Teaching Professions - Minor

EDUC 130: Technology Enhanced Learning Environments - 2 Units

This course focuses on basic skills and software for creating multimedia projects, completing assignments in all education courses, and meeting the state’s technology standards for teachers. All assignments in this course relate to building the structure and first section of a candidate’s teacher education electronic portfolio. Thereafter, candidates add sections to the portfolio during other courses and activities in their programs of study, which include evidence that they have met the state’s technology standards. Upon graduation, the portfolios are archived in Benerd College, and candidates can create a DVD of their entire portfolio or of parts they wish to use.

EDUC 140: Transformational Teaching & Learning - 4 Units

This is an introductory course that explores the complex relationships within and among local, state, and national levels of public instruction. The course introduces historical, legal, and social issues that affect diverse educational settings. Topics include key movements and legal cases of prominence in American education; demographic information about learners and schools in California; home, family, and school partnerships; and professional stages in teaching careers (e.g., subject matter preparation, teacher education, initial licensure, induction programs, and professional development). The course also includes an introduction to “reflective practice”; an overview of stages in human development; prominent learning and motivation theories; the characteristics of learners with exceptional needs; and individual differences among learners, which include English language learners. This course is taken by students interested in Multiple Subject, Single Subject and/or Educational Specialist credentials. It is a prerequisite to Admission to Teacher Education, but it is open to all students at the University. Fieldwork requires fingerprint review and clearance at local districts and TB clearance. There are fees for these services.

EDUC 141: Transformational Teaching & Learning Practicum - 2 Units

This supervised practicum is taken concurrently with EDUC 140: Transformational Teaching and Learning. Students examine the community, school, and classroom contexts and how they influence the teaching and learning process. Translation of current learning theories into practice are analyzed and applied. Students interact with K – 12 students and teachers in public school settings.

EDUC 155: Teaching in the Content Areas I - 3 Units

This is the first of a three-part course for Single Subject credential candidates to develop professional, reflective practices and abilities for teaching in single subject classrooms, especially in secondary schools. Candidates learn and apply current learning theories to planning, instruction, and assessment, focusing on the general knowledge, skills, and dispositions associated with managing contemporary, culturally diverse secondary classroom environments. Candidates begin to learn about specific subject matter content and pedagogy and a variety of instructional and assessment strategies to benefit all learners. The needs of all secondary school students, including English Learners, and characteristics of the school environment are emphasized for fostering effective teaching and learning.

EDUC 167: Adolescent Development in School Contexts - 3 Units

This course is designed for secondary preservice teachers to consider the principles of adolescent development in context. Biological, cognitive, psychological, social, and moral development are examined to determine how these developmental pathways affect student achievement, motivation, and well-being. The influence of family, peers, school, and the broader community on development are explored as well. Implications of current understandings of adolescent development on teaching, learning, and assessment are emphasized. In addition to class meetings, students participate in a practicum in order to apply learning in school settings.

EDUC 154: Productive Learning Environment for Diverse Classrooms - 2 Units

Core course concepts and activities include using culturally responsive techniques that contribute to productive learning environments and equitable student outcomes. Preservice teachers in this course survey current discipline and management models and practice research-based strategies designed to promote positive classroom behavior. Establishing and maintaining relationships with families, students, and colleagues are explored as well as practices that contribute to teacher well-being and self-care. 

EDUC 156: Content & Disciplinary Literacy Development in Secondary Schools - 3 Units

This course provides an introduction to research-based content literacy instruction. The course focuses on preparing candidates to teach content-based reading and writing skills to a full range of students which includes struggling readers, students with special needs, and English Learners. A variety of content-based literacy strategies (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) is presented to facilitate learning in the content areas. The course meets credential requirements.

EDUC 166: Teaching English Learners - 3 Units

This course is designed to equip mainstream classroom teachers with the theory, principles, knowledge, and skills to effectively understand and teach English Language Learners at a variety of levels of English proficiency in K-12 classrooms. Teachers develop appropriate strategies and approaches for developing language proficiency and link their practice to the California English language Development Standards and the new Common Core State Standards. Students observe and implement these strategies during their field experiences in order to see, practice, and reflect on effective ways to meet the needs of English learners. The objective includes appropriate assessment, planning, and implementation of sheltered content instruction. Fieldwork hours (160 series fieldwork) specific to this class are required. A grade of C or higher is required for passing this course.

EDUC 165: Teaching in the Content Area II - 2 Units

This is the second of a multi-course series for Single Subject credential candidates to develop professional, reflective practices and abilities for teaching in single subject classrooms, especially in secondary schools. The emphasis in this course is on content-specific practices. Candidates join their respective professional organizations and participate in those organizations’ professional development experiences. In addition to whole-class meetings, candidates meet in content-specific seminars with practitioners in their content areas on a regular basis.

EDUC 170: Professional Practice - Student Teaching - 8 Units

Professional practice is a full-day of Student Teaching in public schools. Candidates for a Single Subject and Multiple Subject Preliminary teaching credential are placed in local public schools for intensive application of their knowledge, skills, and dispositions for professional practice in California schools. Student Teaching is full-day teaching for a semester, and undergraduates are approved for Student Teaching.

EDUC 172: Professional Practice Seminar - 4 Units

Students reflect upon and integrate the Directed Teaching experience in large and small group settings for the SB 2042 Credential. Topics include multicultural education, child abuse, school law, interpreting standardized test scores, professional associations and negotiations, discipline plans, lesson planning, and conferencing skills. This course may be taken concurrently with EDUC 170.

SPED 125X: Teaching Exceptional Learners - 2 Units

This method-based course is for candidates who will be teaching students with disabilities in the general education classroom, and it includes techniques and strategies for individualizing specific student needs. The course content reviews special education law and the inclusive schools movement.