School of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences

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The School of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences grants Bachelor of Arts degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences. Bachelor of Science degrees are granted in Administration, Criminal Justice Elementary Education (K-6), and Early/Middle Education. The school offers courses in art, criminal justice, education, English, foreign language, geography, history, humanities, music, political science, psychology, social science, sociology, and communications. 

The degree programs offered by the School provide preparation for further professional education as well as immediate employment.

A degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Humanities, or Social Sciences provides excellent preparation for law and other professional schools and provides the requisite cognitive and communication skills for careers in business, government service, or journalism.

The Humanities major must earn a 2.0 quality point average on all work applied to the general studies requirements, the Humanities core, including the capstone course, English specialization, and restricted electives. A minor in Humanities is available to non-humanities majors.

The education program prepares graduates to teach at the elementary (K-6) grade level and if wanted one of five areas of specializations: 5-9 general sciences, 5-9 social studies, 5-9 English Language Arts, 5-9 general math through algebra 1, and special education multi-categorical-BD, MI, SLD (excluding autism) K-6. The two additional courses required for autism certification are also required.

As a foundation for high quality professional work, prospective teachers are provided with a well-rounded general education in the humanities, mathematics, and in the social and natural sciences. The Professional Education courses are directed toward the mastery of pedagogical content, skills, and dispositions that are required by teachers in the public schools.

The administrative unit charged with the responsibility for matters relating to the Teacher Education Program is the Educational Personnel Preparation Advisory Committee (EPPAC). The Committee provides the means for faculty from the School of Education and from the academic schools and departments directly involved in teacher preparation to participate, along with Bluefield State College students and representatives from the public schools, in the formulation and implementation of Teacher Education policies and practices.

 
Education Program Description

The Teacher Education program at Bluefield State College seeks to enhance both the professional and the individual development of the prospective teacher in the following areas:
1. Essential knowledge in cognitive areas.
2. Expertise and practical experience in the methods and techniques of teaching.
3. Warmth, understanding, and empathy in all areas required for effective teaching.
4. Readiness to assume an active role in the teaching profession.

Admission to Teacher Education

Teacher Education at Bluefield State College is a restricted enrollment program. The College recognizes two levels of status in teacher preparation:

1. A Declaration of Intent to pursue Teacher Education is attained when the student declares his/her major in education and identifies the field(s) of specialization. Intent can be declared at any time.
2. Admission to the Teacher Education Program is attained when the student meets the specified criteria.

In order to apply for admission to the Teacher Education program, students will need to complete the following steps:

1. The student has passed the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills of Educators Test in reading, language, writing, and mathematics. The CORE may be waived if the student has an ACT composite score of 26 or higher or a SAT score of 1170 on the revised SAT using the combined Critical Reading and Math score (effective March 2005 until May 2016) or 1240 on the New SAT using the combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math (effective May 2016).
2. The student has completed a minimum of 24 semester hours with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher including EDUC 110 - Foundations of Education  with a 20-hour field experience, EDUC 160 - Diversity and Education , and EDUC 200 - Child/Adolescent Growth and Development .
3. The student has completed 40 additional documented volunteer hours with at least 10 of those occuring in a school setting.
4. The student has completed a formal application, which you can obtain here .
5. Submit three completed Faculty Evaluation of Student forms (two from Education faculty and one from general studies), which can be obtained here .
6. Once these requirements are met, an interview with Education faculty will be scheduled.
7. The candidate has been interviewed by Education faculty and accepted into the program.

Students must meet all requirements for admission to Teacher Education and be accepted into the program prior to enrolling in restricted courses. Application for admission will normally occur during the sophomore year. The student is responsible for all costs associated with taking required tests.

Programs

• Humanities, B.A.
• International Studies B.A.
• Social Sciences, History Concentration, B.A.
• Social Sciences, Political Science Concentration, B.A.
• Social Sciences, Psychology Concentration, B.A.
• Social Sciences, Sociology Concentration, B.A.

• Criminal Justice Administration, Concentration Forensic Investigation, B.S.
• Criminal Justice Administration, Corrections Concentration, B.S.
• Criminal Justice Administration, Law Enforcement Concentration, B.S.
• Elementary Education B.S.

• African American History Minor
• Criminal Justice Minor
• History Minor
• Humanities Minor
• International Studies Minor
• Political Science Minor
• Pre-Law Minor
• Psychology Minor
• Sociology Minor

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