Wake Forest University’s Department of Education seeks to prepare future teachers, school leaders, and educational policy makers while informing students across disciplines for caring and effective service in classroom, school, community, nonprofit, and public policy positions. The Department of Education offers a major in Elementary Education and minors in Secondary Education and Schools, Education, and Society. The Department of Education also houses the university’s College-to-Career Course Series, which provides students with an opportunity to explore personal attributes that influence future academic and professional decisions and to consider the factors that create a meaningful, fulfilling life after Wake Forest.

Wake Forest University believes that the teaching profession is important to society and that its welfare is significantly affected by the quality of educational leadership. One of the important objectives of the University has been and continues to be the preparation of teachers. The University’s commitment to quality in teacher education is demonstrated by selective admission to the program, a wide range of professional courses, and closely supervised internships appropriate to the professional development of students. Wake Forest's teacher education program is proud to meet rigorous state and national standards for educator preparation, is fully accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), and is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.

Prospective elementary teachers earn a major in education. Prospective secondary teachers of English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics major in that discipline and minor in education. Prospective secondary social studies teachers major in a social studies-related discipline (such as history, political science, economics, sociology, or anthropology), complete content requirements, and minor in education. In addition to the professional program, the department provides elective courses open to all students.

Teacher Licensure

The state of North Carolina issues the Initial Class A Teacher’s License to graduates who have completed an approved program including the specified courses in their teaching fields and the prescribed courses in education, who meet licensure requirements, and who receive recommendations from the designated officials in their teaching areas and from the licensure officer. 

Teacher Education Admission Requirements

Admission involves filing an official application with the department’s licensure officer, being interviewed, and being officially approved by the department. In addition, the state of North Carolina requires Teacher Education Program applicants to submit qualifying SAT, ACT, or Praxis core scores before being formally admitted. 

All students are required to have a 2.7 or better GPA before being formally accepted to the Teacher Education Program. Formal acceptance into the program should take place by April 1 of the junior year for secondary students and by January 1 of the junior year for elementary students.

Teacher Education Program Area Goals

The goals and objectives for each licensure area are available on the department website.

Teacher Education Course Requirements

The approved program of teacher education requires candidates to complete successfully a series of professional education courses. The exact sequence of professional and academic courses varies with a student’s particular program and is determined by the adviser in conference with the candidate. 

Student Teaching

Prerequisites for registering for student teaching include:

  1. senior, graduate, or special student classification
  2. completion of prerequisite courses
  3. formal admission to the Teacher Education Program

Students are assigned to student-teaching opportunities by public school officials on the basis of available positions and the professional needs of the student and the public school system. One semester of the senior year is reserved for the student-teaching experience. Students may not take courses outside the education department during this semester without the approval of the department chair.

College to Career Courses

EDU 120, EDU 220, EDU 320EDU 360, and EDU 370 compose the five-course “College-to-Career” strand of courses.

EDU 120Personal Framework for Career Exploration (recommended for first-year students in their second semester and sophomores)1.5
EDU 220Options in the World of Work (recommended for first-year students in their second semester and sophomores)1.5
EDU 320Strategic Job Search Processes (recommended for juniors and seniors)1.5
EDU 360Professional and Life Skills (open only to seniors)1.5
EDU 370Professional Experience in the Engaged Liberal Arts3
EDU 299Career Planning *1.5
*

EDU 299 is a survey course containing elements of  EDU 120EDU 220, and EDU 320. It is reserved for juniors and seniors who have not had an opportunity to take the recommended four-course strand.

Contact Information

Department of Education
Tribble Hall B201, Box 7266
Phone 336-758-5341