Secondary Education Programs

Secondary programs in Education lead to certification in grades 6-12. Through coursework and field placements in schools, Secondary Education majors gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions in four vital areas: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities. Secondary Education majors choose to complete either a teaching area or a first and second teaching field.

The teaching areas available at NNU consist of approximately 45 semester credits in the subject area and include: art, biology, chemistry, English, kinesiology, mathematics, music, and Spanish.

The first teaching fields available at NNU consist of approximately 30 semester credits in the subject area and include: biology, chemistry, English, history, kinesiology, mathematics, and Spanish.

The second teaching fields available at NNU consist of approximately 20 semester credits in the subject area and include: art, biology, chemistry, communication, English, health, history, kinesiology, mathematics, music, physics, political science, psychology, and Spanish.

The program culminates in a semester-long student teaching experience that allows NNU student teachers to gain expertise in managing a classroom and applying best practices in their teaching. They develop and teach a unit, plan and teach daily lessons in their subject area, and use various forms of assessment to monitor student learning. The student teaching semester provides the opportunity to demonstrate competencies related to each strand of NNU's conceptual framework. NNU faculty supervisors are readily available in the schools to provide ongoing coaching and support.

In addition to the courses required for each teaching area or teaching field, Secondary Education Majors complete the following Education requirements:

*EDUC1100 Introduction to Teaching (1)
PSYC/EDUC2110 Educational Psychology (3)
EDUC2250 Cultural Diversity in Education (2)
EDUC2750 Technology in the Classroom (2)
*EDUC2960 Field Experience (1)
EDUC3150 Education of Exceptional Children (3)
*EDUC3410 Content Literacy in Secondary Classrooms (3)
*EDUC3510 Teaching Methods in Secondary Classrooms (3)
*EDUC3750 Classroom Management in Secondary Schools (2)
*Special Methods Courses in first and second teaching fields or teaching area
*EDUC3920 Foundations of Education (2)
*EDUC4850 Secondary School Start-Up (1)
*EDUC4860 Student Teaching in the Middle School/Junior High School (12); or,
*EDUC4870 Student Teaching in the Senior High School (12)
*Courses must be taken at Northwest Nazarene University

NCATE Accreditation

The Education Department at Northwest Nazarene University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 466-7496. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs. NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel.

Northwest Nazarene University has maintained continuous accreditation through the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1967. The last NCATE visit was hosted in 2006. Continuing Accreditation was granted through Spring 2014.