Online Elementary Eduction Program

1. Candidate submits an application. Candidates must select the Online Elementary Program on Concord University's admission application. APPLY HERE.
2. The submitted application is processed by the Department of Education. Applications will be reviewed, and a transcript analysis will be completed if needed.
3. Candidates will be notified of their status (accepted or denied).
4. If accepted, candidates will have a 4-Year-Plan created for them by the Department of Education Chair, and will be enrolled in coursework.

Clinical Experiences

Candidates are required to complete Clinical Experiences in elementary Partner Schools located in counties that are part of Concord University's service area, as well as required seminars offered at the University. Concord University's service area includes public schools in the following counties in WV and VA: Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Wyoming, Tazewell, Bland & Giles. 

Early Clinical Experiences are required by multiple education courses throughout the Professional Education Component, Content Specialization Component, and Year Long Residency. These Early Clinical Experiences will culminate in a Year Long Residency consisting of two parts. Students who complete Part 1 of the Year Long Residency (previsously referred to as the Methods Block) will then transition into Part 2 of the Year Long Residency (Student Teaching) within the same classroom. Teacher Candidates are required to meet all special requirements set forth by each individual county's Board of Education if applicable.

​Candidates working toward the Bachelor of Science in Education degree are advised that all phases of teacher education require cooperative efforts between Concord University and the public schools or other agencies.The superintendent, or legal representatives of these agencies or schools, and the representative of the University shall have the authority, after consultation, to reject placement or terminate the participation of any candidate who fails to meet the professional standards of the cooperating school, agency, or the University.During student teaching, the reports of the supervising teacher(s) and the recommendation(s) of the University Supervisor are essential components in determining the eligibility for graduation and recommendation for licensure.

Partner Schools

Concord University is involved in a collaborative with local public schools.The Partner Schools are designed to prepare future educators, to provide current educators with ongoing professional development, to encourage joint school-university faculty investigation of education-related issues, and to promote the learning of P-12 students. The Partner Schools, structured as a network that includes University and public school faculty, parents, and community partners, seek to improve teacher education and meet professional development needs and goals as identified by public school faculty. The partnership collaborative provides the bridges that connect Concord’s teacher education program to the daily instructional practices that occur in P-12 schools. The Partner Schools serve as clinical sites for teacher candidates to teach under the guidance of an expert mentor teacher.The clinical experiences allow faculty from Concord and the partnerships to collaborate extensively in providing quality experiences for all teacher candidates involved in the initiative.The public schools benefit from the expertise of the University faculty and the significant contributions the teacher candidates make to the school. The children in these schools benefit from the additional adult attention as well as from the enthusiasm and new learning strategies that teacher candidates often bring to the classroom as they prepare to become teachers.

Professional Education Component

All teacher education candidates must earn a 2.75 GPA in the Professional Education Component, and complete all Professional Education Component courses with a grade of 'C' or better. Coursework in the Professional Education Component that is older than ten years may have to be repeated. 

Professional Education Core

• EDUC 210 Diversity, Culture, and Education in a Pluralistic Society (3 hrs)
• EDUC 301 Educational Technology (3 hrs)
• EDUC 305 Psychology of Teaching and Learning (3 hrs)
• EDUC 306 Classroom Management and Instructional Strategies (3 hrs)
• EDSP 303 Introduction to Special Education (3 hrs)

​Year Long Residency

Concord utilizes the year-long residency model for teacher candidates in the final year of their program. Concord believes that by providing practical classroom learning during the semester in which the candidates are enrolled in content methods courses, the candidate will be afforded stronger support in the initial phase into teaching. The full year residency model provides opportunities for co-teaching and earlier mentoring from classroom teachers

Residency Part 1: During this semester the candidate is placed in the school where he/she will be completing the year-long residency. This is a semester-long, intensive (full-day), professional experience arranged and coordinated by the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences in the Department of Education at Concord University. Teacher candidates should not enroll in extra coursework. The candidate will be in a public school classroom 4 full days per week, adn will attend their courses 1 day per week; thus, integrating coursework and practical teaching. During the this semester the teacher candidate will follow Concord University’s academic calendar. 

Residency Part 2: Students who complete Part 1 of the Year Long Residency will then transition into Part 2 of the Year Long Residency (Student Teaching) within the same classroom. During this semester, teacher candidates work as full-time teaching interns, assuming all responsibilities and duties of the cooperating teacher, under the direction of a university supervisor. This experience represents a bridge between the knowledge, skills, and dispositions developed through formal course work and the practical application of those professional attributes. It is the time when teacher candidates have the opportunity to display and to strengthen their commitment to the personal and professional qualities of the 21st century professional.
 
Residency Part2 is a 16-week, intensive (full-day), professional experience arranged and coordinated by the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences in the Department of Education at Concord University. This is a full time professional experience.Teacher candidates should not enroll in extra coursework, or engage in extra-curricular activities which interfere with Residency Part2. Exceptions to this must be approved by the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences. Candidates complete assignments in P-12 public school(s) located in Concord Universities service area, as well as required seminars offered at the University.Candidates must attend a mandatory placement meeting held the semester prior to Residency Part 2. During Residency Part 2, the candidate will follow the county schools academic calendar.

Content Area Component

All elementary education candidstes must earn a minimum 2.75 content area GPA, and earn a 'C' or better in education coursework. For a listing of content area coursework, please refer to the Academic Catalog.

General Education Component

All Concord University students must earn a minimum 2.00 in the General Education Component. Specific General Education courses are satisfied within the Elementary Education program. Elementary Education majors must complete specific General Education coursework as noted on the progression sheet.

 

Are all applicants accepted into the Online Elementary Program?

No. Minimum requriements for admission to Concord University are required. Once admission to the university is granted, candidates must complete all other Online Elementary Program admission criteria, and have their application be reviewed by the Department of Education Chair. 

Are only First-Time-Freshman allowed to apply?

No. Any first-time-freshman, current CU student, re-admit or transfer student can apply for admission into the Online Elementary Program. Candidates are welcome to transfer hsours. Analysis of transcripts are done on an individual basis.

Does acceptace into the Online Elementary Program mean automatic acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP)?

No. Once admission into the program is granted, candidates must complete certain courses and requirements to be eligible to apply for formal admission to the TEP. 

Would I be required to complete Clinical Experiences within Concord's service area?

CU does not place candidates in clinical experience classrooms without a written agreement with the school district. Concord is willing to work to establish agreements with any district in which the enrolled candidate is living, so that clinical experiences can be completed in relatively close proximity to the candidate. Establishing agreements depends on the willingness of the school district to provide certain assurances to ensure quality clinical experiences, with quality supervision and support.

Would Student Teaching be required?

Yes. Concord University’s Elementary Education program includes a Year-Long Residency. Part II of the Year-Long Residency is similar to what is traditionally known as student teaching. Candidates will complete Part I of the Year-Long Residency (previously referred to as Methods Block) in the same classroom in which they plan on student teaching. Since candidates have already completed Part I of the residency in the same classroom, candidates are more confident and prepared to be a co-teacher in an elementary education classroom during student teaching.

Will I received a teaching license?

Upon successful completion of the Online Elementary Program, candidates will be recommended for a West Virginia Teaching license. West Virginia has reciprocal agreements with many states. Candidates should check requirements of the state in which they are ultimately planning to teach for specific requirements and eligibility.

What if I determine that an entirely online program isn't the best choice for me after I have begun the coursework?

Candidates who are accepted into the Online Elementary Program may exit the program at any time to complete coursework as part the regular elementary education program. However, once a candiate exits the Online Elementary Program, they can not re-apply for admission.

Am I allowed to take a combination of online coursework, and course work delivered in a sychronous manner?

No. If a candidate is enrolled in the Online Elementary Program, all coursework must be completed entirely online. Accepted candidates will not be able to "jump around" between course delivery methods.

Will students not admitted to the Online Elementary Program be permitted to take online education courses as well?

Yes. Online Elementary Program candidates are given priority in online education course enrollment. If seats remain open after Online Elementary Program candidates have enrolled, non-online program candidates will be permitted to enroll in the coursework.

Will I be guaranteed a spot in an online course that is not an Education course?

Ideally, yes. Online Elementary Program courses must be taken in a specific order, in order to match other departments' online course offerings. A specific number of seats in those courses will be "reserved" for Online Elementary Program candidates during the designated semesters.