Educating Effective Teachers through the Liberal Arts with a Focus on Content, Pedagogy and Professionalism

The Department of Education is an academic department within the University of North Carolina Asheville, offering a teacher education program resulting in a North Carolina Standard Professional I teaching license in the following areas:

  • Elementary Education (K-6)
  • Middle School Education (6-9) in: Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science
  • Secondary Education (9-12) in Biology, Chemistry, Comprehensive Science, Earth Science, English, Latin, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies
  • Art (K-12)
  • French, Latin, Spanish (K-12)
  • Theatre Arts (K-12) 
  • Special Education (K-12) 

Policies of the Department of Education

The policies of the Department of Education are published in the Policies and Procedures Manual. The Department is governed by the policies of the University of North Carolina Asheville as outlined in the UNC Asheville Faculty Handbook, the UNC Asheville Catalog, the UNC Asheville, Clinical Practice Handbook, and other documents. 

The Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education program is offered at the baccalaureate level for undergraduate and post baccalaureate students. In addition to the appropriate education program, undergraduates must complete the general education requirements of the University and the requirements of a major department in the University. Postgraduates with a baccalaureate degree and a grade point average of 2.7 from an accredited college or university need to complete the appropriate education program and also any requirements for a major appropriate to their own area of specialization that were lacking in their prior academic experience.

Mission of the Department of Education
University of North Carolina Asheville

The mission of the Department of Education is to prepare candidates for a North Carolina Standard Professional I Teaching license with a liberal arts foundation.  The Department of Education prepares highly qualified teachers who will contribute to the teaching profession and who will positively impact teacher candidates in the public school system. Our program completers are teachers who have broad perspective, who think critically, reflectively and creatively; who are humane and committed to meeting the learning needs of all teacher candidates; and who guide teacher candidates using active inquiry to become effective and productive citizens in the 21st century. 

Linkage to UNC ASHEVILLE Mission

The faculty of the Department of Education at UNC Asheville believes that a liberal arts education with a major in an academic discipline combined with training in skillful pedagogy and development of professional dispositions is the best program to prepare undergraduate candidates to become teachers. We believe that through attainment of discipline-specific knowledge, understanding of interdisciplinary linkages, concentrated study of pedagogy, and training in a professional approach to teaching, our candidates develop into teachers who are prepared to meet the multifaceted needs of young people. The ultimate goal of the Department of Education at UNC Asheville is to provide highly qualified teachers who will positively impact the children in the public school system and the profession in general. These goals match the Mission Statement of UNC Asheville as well as its Strategic Plan which calls for undergraduate education to set the standard of excellence and to provide accomplished thinkers and problem solvers for the schools of North Carolina and the nation. The goals are aligned with UNC Asheville’s Quality Enhancement Plan, Inquiry ARC: Inquire-Apply-Reflect-Communicate, and with the University’s Teacher Candidate Learning Outcomes as described below.

Teacher Education Program Goals

Overarching Goals for the Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) (the Teacher Education Program)

  • Meet national standards for the EPP.
  • Meet state and national standards relevant to various programs.
  • Meet the EPP goals for candidates through various programs.
  • Ensure the excellence of all licensure programs in the EPP.
  • Respond to the needs of the regional and state-wide teaching community.

EPP Candidate Goals Correlated with UNC Asheville Teacher Candidate Learning Outcomes

  • Candidates demonstrate knowledge of the depth, breadth, and interdisciplinary connections inherent in the specialty area discipline studied. 
  • Candidates develop mastery of a specific major and an understanding of the connections among disciplines.
  • Candidates apply state and national standards, research-verified best practices, critical thinking, clear and thoughtful communication, creative expression, and honest open inquiry in designing, implementing, differentiating, assessing, and reflecting on effective pedagogy.
  • Candidates develop skills in critical thinking, clear and thoughtful communication, creative expression, and honest open inquiry.
  • Candidates demonstrate professional dispositions in varied educational settings with regard to a diversity of students and all members of the school community. 
  • Candidates demonstrate professional dispositions in varied educational settings with regard to a diversity of students and all members of the school community. 
  • Candidates develop respect for the differences  among people and ideas, and learn to clarify and articulate their own values.

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