Academic Building 3
http://coe.fgcu.edu/
(239) 590-7800
Dean: Marcia Greene, EdD
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs: Lois Christensen, EdD
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs: Abbe' Finn, PhD
Assistant Dean: Sherree Houston, MA
Academic Advisor: Keiana Desmore, MA
Academic Advisor: Olivia Hung-Simons, MS
Faculty
M. Bogan, PhD; D. Carothers, EdD; C. Carter, EdD; S. Cooper, EdD; L. Crayton, PhD; P. Davis, PhD; E. Elliott, PhD; D. Giambo, PhD; S. Gilbert, EdD; C. Gischel, EdD; J. Greene, MEd; S. Hibbard, MS Ed; M. Isaacs, PhD; D. Kratt, MA; S. Mayberry, EdD; H. Miranda, PhD; E. Paschall, Jr., PhD; L. Ray, PhD; D. Rea, PhD; T. Roberts, EdD; R. Sabella, PhD; D. Schmidt, EdD; M. Simpson, EdD; S. Slick, PhD: T. Szecsi, PhD; R. Triscari. PhD: D. Upham, PhD; T. Valesky, EdD; E. Vazquez-Montilla, PhD; E. Weingartt, MEd; L. Wilder, EdD; J. Wilkerson, PhD
Vision
We envision our graduates, and those they influence, as the learners and leaders of today and tomorrow. As learners, our graduates will continue to grow and develop as leaders within their field. As leaders, they will build upon the diverse backgrounds and perspectives they encounter to ensure that all individuals are able to construct the understanding necessary to become successful.
Mission
Our mission is to provide diverse environments of excellence that support dynamic learning experiences. In these environments, faculty and students reflect upon and engage in the applications of theory, research, and emerging technologies. These environments support the construction of knowledge, skills, and attitudes through collaboration and inquiry. As a result, faculty and students are empowered to create an enhanced quality of life within their respective communities.
Teaching Certification/Counseling Licen-sure/Endorsement
The College of Education (COE) offers courses and/or sequences of courses that can be used toward initial certification or endorsements by the Department of Education in a variety of teaching specialty areas and licensing by the Department of Health in Mental Health Counseling. The process of seeking and obtaining certification or licensing is separate from enrolling in COE courses or obtaining a degree. Students who have arrest or conviction records may be ineligible for certification or licensure in the State of Florida. Most certification and licensure requirements include pass-ing state administered competency exams. Contact the COE advising office for additional information regarding exams. Contact appropriate state or school district personnel regarding certification and licensure procedures.
Technology Statement
The philosophy of the COE is that technology is one of numerous means of facilitating the educational process within the college and within the educational communities our programs serve. Technological proficiency is expected as a prerequisite skill, similar to the expectation that all learners can write, use appropriate grammar, access library resources, etc. The university provides a variety of opportunities for increasing technological proficiency, including courses, self-study guides, short courses, workshops, and tutoring. Students who do not own or have access to an adequate home computer system will be expected to utilize on-campus computing resources to complete many course requirements. Technology is an essential and integral aspect of each course, and some courses may have software requirements beyond those found on an average home computer.
Admission to Undergraduate Programs
Admission to the COE and to its upper division teacher education programs is separate from admission to the university and is contingent upon meeting all general university admission requirements and college admission requirements noted in the description for the major. Students who have not achieved admissions standards may, under special circumstances, be considered for admission into the college. COE orientation is a mandatory requirement.
Undergraduate Advising
(239) 590-7778
The COE offers advising to students who are preparing to enter the college’s programs, who have been admitted to its programs, or who are seeking advice concerning certification and recertification requirements that can be satisfied by enrolling in COE courses. Please contact advising staff at (239) 590-7778 for information concerning pre-admission, admission, degree programs, graduation, and certification. Once enrolled, students seek faculty advice and mentoring throughout their undergraduate study.
Transfer of Undergraduate Coursework
The COE limits the transfer of coursework into its upper-division, undergraduate programs. To be considered, courses must have been completed with a minimum grade of C and no more than five years prior to the date of entry into the College of Education undergraduate program.
Field Experience and Internships
(239) 590-7775
Integrated field and final internship experiences include observing and teaching in early childhood, elementary, special education, and secondary education classrooms. Field experiences and final internship sites are selected from the five counties served by FGCU (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee.) School placements are determined by the College of Education’s requirements. Field sites are chosen, in part, by the availability of clinical education trained teachers and by the site’s capability to accept cohort groups consisting of interns from different programs. Educational placements are also determined by sites offering opportunities to observe, interact, and teach with developmentally appropriate practices for all children, including those who are linguistically (ESOL and LEP), socially, ethnically, culturally, physically, emotionally, and intellectually diverse.
Field experiences and internships enhance the teaching experience by creating situations in which the intern will integrate theoretical knowledge from previous education courses with the classroom experience to demonstrate behaviors in an opportunity to apply and refine what has been learned in university classes. More specifically, it is an opportunity to integrate knowledge of child development, teacher behavior, and state mandates, including Educator Accomplished Practices, Sunshine State Standards, Goal Three Standards, national standards and Florida Performance Measurement System, in teaching skills, in making classroom decisions, and in thinking reflectively about decisions.
Students must apply for the integrated field experiences and final internship. Applications may be obtained from the COE Web site. It is the student’s responsibility to keep current about relevant requirements and deadlines. Special requirements for enrollment in the integrated field experiences include admission to the College of Education, and College of Education and internship course prerequisite requirements. A combined minimum grade point average of at least 2.5 in all upper level College of Education courses is re-quired, as well as an overall minimum GPA of 2.5. Undergraduates must have a C or higher in all courses required by the College of Education. Students (except for Secondary Education majors) must also demonstrate success in both their literacy and ESOL placements. Portions of the Florida Teachers Certification Exam (FTCE) must be passed before beginning internships. See an advisor for a current program of study to determine when the FTCE sub tests must be completed. Students who have arrest or conviction records may be ineligible for internships in the State of Florida
Admission to a Master’s Programs
If the number of qualified applicants to a program exceeds the capacity, preference will be given to students who, after review of the entire graduate application, demonstrate the strongest potential for success in the chosen field. Students who have not achieved minimum test scores or the minimum GPA but who meet all other requirements may, under special circumstances, petition the department to be considered for admission into a program.
Graduate Advising
(239) 590-7797
Degree-seeking students in graduate programs are advised by program faculty. Master degree students are assigned advisors upon admission to programs. Educational Specialist students are assigned an advising committee. Once admitted, students are oriented by faculty in their individual programs. Students typically complete a plan of study with an advisor or committee during the first semester of enrollment after admission to the degree program. Once completed, these plans of study are submitted for approval.
Transfer of Graduate Coursework
The College of Education limits the transfer of coursework into its graduate programs to a maximum of 12 credits or three courses. To be considered, courses must have been completed with a minimum grade of B and no more than seven years prior to the date of entry into the graduate program and no more than ten years prior to graduation from the graduate program. Decisions concerning the transfer of coursework are made at the time of admission. An approved plan of study will be developed in coordination with program advisors and/or faculty.
Non Degree-Seeking Status
A student with an earned baccalaureate degree who is enrolling in COE classes on a non degree-seeking basis is classified as a “teacher certification” student. A “teacher certification” student may take courses in any college at the graduate level on a space-available basis providing course and program restrictions are met. The COE has set the limit of twelve (12) hours on coursework that can be earned in non degree-seeking status and applied to a graduate degree. Some graduate programs may restrict non degree hours to a maximum of 12 in that program, regardless of whether the hours will be applied toward a degree or are taken for another purpose.
Division of Undergraduate Studies
Degree Programs: Early Childhood Education (B.A.), Elementary Education (B.A.), Secondary Biology Education (B.A.), Secondary Mathematics Education (B.A.), Secondary Social Science Education, Special Education (B.A.), and Child Development (B.S.)
Minor: Education
COE undergraduate teacher education B.A. programs are referred to as “integrated programs” and meet the Florida requirements for state approved teacher preparation. Integrated programs include courses and experiences that are common to students in all majors as well as courses and experiences that are specific to the major. Students progress in cohort groups that consist of students from all majors. Curricula include extensive field experiences and learning expeditions that emphasize the development of essential themes and strategies relative to each block or set of courses. Curricula also provide prospective teachers with competencies to meet the needs of special students. Many courses require three or more hours of field work each week, as noted in course syllabi. The Educator Accomplished Practices specified as critical state competencies are taught and assessed throughout the curriculum and must be fully demonstrated prior to graduation.
The B.A. in Early Childhood Education is designed to prepare students for certification from the Florida Department of Education for Prekindergarten/Primary (age 3 to grade 3), as well as Prekindergarten/Disability endorsement. Coursework and extensive field experiences enable students to dynamically integrate theory and teaching practices. Competencies include content-specific knowledge applicable to the unique developmental needs of this age population including a thorough understanding of cultural diversity, individual differences, and skills to work with children in individual ways, particularly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students; and an emphasis on capabilities of teachers to work with children with atypical abilities and special needs.
The B.A. in Elementary Education is designed to prepare students for teaching in Florida’s elementary schools and for certification by the Florida Department of Education as elementary school teachers (K through grade six). The program of study includes coursework and extensive experience in elementary school settings throughout the FGCU five-county service area (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee) to enable students to integrate theory with teaching practice.
The B.A. in Secondary Education offers three majors: Biology (6-12 grades), Mathematics (6-12 grades), and Social Science (6-12 grades). Field experiences are central to the Secondary Education program and commence in the first semester with increasing involvement throughout the program.
The B.A. in Special Education is designed to prepare students to attain certification in Exceptional Student Education, K-12 grades, which cover teaching children with emotional and behavioral disorders, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities , specific learning disabilities, and physical and health disabilities. Field experiences are central to the special education program and commence in the first semester with increasing involvement throughout the program.
The B.S in Child Development is not a Florida approved teacher preparation program but is designed to prepare education related personnel for employment in the fields of child care and children’s services for young children from birth to five and may meet the teacher certification needs of other grade levels as well. It is also designed to serve a larger population of future educators who may not desire and/or be able to complete one of the College of Education’s current state approved teacher preparation programs. Some of those include students who initially apply to one of the College of Education state approved teacher preparation programs but who cannot meet all of the admission requirements; students who want more than a minor in education and who want a program that in-cludes an internship; student athletes who may want to eventually teach in the public school sector, and students who have a major not covered by one of our state approved teacher preparation programs who want to complete as much of the Florida teacher certification requirements as possible. The BS in Child Develop-ment is flexible enough to accommodate all of these populations while retaining the highest level of practice and pedagogy.
Division of Graduate Studies
Degree Programs: Counseling (M.A. or M.Ed.); Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.); Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Technology (M.A. or M.Ed.); Educational Leadership (M.A. or M.Ed.); Elementary Education (M.Ed.); Reading (M.Ed.); and Special Education (M.Ed.); Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
The M.A. or M.Ed. in Counseling program offers two majors: Mental Health Counseling and School Coun-seling. Students in both majors take common coursework in the areas of human development, legal and ethical issues of the profession, career development, appraisal methods, counseling theories, groupwork, practicum and research, and program evaluation. Additional specialized courses focusing on either mental health counseling or school counseling are offered in areas such as internship, human sexuality, addictions, special populations, consultation, organization, administration and supervision, and professional development. Students are engaged in field-based activities during almost every enrollment. Students without prior certification as teachers who wish to become certified school counseling profession-als must complete additional courses in classroom management, curriculum and instruction, and reading.
The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program provides advanced study in education and is designed to improve the competency of teachers, to encourage research and to initiate and implement programs involving the schools and the community. The degree provides 5 concentrations in English Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, Social Science Education, and Generalist.
The M.A./M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Technology program provides advanced study in the use of technology in education and is designed to improve the technical competency of teachers, to encourage research and to initiate and implement programs involving the schools and the community.
The M.A. or M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare students for leadership positions in educational settings as well as to improve performance of current leaders in educational leadership positions. The M.Ed. program offers four concentrations: Elementary School, High School, Middle School, and Special Education. The program content focuses on the functions of educational leaders and stresses the relationship between tested practice and applied theory. The M.Ed. program prepares students for Educational Leadership certification by the Florida Department of Education. Students who already have a master’s degree may elect to take a modified program for Educational Leadership Certification. The modified program does not lead to a master’s degree.
The M.Ed. in Elementary Education is designed to provide focused graduate study for certified teachers of the elementary grades. The program is practitioner-oriented and is aimed at increasing the curriculum and instructional expertise of teachers.
The M.Ed. in Reading program provides opportunities for advanced study beyond the bachelor’s degree with specialization in theoretical approaches to reading instruction, application of theory to practice, and use of specific materials and methods of reading instruction based on current research studies. Applicants must have met professional teacher certification requirements for admission into the program. Reading instruction is the focus of this degree and includes all areas of effective communication, such as writing, reading, speaking, listening, and viewing. Students in this program are eligible to earn reading certification from the Florida Department of Education.
The M.Ed. in Special Education is a hybrid virtual program (courses meet every other week on campus and every other week online) that prepares individuals for work in public and private schools and in state, federal, or community settings. Graduate applicants must already hold a teaching certificate. Specific areas of study include advanced studies in special education and the inclusion of students with high-incidence disabilities in general education classes. This inclusive focus addresses both general and special educators’ needs for effective practice (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) with students with exceptional needs and is critical with the advent of Response to Intervention (RtI). Both general educators and special educators are welcome. The program emphasizes consultative, supervisory, and multidisciplinary skills intended for individuals who wish to assume innovative leadership roles in various general and special education careers.
The program emphasizes consultative, supervisory, and multidisciplinary skills intended for individuals who wish to assume innovative leadership roles in vari-ous general and special education careers.
The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) is a post-master’s program in education with two concentrations: Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership. The Curriculum & Instruction concentration will meet the need of educators In areas such as staff development, program coordination, and curriculum development. The Educational Leadership concentration will prepare individuals to become agents of change in organizations as leaders among the ranks of principals, superintendents, and Chief Executive Officers.
The Teacher Immersion Program (TIP) is a Florida Gulf Coast University partnership program with area school districts that supports individuals who have a bachelor's degree and an interest in teaching careers. The aims of the program are simple: to prepare qualified and quality teachers for grades K-12 who will assume full time classroom responsibilities. TIP is a state approved educator preparation institute that meets all state teacher certification requirements and awards program completers nine (9) graduate credits that can be used toward a master’s degree. Admission to the program requires a bachelor's degree, passing scores on all four sections of the FTCE General Knowledge Test, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts from an accredited college or university, a GPA of 2.75 or higher and a completed application.
