Introduction
The College of Education supports teachers at all stages of their careers to become highly qualified, competent and caring professional educators in the diverse middle and secondary classrooms of New Mexico. From initial licensure at the bachelor’s and master’s degree level to additional endorsements at the master’s level, there are options for everyone wanting to become a teacher or get a second teaching field. The WNMU program provides an experiential approach to becoming a teacher beginning with your very first class. Initial school observations expose you to different age levels and teaching styles before settling in on your teaching field. Working with one teacher during application and reinforcement allows you to try out things and to develop your skills as a student-centered teacher. Practice teaching allows teacher candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of content and pedagogy by designing coherent instruction that shows they can help students learn.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Making Subject Matter Comprehensible to all students including culturally and linguistically diverse students and students with exceptionalities
- Planning instruction and designing learning experiences for ALL students including culturally and linguistically diverse students and students with exceptionalities
- Assessing and evaluating – using assessment to inform instruction and support learning
- Creating and Maintaining Effective Environment for Learning for all students
- Engaging and Supporting Learning for all students
- Communicating and Collaborating with Families and Communities,
- Developing as a Professional Educator – using reflection to grow as an educator
Admissions
The College of Education has established admission standards for entrance into the Teacher Education Program. The higher expectations are set to assure that all licensed teachers graduating from WNMU are qualified to maximize students’ thinking and achievement while maintaining an active, participatory classroom. To be admitted into the School of Education all students must meet the following requirements:
- The first semester of enrollment in the Teacher Education Program is open to all interested candidates who have completed 35 hours of general education from an accredited institution.
- During the first semester of attendance in the Teacher Education Program, the student is required to register for and complete Foundations of Education with a grade of C or better.
- By the end of the first semester in Teacher Education, each candidate must meet the following requirements:a. Earned a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75; b. Completed ENGL 101, ENGL 102, PSY 102, COMM 110 and a general education Math course with a grade of C or better; c. Completed a degree plan approved by an advisor in the School of Education; d. File three letters of recommendation: two academic and one other, preferably an employer; e. Completed a brief Educational Autobiography addressing, “why teach?” f. Pass a FBI Fingerprint background clearance; g. NES: Essential Academic Skills tests (reading, writing, and mathematics) taken and passed; h. For Secondary, Career and Technical Education and K-12 Pedagogy majors: endorsement by appropriate academic department faculty; i. Completed TEP Application.
- A student who has not been admitted to the College of Education may not continue in advanced professional courses in education.
Apply Now!
Curriculum
The curriculum of the Teacher Education Program is comprised of four areas:
- General Education
- BA or BS requirements
- Professional Core
- Teaching Field
Within the professional core, there are four levels:
- Contextual Knowledge
- Foundation
- Application/Reinforcement
- Capstone
A student who has not been admitted to the School of Education may not continue beyond the Foundation Level.
Teacher Assessments
The New Mexico Teacher Assessments (NMTA) or National Evaluation Series (NES) are comprised of three tests and must be taken in the following sequence in order for the student to continue in the Teacher Education Program.
- The Essential Academic Skills test (reading, writing, and mathematics) must be taken during the Foundation level and passed before entering the Application and Reinforcement level.
- The Teacher Competency test and the appropriate Content Knowledge test must be taken and passed before entering the Capstone level (Practice Teaching).
Students may take the tests earlier than required by the Teacher Education Program. It is the responsibility of the student to take a copy of the test results to the College of Education Office. For further information about the New Mexico Teacher Assessments or the National Evaluation Series consult www.nmta.nesinc.com or or www.nestest.com. Only the Essential Academic Skills test is required of students in the Associate Degree Programs.
Practice Teaching
Practice teaching is the culminating field experience for all teacher education candidates. The general intent of this intense experience is to facilitate the transition from student to beginning teacher. It provides teacher education candidates the opportunity to assume the full-time responsibility of a classroom teacher under the supervision of a school based clinical faculty or cooperating teacher. Candidates must have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 to apply for Practice Teaching. Students desiring a placement for Practice Teaching in locations other than in the Cobre, Deming, Hatch, Lordsburg, Silver City or T or C school districts must have a 3.0 and obtain permission from the Professional Education Committee (PEC); this request needs to be in writing. Permission must be obtained from the committee prior to any contact with the desired placement. There are prerequisites for being allowed to teach outside the local area.
Teacher Education Exit Requirements
In order to exit the Teacher Education Program, receive a diploma and/or be eligible for teacher licensure in New Mexico, WNMU students must provide the following evidence by the end of the Practice Teaching semester. These requirements represent the summative value of mastering the outcomes of the Teacher Education Program.
- Teaching Event
- Complete all required New Mexico Teacher Assessments (NMTA) or National Evaluation Series (NES) with passing scores.
- Letter of Recommendation
- Teacher Educational Exit Survey (EBI-TEES)
- Professional Behaviors and Dispositions Assessment
Degrees and Certificates Offered
Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Family Support Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Family Support Bachelor of Arts in Education
- Early Childhood Care & Education
- Physical Education
- Secondary Education
Bachelor of Science in Education
- Early Childhood Care & Education
- Elementary
- Physical Education
- Secondary
- Special Education
Minors
- Coaching
- Early Childhood Education and Family Support
- Health Science Education
Teacher Education Endorsements
The Teacher Education Endorsements are university-wide with teaching fields in:
- Art
- Bilingual Education
- Business Marketing (Secondary)
- Classical Language-Spanish
- Health Science Education
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Reading
- Science (Earth & Space, General, Life, and Physical Science)
- Social Studies
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are online classes at WNMU accredited?
A: Yes, WNMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Many individual academic programs such as Business, Education and Social Work have additional specialty accreditations as well.
Q: How do I obtain textbooks for my online course?
A: The WNMU bookstore provides course materials.
Q: Do online students have access to tutors?
A: Tutoring services are offered through TutorMe via the online services page. The Math & Computer Science department also offers math tutoring through their office.
Advisor Contact
College of Education
Phone: (575) 538-6416
Email: schoolofed@wnmu.edu
Office: Martinez-Fall 205