School of Education, Teaching and Health

Dean Sarah Irvine Belson

Full-Time Faculty

Professor Emeritus/a C.A. Gross, V.E. Hawke, B.A. Hodinko, P.D. Leedy, N.J. Long, D. Sadker, M.J. Safrit, C.A. Tesconi, Jr., R. Whitfield
Professor F. Jacobs, R.C. Karch, A. Snelling, V. Vasquez
Associate Professor Emeritus/a F.E. Huber, C.E. Messersmith, B.G. Coward, L. Fox, L.G. Nyce, B.J. Reimann
Associate Professor A. Anderson, S. Irvine Belson, C. Miller-Idriss, S. Vassallo, E. Worden
Assistant Professor K. Holton, I. Lancaster, L. McGrath, P. Mehlert
Professorial Lecturer S. Blumenthal, E. Colter, C. Crocker, J. Snyder
Instructor R. Cendan, J. Gan, T. Nassif
In Residence D.Cambridge, J. Durham, M. Goldhammer, S. Jaffe, D. Kleinbord, S. Stewart

The School of Education, Teaching and Health (SETH) offers programs that prepare teachers, educational leaders and managers, educational specialists, health promotion leaders and managers, and researchers for careers in schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, business, and community and professional organizations. The academic programs provide students with opportunities to collaborate with professionals in a large array of organizations that complement their program of study. Further, international opportunities are available to students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Degree programs can be completed on a full or part time basis, and knowledge is gained through community service, internships, practica, and related-research work.

The SETH faculty and programs demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of knowledge about the nature, function, and practice of education and health. Faculty conduct a wide range of research with emphasis on equity, gender, health promotion, multiculturalism, nutrition, socioeconomic status, learners with special needs, the infusion of technology into education, adult learning, and the relationship of government and public policy to education. Themes common to faculty research and programs include meeting the needs of special learners, improving the health of society, decreasing health disparities, research-informed policy development, as well as domestic and international formal and non-formal education. SETH is home to the Institute for Innovation in Education, the Collaborative for Urban Education Research and Development, and campus- wide collaborative projects on societal health research.

Students benefit from working with a highly qualified and dedicated faculty in small classes, and from opportunities to participate in ongoing faculty research aimed at influencing educational and health policy and practice. In our shared view, the fields of education, teaching and health encompass the entire well-being of an individual-intellectually, emotionally, socially, environmentally, and spiritually.

Education and Teaching Programs

On the undergraduate level, the school offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a second major in Secondary or K-12 Education, which lead to eligibility for certification to teach. Minors in education studies and special education are also offered.

A minor in education studies accommodates undergraduate students interested in the study of education as a liberal or social science discipline. It serves students who intend to pursue graduate study in education or related fields, those who wish to explore education and related fields, and those whose primary job and career opportunities are enhanced through the study of education. For students interested in broadening their knowledge and understanding of education for students with special needs, a minor in special education is also offered. Students who plan to pursue graduate education in this field are especially well served by this minor.

The school also offers graduate programs in education and programs that lead to K-12 certification. Students interested in teaching in elementary or secondary schools or in programs for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) enroll in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). A dual degree program leading to the MAT and the MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the School of International Service isavailable. Those interested in working as special education teachers or in learning disabilities classrooms at all levels enroll in the MA in Special Education: Learning Disabilities. The MA in Bilingual Education provides candidates with an in-depth study of the field and opportunities for teacher licensure. The Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for students with a background in educational theory and practice and offers extended study in the field and in areas of literacy, global literacy, and educational policy and leadership. The MA in International Training and Education (ITE) program offers opportunities to study international education and education in development.

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching is designed for students with undergraduate or graduate degrees in the arts, sciences, or humanities and several years of responsible work experience. Students who complete the program and pass the appropriate teacher’s examination are eligible to apply for certification (licensure) in the District of Columbia. Those with such certification are eligible for reciprocal certification in over 40 states. (Additional requirements might be mandated by other states for certification.)

Teacher Education Program

Selective admissions criteria allow the School of Education, Teaching and Health to emphasize early and sustained contact with children, youth, and adult learners. Students work closely with master teachers and clinical supervisors in their field placements in and around Washington, DC. The teacher preparation programs benefit from the rich resources of the Washington area, including opportunities for internships in settings such as DC Public Charter Schools, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and The Lab School of Washington, an internationally known school for students with learning disabilities.

Field Placements

Field experiences, practicum placements, and student teaching take place in the District of Columbia and the greater Washington metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia and are designed to give students experience in both urban and suburban schools. The director of the office of teacher education arranges assignments, taking into account student needs and preferences. Entry into initial field experiences and continuation into ongoing field experiences are subject to faculty review.

Accreditation and Certification

The School of Education, Teaching and Health is accredited by the District of Columbia State Board of Education and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The following certification programs have been approved by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education: biology (7-12 license), chemistry (7-12 license), early childhood education (preK-3 license), elementary education (1-6 license), English (7-12 license), English as a second language (K-12 license), foreign language: French, German, Spanish (K-12 license), health and physical education (K-12 license), mathematics (7-12 license), music (K-12 license), performing arts (7-12 license), physics (K-12 license), social studies (7-12 license), and studio art (7-12 license).

Students admitted to graduate teacher education programs may be required to complete additional coursework in order to be eligible for certification upon graduation. Students will be informed of additional requirements upon admission.

Ongoing Assessment of Academic and Professional Performance

Students are expected to maintain cumulative grade point averages specific to each program; receive satisfactory evaluations in field and methods placements; obtain a satisfactory annual evaluation from the Teacher Education Committee based upon academic, professional, and performance criteria established by the committee; meet specific course grade requirements; complete all Praxis I and subject area appropriate Praxis II examinations; and submit an electronic professional portfolio.

Students in the BA in Elementary Education program must maintain an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher. Students in the undergraduate second major in Secondary and/or K-12 Education must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.70 and 3.00 or higher in their primary major. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher.

Report of American University State Assessments, Requirements, and Standards for Teacher Certification and Licensure, and Performance of Teacher Preparation Programs

In compliance with Section 207 of the Higher Education Act, American University is providing information regarding state assessments, other requirements, standards for teacher certification and licensure, and performance of teacher preparation programs.

American University’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the District of Columbia and nationally accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education.

There is a commitment to a strong general education foundation for students before their acceptance into the School of Education, Teaching and Health. Teacher preparation programs are organized around four interrelated principles (equity, community, diversity, and excellence) and are based on a conceptual framework that recognizes the importance of knowledge, beliefs, practice, and reflection.

In academic year 2012-2013, 240 students were enrolled in teacher preparation programs; 97 of these students were completing supervised student teaching programs. Forty-seven faculty members including 14 full time faculty in professional education, and 33 part time faculty members (adjunct faculty) supervised and/or taught students in the teacher education program. The student/faculty ratio for field experiences was 3:1. The average hours per week required of students in the program was 35 hours per week over 14 weeks, for a total of 490 hours.

Aggregate and Summary of Institution-Level Pass-Rate Data: Regular Teacher Preparation Program for 2012-2013

Type of Assessment	Institutional Pass Rate	Statewide Pass Rate
Aggregate-Basic Skills	98%	96%
Summary	98%	90%

Aggregate and Summary of Institution-Level Pass-Rate Data: Alternative Route Teacher Preparation Program for 2012-2013

Type of Assessment	Institutional Pass Rate	Statewide Pass Rate
Aggregate-Basic Skills	96%	94%
Summary	79%	86%

Health Promotion Programs

Health issues have universal interest and appeal, transcending the boundaries of race, religion, culture, and national origin. Over the past two decades, the importance of maintaining or improving one’s well-being through health-enhancing behaviors has become self evident. Responding to these developments, the School of Education, Teaching, and Health offers the following academic programs to students at American University:

Minor in Health Promotion
BS in Health Promotion
MS in Health Promotion Management
MS in Nutrition Education (Online)
Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education

Additionally, the health promotion undergraduate program offers a variety of health and fitness electives to American University students. These electives provide students with enjoyable opportunities to engage in physical activity through courses such as aerobic dance, weight training, yoga, golf, and many others. Exploratory courses within the field of health promotion are also open to all American University students, such as nutrition, exercises, physiology and sports psychology.

Students enrolled in American University’s health promotion degree programs benefit from a strong alumni network that provides professional connections for informational interviews, internships, and occasional employment. Many alumni are employed locally, making networking opportunities highly accessible to students. Furthermore, the health promotion degree programs benefit from the Washington, DC location of well-known organizations whose purpose is to improve public health, such as specific departments of the federal government, national non-profits, and global corporations. In particular, our students have benefited from internships and presentations from organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, National Business Group on Health, Center for Science in the Public Interest, AARP, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity. Finally, there are an abundance of annual conferences and meetings that take place in Washington, DC and are available to students at a free or reduced rate which offer students invaluable networking experience and enhanced learning.

For additional information contact 202-885-6254 or healthfitness@american.edu, or go to: www.american.edu/cas/seth/health/

Programs

Major

Minor

Master’s Program

Graduate Certificate