Education
The Mount Mercy Education program prepares reflective teachers and leaders informed by scholarship, grounded in best practice, enriched by caring, and committed to responsive service in the “Mercy Tradition.” In order to achieve this mission, Mount Mercy provides for each prospective teacher a program of core curriculum, concentration in a major field of learning, varied field based experiences and a sequence of education courses leading to professional licensure by the State of Iowa. The curriculum for the Education majors, including endorsement areas, is under regulation and accreditation from the Department of Education in Iowa and is subject to change upon changes in regulation made by the State.
The Education major aims to prepare students to: create equitable instructional opportunities; demonstrate knowledge of subject areas; use assessment to monitor student learning and inform their planning and decisions; and display positive dispositional qualities of effective teachers.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may select licensure and specific endorsements authorizing them to teach in a range of programs from preschool through secondary school. Public and parochial schools are the main employers of teacher education graduates. Additional career opportunities include service organizations and day care centers.
An Invitation to Teaching
All students should enroll in ED 106 An Invitation to Teaching, during the first semester or term in which they take education courses. They will obtain a Teacher Education Program (TEP) handbook at this time along with specific information about policies and the Performance Assessment System (PAS). Students will review the handbook, complete certifications necessary for field work, develop an awareness of the dispositional qualities of effective teachers, and an understanding of TEP program and screening requirements.
Field Experiences
Supervised field experiences with children prior to student teaching are an integral component of the Mount Mercy Teacher Education Program. A minimum of four field experiences are required of all students in education. Field experience is typically done on a regular weekly basis over the course of the term at state-approved public and non-public schools in the metropolitan area with certified teachers. These experiences provide students with opportunities to observe and to implement educational activities with individual pupils, small groups, and large groups under direct supervision of a certified teacher who models professional skills. Our standard practice is to avoid placing students in a school where they are employed, where a relative works, or where their children attend. Pass/Fail grading is used for field experience. Each field experience is associated with a specific course and a passing grade is required of all field experiences. Students are to attend field experiences throughout the entire semester or as scheduled for a specific course. Field experience expectations are specified within courses and in the Teacher Education Handbook.
Field Experience Requirements:
- Enroll in ED 106 An Invitation to Teaching, as a co-requisite with the first education course taken at Mount Mercy.
- Successful completion of certification in: blood borne pathogens, mandatory reporting and Virtus training
- Comply with health and safety guidelines established by the Education Department. (see TEP)
- Sign voluntary disclosure and waiver forms.
- All field experiences are considered an integral component of the associated core courses and, therefore, successful completion of the course requires students to meet the stated performance criteria for course and field work. Students who fail to successfully complete either the course or the associated field are required to retake both the course and the field experience (see TEP Handbook).
Students seeking additional field experiences may enroll in ED 417 Field Experience for Education (see catalog course description).
Professional Development School Model
Junior level Education students will participate in a Professional Development School Model (PDS). Under this model, students will attend classes and have their experience in the local district building three mornings per week. This provides students with hands on experiences in a school setting as well as numerous observations of classroom teachers and their instructors.
Transfer Students
A maximum of two field experiences will be considered for transfer to Mount Mercy for credit in the education program. Students who have had the equivalent content of ED 102 Foundations of Education and ED 263 Educating the Exceptional Person but lack the equivalent field experience should enroll in ED 415 Field Experience or ED 416 Field Experience Exceptional Persons respectively.
Correspondence Courses
Correspondence courses are not accepted for required education courses. Correspondence courses may only be applied as elective credits toward the baccalaureate degree.
Life Experience Credit
The Iowa Department of Education will not accept credits awarded for “life experience” for any purpose.
Education Department Promotion and Admittance
It is the responsibility of the Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee to admit students who are academically capable and who have demonstrated a level of performance that indicates the ability to continue successfully in the program. A Performance Assessment System, fully described in the Teacher Education Handbook, helps students monitor their progress in meeting established criteria for each phase of their preparation. Feedback is provided as students complete courses, field experiences, and at each admittance level. There are four levels to the Education major. Students take initial major and endorsement courses in Level I. The following courses are considered Level I courses, and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA is required before enrolling in these courses:
ED 102 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
ED 106 | An Invitation to Teaching | 1 |
ED 132 | Children's Literature | 3 |
ED 253 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
ED 263 | Educating the Exceptional Person | 3 |
Before progressing to Level II courses, feedback will be collected from faculty members regarding students' progression on identified TEP goals. Students will also develop a written reflection based on their own self-evaluation. Each student will meet with two faculty members to discuss this feedback and develop goals and action steps for Level II. A state mandated basic proficiency test (C-BASE) in reading, writing and math is also required to progress into Level II. The Department will also accept the PPST or CAAP proficiency test. See TEP Handbook for passing score requirements. Students must meet the proficiency test (C-BASE) requirements prior to starting ED 232 Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education or ED 234 Principles of Secondary Education. Details of the testing procedure are provided in the Teacher Education Handbook. Test dates and registration materials are available in the Education Office. No section of the test may be taken more than three (3) times. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the necessary services/materials/coursework to remediate low scores on the C-BASE prior to retesting if necessary. The following are some resources which may be of assistance:
- Private tutor.
- Busse Library resources.
- Kirkwood Community College offers some coursework.
- Retaking a literature, math or writing course.
- Mount Mercy Academic Center for Excellence.
A GPA of 2.70 or above is required before entering Level II courses, specifically: ED 232 Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education or ED 234 Principles of Secondary Education and ED 309 Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Classroom and ED 345 Math Methods for Elementary Teachers I.Some transfer students that have completed a majority of the Level I courses at another institution may begin Level II upon enrollment at Mount Mercy if they meet all of the above requirements.
The Level III application process will begin in the fall of student's Junior year. Admittance to Level III is required to enroll in:
ED 166 | Art Methods Majors K-8 with reading | 2 |
ED 268 | Music Methods Majors K-8 with reading | 2 |
ED 311 | Reading and Language Arts in the Intermediate Classroom | 3 |
ED 319 | Social Studies Methods for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
ED 322 | Secondary General Methods with Reading | 2 |
ED 323 | Art Methods Majors 5-12 (with Reading) | 2 |
ED 324 | Music Methods Music Majors 5-12 (with Reading) | 2 |
ED 325 | Methods 5-12 Business (with Reading) | 3 |
ED 326 | Methods 5-12 English/LA (with Reading) | 3 |
ED 327 | Methods 5-12 Mathematics (with Reading) | 3 |
ED 328 | Methods 5-12 Science (with Reading) | 3 |
ED 329 | Methods 5-12 Social Science (with Reading) | 3 |
ED 333 | Methods 5-12 Journalism | 2 |
ED 346 | Math Methods for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
ED 347 | Science Methods for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
The elementary education major grade point average is based on the following courses:
ED 102 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
ED 106 | An Invitation to Teaching | 1 |
ED 132 | Children's Literature | 3 |
ED 164 | Health Awareness and PE Methods | 3 |
ED 165 | Art Methods K-8 for Classroom Teachers | 1.5 |
ED 232 | Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 2 |
ED 253 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
ED 263 | Educating the Exceptional Person | 3 |
ED 269 | Music Methods K-8 Classroom Teachers | 1.5 |
ED 309 | Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Classroom | 3 |
ED 311 | Reading and Language Arts in the Intermediate Classroom | 3 |
ED 319 | Social Studies Methods for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
ED 345 | Math Methods for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
ED 346 | Math Methods for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
ED 347 | Science Methods for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
ED 370 | Education Leadership Seminar | 2 |
ED 375 | Classroom Management for Education Majors | 1 |
ED 379 | Human Relations | 3 |
PS 224 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
(Art and Music majors ED 166 Art Methods Majors K-8 with reading or ED 268 Music Methods Majors K-8 with reading). A 2.70 cumulative GPA is required for entry, continuation and licensure.
The secondary education major grade point average is based on the following courses:
ED 102 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
ED 106 | An Invitation to Teaching | 1 |
ED 234 | Principles of Secondary Education | 3 |
ED 253 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
ED 263 | Educating the Exceptional Person | 3 |
ED 322 | Secondary General Methods with Reading | 2 |
One of the following: | 2 | |
Art Methods Majors 5-12 (with Reading) | ||
Music Methods Music Majors 5-12 (with Reading) | ||
Methods 5-12 Business (with Reading) | ||
Methods 5-12 English/LA (with Reading) | ||
Methods 5-12 Mathematics (with Reading) | ||
Methods 5-12 Science (with Reading) | ||
Methods 5-12 Social Science (with Reading) | ||
ED 370 | Education Leadership Seminar | 2 |
ED 375 | Classroom Management for Education Majors | 1 |
ED 379 | Human Relations | 3 |
PS 224 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
A 2.70 cumulative GPA is required for entry, continuation and licensure.
The Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee reviews each application and notifies the student of the decision by letter.
Acceptance into the program is based on the following:
- Pass the standardized proficiency test in reading, writing, and math with acceptable scores in each area.
- At the time of application to the teacher education program students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.70 and a grade point average of 2.70 in the elementary and/or secondary majors and any other major or endorsement areas.
- No grades below C (2.00) in any of the following courses:
ED 102 Foundations of Education 2 ED 106 An Invitation to Teaching 1 ED 132 Children's Literature 3 ED 232 Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education 2 ED 253 Educational Psychology 3 ED 263 Educating the Exceptional Person 3 ED 234 Principles of Secondary Education 3 PS 224 Developmental Psychology 3 - These courses must be completed prior to admission to Level III.
- Proficiency in composition and speech as evidenced by grades of at least C (2.00) in one core curriculum writing course and CO 101 Oral Communication . Proficiency in speech and writing must be demonstrated in education course work and field experience.
- Proficiency in mathematics as evidenced by a grade of at least C (2.00) in MA 125 Fundamentals Of Arithmetic & Logic or other college-level mathematics course. This course must be completed prior to junior level methods courses.
- Proficiency in meeting field experience criteria. (See TEP Handbook)
- Written recommendations from full-time Mount Mercy instructors.
- All students must take either ED 232 Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education or ED 234 Principles of Secondary Education at Mount Mercy. These courses include an associated semester long field experience . The course and Field Experience must be successfully completed.
- Demonstration of TEP performance criteria for knowledge, skills, and dispositions associated with professionalism in teaching. This includes satisfactory demonstration of the core performances designated for required courses in the program. Students shall document competency by submitting core assignments. All core performance assignments are scored in an assessment database. The criteria used for field experience evaluations are located in the field experience section of the TEP Handbook. Students receiving a score below a C (2.00) on a core performance are expected to initiate and receive instructor approval of a plan for demonstrating satisfactory performance by an agreed upon date, not later than the next applicable TEP application process. Grades for the initial core performance will not be changed, but demonstration of satisfactory remediation will be noted in the Student Assessment Record.
- The Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee reviews each candidate to consider his/her potential for successful program completion. A grade of C (2.00) or above in an education course is not the sole indicator of success in the class. A student may receive a C or above in one or more courses while needing to remediate numerous core assignments. A pattern of low core performance scores, repeated course enrollments, remediated/unremediated core assignments, and/or numerous conditional ratings on the faculty recommendation form may result in denial by the Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee.
- Students need to provide pupils with a positive and safe learning environment. They must be able to meet the demands of teaching in a classroom. Frequent absences from the classroom and/or a student’s inability to meet responsibilities to pupils and the cooperating teacher may delay or prevent admission to the program.
- Students receiving a C- or below in any subject area methods course (ED 232 Principles of Early Childhood and Elementary Education or ED 234 Principles of Secondary Education,ED 309 Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Classroom, ED 345 Math Methods for Elementary Teachers I) may not continue into the Level III courses in the spring.
The Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee may approve or deny entrance into the teacher education program and student teaching, or the committee may recommend that a student withdraw his/her application and resubmit at a later date. Letters of acceptance or denial are sent to each applicant following the committee meeting. The committee includes full-time education faculty and two additional Mount Mercy faculty. Any student who is initially admitted to Level III, but does not successfully complete those courses or chooses to go at a slower pace and therefore does not complete those courses, must reapply to the Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee before taking Level III courses.
Admission to Student Teaching
Student teaching is considered Level IV. Students will apply for student teaching during the spring semester prior to student teaching. Similar to admittance to Level III, the Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee will review student's application materials. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.70 and a 2.70 in both the elementary and/or secondary majors and other major or endorsement areas at the time of application for permission to student teach. A minimum of a C (2.00) must be obtained in all methods courses and all endorsement area courses. Core performance expectations, outlined in number nine and ten above, must continue to be met. Secondary students must complete or be near completion of courses in their original endorsement areas prior to student teaching.
If a student’s cumulative or endorsement GPA drops below 2.70 at the end of the spring methods semester the student has the following options: change majors, return and retake the course(s) the following spring to raise the GPA, or select the nonlicensure option. NOTE: if the GPA falls below 2.50 students will need to select another major.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is completed in state-approved public and non-public schools in the area with certified teachers. The education program is carefully sequenced to ensure student teaching during the fall semester. Placements are based on feedback from the student, school/teacher availability, faculty judgment and supervisory responsibilities. Students are required to attend student teacher orientation in the spring prior to student teaching. Student teaching commences with fall in-service activities at the assigned school and both the cooperating teacher and student teacher workshop at Mount Mercy. Therefore, the student teaching calendar may differ from the Mount Mercy calendar. (A pass-fail grade is assigned for student teaching and a letter grade is assigned for ED 370 Education Leadership Seminar , ED 375 Classroom Management for Education Majors and ME 450 Mercy Experience Capstone).
Continuation in the Teacher Education Program
The Education Department reserves the right to retain students who, in the judgment of the Education Department Promotion and Admittance Committee, continue to demonstrate the standards expected of prospective members of the teaching profession.
Appeal
A student who is not accepted into the education program or to student teaching may appeal in accordance with the Academic/Administrative Grievance Procedure (See the Mount Mercy Grievance Policy in the Good Book). A student who is denied admission to the teacher education program has one additional opportunity to resubmit an application. This must occur within one year of the denial. Students who withdraw their application may resubmit at a later date.
Licensure
Two state mandated tests must be completed and passed with the minimum cut score required by the Iowa Department of Education in order for teacher candidates to be recommended for licensure. The Praxis II tests for specific content must be completed as well as a Principles of Learning and Teaching Test. There are several forms of these tests, so candidates should consult their advisor to ensure they are completing the appropriate tests for their major and endorsement areas. Upon successful completion of student teaching and all graduation requirements (including earning a minimum of 123.0 total semester hours), the University Certification Official recommends candidates to the State of Iowa for licensure. Applications for Licensure by the Iowa Department of Education are typically completed during ED 370 Education Leadership Seminar. A baccalaureate degree and completion of the sequence of professional education courses are not guarantees of recommendation for licensure. The student must be approved by the Education faculty, which will recommend only those who have maintained the scholastic standards required for admission to student teaching, successfully completed all student teaching requirements, and consistently have manifested a professional demeanor. Prior to initial licensure the state requires fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and passage of a state required pre-licensure exams. Students who do not successfully complete both Student Teaching placements but have met all other requirements for graduation can receive their degree, with permission of the Education Department, but cannot be recommended for licensure.
Students who are recommended by Mount Mercy may then apply to the Iowa Department of Education for licensure with the endorsements for which they are prepared; the initial license is valid for a two-year period, the substitute license is valid for a five-year period.
Mount Mercy offers programs to prepare students for the following original endorsements:
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Secondary Education (7-12) (specific content area)
- Elementary Art (K-8)
- Secondary Art (5-12)
- Elementary Music (K-8)
- Secondary Music (5-12)
Iowa state licensure requires courses that are already prescribed in the general core curriculum with the requirements including a college-level mathematics course, a natural science course, a history course, and a teacher education course in human relations to meet Iowa licensure requirements. Elementary majors must complete two science courses (a biological and a physical science).
If students plan to teach in a state other than Iowa, they are responsible for planning a program to meet the requirements in that state.
Non-Licensure Option
The Education Major is primarily designed to move candidates toward the attainment of an Iowa teaching license. However, there are instances when an Education Major without teaching licensure better suits a student’s long-term goals. In these cases, a student may receive a Bachelor’s degree in Education without recommendation for Iowa teaching licensure.
To complete the Education Major: Non-Licensure students will work directly with the chair of the Education department to design a program of study. This program of study must include 25 credits of required coursework in Education, an additional 18 credits of Education electives and a 6 or 12 credit Education Internship.
Any student who completes the Education Major: Non-Licensure and later decides to pursue an Iowa teaching license will need to meet all licensing requirements prior to being recommended to the Board of Educational Examiners.
Iowa Scholar Opportunity
The Education Department is required to identify the top 25% of each graduating class for the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. The Education Department has established procedures to identify these students including major and cumulative GPA, faculty feedback, and senior portfolio presentation scores. Identified graduates teaching in Iowa in specified shortage areas would be eligible, pending funding, for the opportunity to receive a scholarship during their first year of teaching by applying through the schools in which they teach. Applications are provided by school districts during their first year.
*Note: a list of the current shortage areas can be found on the Iowa Department of Education website.
Paraeducator Certificate
Students in the Education department who may choose pursue the paraeducator certificate. Specific courses are required for the different specializations. This certificate has been approved by the Department of Education in Iowa and allows those who receive it additional benefits as they pursue positions as paraeducators. These benefits include higher salary as compared to those who do not have the certificate.The certificate is offered through the Iowa Department of Education and not as a part of the Mount Mercy University degree programs.
Post Baccalaureate Licensure Option
Individuals who hold a Bachelor’s degree (from Mount Mercy or another four-year university) may complete requirements for an Iowa teaching license through the attainment of a second-degree. Students in this program will complete all of the requirements for Mount Mercy’s teacher education program and will be recommended for Iowa teaching licensure once all requirements have been met.
To be awarded a second-degree and qualify for federal financial aid, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Mount Mercy University. Students completing the post-baccalaureate program are also eligible to complete requirements through equivalent courses offered through our graduate program if their cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher.
Post Baccalaureate Endorsement Option
Individuals with a current Iowa teaching license who seek to obtain additional endorsements must complete a minimum of one-third or 9 semester hours of the required coursework in the desired endorsement at Mount Mercy. Additionally, a minimum grade point average for courses counting toward the endorsement must be 2.70. If this requirement is not met, Mount Mercy will not recommend the individual for the endorsement, however they may apply directly to the BOEE.
Students enrolling in either post-baccalaureate option are eligible for reduced tuition and will be charged a per-credit rate. Individuals participating in these programs are not eligible for other forms of financial assistance from Mount Mercy. However, they may be eligible for federal financial aid and should contact the Student Financial Services Office with questions.
Title II Public Disclosure Requirements
- Students admitted to the Education Program in 2017-2018: 35
- Student Teachers in 2017-2018: 26
- 9 supervisory faculty for student teaching
- 640 hours of student teaching over 16 weeks
The Mount Mercy Teacher Preparation Program is accredited by the State of Iowa and is in good standing.
See the Graduate section of this Catalog for more information on Graduate programs offered at Mount Mercy.