majors
All licensure programs are approved by the New Hampshire State Department of Education
and must fulfill the requirements described in N.H. Ed Administrative Rules 500 and
600 series. Students must meet the following gates to progress through the teacher
preparation programs. Students seeking certification in states other than NH are advised
to consult that state for their respective certification requirements.
Bachelor's in Education Studies
The Bachelor’s in Education Studies prepares students to work in educational settings outside of the traditional public school classroom settings. An Education Studies major does not qualify students for recommendation for New Hampshire teaching certification.
Students are encouraged to think broadly about an area of interest to develop an interdisciplinary plan which will include a content area sequence of classes with no less than 6 courses (18 credits). The Educational Studies Major must include approximately 50 hours of field placement or lab experiences and must include a capstone experience through an internship or thesis.
Required Education Courses for Education Studies
ED105 Educational Psychology 3 Credits
ED112 Teaching and Learning in a Democratic Society 3 Credits
PS220 Group Dynamics 3 Credits
ED275 Community Education 3 Credits
ED373 Legal issues in Community Education 3 Credits
PS230 Child and Adolescent Development or
PS231 Adult Development and Aging
ED372 Learning Theory for Experiential Settings 3 Credits
ED471 Senior Thesis in Education Studies (Literature Review) or
ED472 Internship in Education Studies
ED473 Education Studies Senior Seminar
18 credits in an interdisciplinary concentration 18
Total 43 Credits
Recommended Curriculum Guide – Education Studies
First Year |
|||||
Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
||
ED105 ED112 |
Educational Psychology OR Teaching & Learning in a Democratic Society |
3 |
ED105 ED112 |
Educational Psychology OR Teaching & Learning in a Democratic Society |
3 |
GLE101 |
First-Year Inquiry Seminar |
3 |
_____ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
GLE110 |
First-Year Composition |
3 |
_____ |
GLE Math Elective |
3 |
_____ |
GLE Lab Science 1 |
4 |
_____ |
GLE Lab Science 2 |
4 |
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
Total |
16 |
|
Total |
16 |
|
Second Year |
|||||
Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
||
ED275 |
Community Education |
3 |
GLE230 |
Second-Year Composition |
3 |
______ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
PS230 or PS231 |
Child and Adolescent Development or Adult Development and Aging |
3 |
______ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
_____ |
Concentration Class 1 |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
_____ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
Total |
15 |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Third Year |
|||||
Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
||
ED371 |
Learning Theory for Professional Education Settings |
3 |
______ |
Concentration Class 4 |
3 |
______ |
Concentration Class 2 |
3 |
______ |
Concentration Class 5 |
3 |
______ |
Concentration Class 3 |
3 |
______ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
______ |
GLE Elective |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Total |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|||||
Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
||
ED372 |
Legal Issues in Professional Educational Settings |
3 |
ED472 |
Internship in Education Studies or |
TBA |
______ |
Concentration Class 6 |
3 |
ED471 |
Senior Thesis in Education Studies |
3 |
______ |
Concentration Class 7 |
3 |
ED473 |
Education Studies Senior Seminar |
1 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
______ |
Elective |
3 |
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
|
|
|
_____ |
Elective |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Total |
13 |
||
|
|
|
Total Credits |
Varies |
Pre-clinical/Field Placement Experiences
Many courses in the School of Education require field-based assignments to ensure
that the teacher certification majors experience authentic teaching situations.
We work with community partners to ensure that there is a mutually beneficial experience for the students in the local school districts and for our teacher certification students.
Professional attire and travel to local schools are required for field work. Any student participating in a field experience must follow the New Hampshire Department of Education's background check policy, listed in the School of Education Teacher Preparation Program manual.
Teacher certification majors must successfully complete all required field experience hours to pass the associated course. If a student has to retake a course with field placement hours, the student must also redo the full set of field hours and all relevant field assignments assigned through the course. Students should expect to travel up to 30 miles/45 minutes each way for field placement opportunities. Students are responsible for transportation. Carpooling is encouraged.
Clinical/Student Teaching Experiences
A student teaching clinical experience is the final summative experience for all Teacher
Certification majors. All certification programs are approved by the New Hampshire
State Department of Education and must fulfill the requirements described in N.H.
Ed Administrative Rules 500 and 600 series. Students must complete Teacher Licensure
Gates 1-3 before they are placed in a student teaching experience.