The Department of Education offers three separate undergraduate specializations in teacher preparation: early childhood, elementary education, and secondary education, Each of these programs provides students with the prerequisites for certification in regular education for the public schools of Washington, D.C., and a number of states. Certification in regular education is now required by many prior to specialization at the graduate level in fields such as education of deaf students, educational media, and other areas of special education. Students may also choose a combined B.A. and M.A.T. program in Teaching American Sign Language/English bilingual education.
Declaring a Major
Students who wish to declare a major at Gallaudet University use the "Major Selection/Change Form," available from Academic Advising (in the Jordan Student Academic Center, Room 2220) or from the Registrar (in Chapel Hall, Room 101). Students need to get signatures of their advisors and the department chair. Some departments have specific requirements for students to be majors. Those requirements are listed below.
Requirements for Admission to a Major in Education
Students in early childhood education and elementary education must major in education. Students pursuing any secondary education focus must be accepted as a major in a content area such as biology, English, history, mathematics, or physical education. Each of these programs includes coursework in psychology, human development, teaching methods, curriculum, and a supervised field practicum experience (student teaching) in nearby school settings.
Students wishing to obtain a B.A. or B.S. degree in the teacher education program must meet the following Undergraduate Education requirements for admission to both Teacher Education and Student Teaching:
Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education
Admission to teacher education is conditional upon acceptance by an Admissions Committee of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Admissions Committee.
Application for admission to teacher education is to be made upon satisfactory completion of or during the EDU 250 - Introduction to Education course. (Students are encouraged to apply no later than the second semester of their sophomore year in order to complete the program in two years.). Students wishing to major in secondary education, must first be accepted in their content area major such as biology, English, history, mathematics, or physical education).
Criteria considered for admission to the teacher education program include:
- Completed Undergraduate Teacher Education Program application.
- Praxis 1 scores.
- Submission of three disposition evaluations by current and former professors.
- A 2.75 or higher cumulative grade point average.
- Submission of portfolio including a resume, educational philosophy and lesson plan.
- A personal interview with member(s) of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Admissions Committee.
Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching
Admission to student teaching is conditional upon acceptance by the Student Teaching Committee of the Department of Education.**
Application for admission to student teaching is to be made after satisfactory completion of 90 semester hours.
Criteria considered for admission to student teaching would include:
- A 2.75 cumulative grade point average with grades of B or higher in education courses and a C+ or better in all pre-professional and pre-major courses.
- For those students in secondary education, a grade point average of 2.75 or higher in the (teaching field) content area.
- Satisfactory completion of all but 6 hours of preprofessional courses and professional education courses.
- Completion of all remaining required courses before or during the student teaching semester.
- Submission of application and portfolio.
- Review and approval of the Department of Education Student Teaching Committee
*Exceptions to the above may be made on the merits of each individual case.
*Total maximum course load for this semester would be nine hours, including six hours of teaching that would be undertaken during the last full semester in residence.
