Teacher Education

About the program

The Ferrum Teacher Education Program prepares students to become leaders as teachers in today's classrooms. The program challenges students to think about curriculum issues, classroom management approaches, and alternatives to traditional assessments. Students are asked to create a stance and reflect on current educational policy. Students make data-driven decisions about their instructional approaches, consider ways to effectively involve all learners, and develop a philosophical stance about education. The development of a personal philospohy is consistently examined and refined within each class in the Teacher Education Program.

The Ferrum College Teacher Education Program graduates students who believe all students can learn. Our students become skilled in methods to differentiate instruction for each student in today's diverse classrooms by developing strategies that are research based. Graduates are expected to work collaboratively with colleagues, school administrators and parents in order to best serve their community. The Ferrum College Teacher Education Program produces educational leaders.

Students interested in Teacher Education can select from three options:

Elementary Education (PK-6 Licensure)

Major in Liberal Arts, minor in Teacher Education

Secondary Education (6-12 Licensure)

Major in one of 15 different content (subject) areas, minor in Teacher Education

All-Level (PK-12 Licensure)

Major in Art, Dramatic & Theatre Arts, Physical Education, or a foreign language

Minor in Teacher Education

Coursework in Teacher Education

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Teacher Education, and includes courses such as:

Introduction to Education
Survey of Special Education
Foundations of Education
Language Arts
Developmental/Diagnostic Reading
Content Area Reading
The Middle School
Strategies I and II
Student Teaching and Synthesis

Related Clubs

There are over 50 clubs and organizations available to students at Ferrum College. These are specifically related to Teacher Education:

The Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), International Honor Society in Education. The name represents knowledge, duty, and power in Greek. "Kappa Delta Pi supports and enhances the professional growth and teaching practices of its member educators throughout the phases and levels of their teaching careers. This support is essential to inaugurating and retaining the best and brightest professionals in the field of education." Kappa Delta Pi
The Student Virginia Education Association (SVEA) serves teacher educators and gives students a jump start as a professional in teacher education. Student Virginia Education Association

Experiential & hands-on learning opportunities

Internships: Students explore career opportunities and establish mentors through internships. In each education course students work in classrooms under the guidance of cooperating teachers. The internship experiences begin in the sophomore year with the first teacher education course. These early experiences give students ample time to prepare themselves for a career in teaching. Internships are a hallmark of the Teacher Education Program.

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What can I be with a minor in Teacher Education?

A minor in Teacher Education leads to traditional career paths, as well as less expected fields. For example:

You could be a(n) ...
Teacher
Editor
Research Assistant
Curriculum Designer
Textbook Salesperson
Day Care Worker
Technical Writer
Education Materials Designer

Teacher Education Faculty

Dr. Mary Ann Norman
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Director of the Teacher Education Program
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Ph.D.
(540) 365-4605
manorman@ferrum.edu | View Profile

Dr. J. Carroll Smith
Associate Professor of Teacher Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Ed.D.
(540) 365-4395
jcsmith@ferrum.edu

Adjunct Faculty

Virginia B. Seale
Instructor of Teacher Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.S.
(540) 365-4237
vseale@ferrum.edu | View Profile

Richard G. Moss
Instructor of Teacher Education
Hollins University, M.A.
(540) 365-4237
rmoss@ferrum.edu

Administrative Support

Joyce Creel
Academic Secretary for Teacher Education
School of Social Sciences and Professional Studies
540-365-4401
jcreel@ferrum.edu

Find out more

Information is only an email away! Contact Dr. Mary Ann Norman at manorman@ferrum.edu.

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