Special Education

Discover the courses you will take in Special Education.

Catawba College offers a Teaching Scholarship to all new incoming and transfer students who major or minor in one of our on-campus education programs.  A completed application to Catawba College with an indicated intent to major (Elementary Education, Special Education, or Middle Grades Education) or minor (if desiring to teach at the high school level or to teach Music Education) in education will automatically serve as the application for a Teaching Scholarship, as well.

West Teaching Scholarship
The West Teaching Scholarship awards students in the education field up to $12,000 yearly in addition to academic scholarships awarded by Catawba, except for Socratic Scholarships. Eligibility for these scholarships requires a cumulative high school GPA of at least 4.0. (Students may also submit SAT or ACT scores in order to qualify for exemption from the required Praxis CORE exam for entry to Teacher Education. An SAT score of 1170 or ACT composite score of 24 is required for exemption.)

Opportunities in Education Scholarship
The Opportunities in Education Scholarship awards students interested in the field of education up to$10,000 yearly in addition to academic scholarships awarded by Catawba, except for Socratic Scholarships. This scholarship is designed to provide more affordable post-secondary access to college and to encourage the pursuit of opportunities in the field of education for students. Eligibility for these scholarships requires a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0.

"Commit to Teacher Education" Scholarship
For students with a GPA that does not meet the qualification for either the West Teaching Scholarship or Opportunities in Education Scholarship, the Teacher Education Department also offers the "Commit to Teacher Education Scholarship." Recipients of this scholarship will receive $2000 per year, with an increase to $4000 per year once successfully admitted to the Teacher Education program. To apply, complete the online application for the scholarship, noting your intent to major or minor in Education. To continue to receive the scholarship, recipients must declare a major or minor in Education by the end of their freshman year, qualify for admittance to Teacher Education for the junior year, and complete the coursework required for the major or minor selected in Education. 

Apply for a Teaching Scholarship
Reminder: A completed application to Catawba College with an indicated intent to major or minor in education will automatically serve as the application for a Teaching Scholarship, as well

NOTE: Applicants are only eligible to receive one of the above scholarships (i.e. Students can receive either a West Scholarship, an Opportunities in Education Scholarship, or a Commit to Teacher Education Scholarship). In order to maintain the scholarship award each year, recipients must meet minimum Catawba GPA requirements, must declare a major or minor in education by the end of freshman year, and must meet the requirements for admission to Teacher Education by the end of the sophomore year, including submission of passing Praxis CORE scores (or qualifying SAT or ACT composite scores).

Other Opportunities for Education Majors

TeachNC

In addition to Catawba’s educational scholarships, applicants interested in teaching may want to consider funding from TeachNC.

TeachNC, in partnership with North Carolina’s Governor’s Office, NC DPI, and Study.com, is excited to offer up to $500 in exam support to reduce the barriers educators face in entering the profession.

This includes beginner teachers.

If you take your Praxis, Pearson or complete your EdTPA on or after July 1, 2022 and are a current classroom educator– you’re eligible for reimbursement. What expenses are eligible? There are lots of options! See below.

You can:

• Get unlimited access to Praxis test prep materials through Study.com at no cost to you!
• Request a Praxis voucher so you can register for the test for free – this includes if you need to retake the exam!
• Submit reimbursements for additional exams, like the Pearson or EdTPA, previous exam attempts, and/or study materials you feel better suit your learning style (maybe 1-on-1 tutoring)!

You can use all of the above or pick and choose what you need! Whatever it is, TeachNC has you covered up to $500. Keep that cash in your pocket.

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Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS)

In addition to Catawba’s educational scholarships, applicants interested in teaching may also want to consider FELS, which provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in an approved education program and committed to working in critical employment shortage professions in North Carolina. Currently the approved programs/shortage professions include teachers of math, science, middle grades, and special education. FELS loan recipients are required to teach in an approved position in a North Carolina school in order to repay the loan; generally, a loan for one academic year will be forgiven for one year of full-time employment. 

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Apprenticeship Program

Applicants interested in pursuing a major in Elementary Education should also note the opportunity for participation in an apprenticeship program with the local school system (RSS) which includes pre-apprenticeship (junior year) and apprenticeship (senior year) at the Koontz Elementary Lab School.  Participants receive a stipend for the junior year internship ($5000) and a paid, year-long student teaching experience ($20,000), in addition to education scholarship funding received from Catawba. Participants in this apprenticeship program receive contracts for at last two years of employment in Rowan-Salisbury Schools upon completion of their program.

The School of Education provides both licensure and non-licensure paths for your education major or minor. All students pursuing a major or minor in education must apply to the Teacher Education Program. Students planning to pursue licensure must meet the following requirements for admission to Teacher Education: 

• A recommendation by their major advisor;
• A 2.75 overall academic average on Catawba coursework;
• Passing scores on all sections of Praxis Core Academic Series or a composite score as determined by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (If available, students may also provide qualifying SAT or ACT scores to request exemption from Praxis CORE);
• An acceptable criminal background history and proof of liability insurance.

Student Teaching

Students planning to pursue licensure must also complete Student Teaching. Application for admission to Student Teaching must be made by the these deadlines: March 1st to student teach the following Fall semester and September 1st to student teach the following Spring semester. The student must have at least a 2.75 academic average to be admitted and must complete the licensure program with a 2.75 or better GPA. Students must also pass the required licensure exam(s) for their intended area of teaching prior to admission to student teaching. Successful completion of an edTPA portfolio is a requirement during student teaching. Passing edTPA scores are required for  recommendation for a North Carolina teaching license.

Application to Teacher Education

Application to Student Teach

The goal of Catawba's Teacher Education Department is to prepare reflective teachers who possess the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effectively teaching students in a diverse and global society. Catawba's Teacher Education programs are approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction for licensure of our graduates.

Catawba's Teacher Education program has a rich tradition of turning out excellent teachers dating back to 1925. Graduates of the program have had great success completing all licensure requirements and securing teaching jobs immediately after graduation.

Department Handbooks

• Field Experience Handbook
• Handbook for Supervision
• Goodman School of Education Handbook

School Information 

• Goodman Advising Sheets

Miscellaneous

• North Carolina Testing Requirements
• Candidate and Program Performance Reporting

Job Search

• https://career.ncsba.org
• https://teachnc.schoolspring.com

National and State Standards

• North Carolina Standard Course of Study
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Professional Organizations

• International Reading Association
• International Society for Technology in Education
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
• National Council for the Social Studies
• National Council of Teachers of English
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• National Science Teachers Association
• North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• North Carolina English Teachers Association
• North Carolina Music Educators Association
• North Carolina Reading Association
• North Carolina Science Teachers Association

Meet the faculty of the Teacher Education Department: 

According to § 115C-269.55., the State Board of Education shall adopt and establish a process for students to report an alleged violation by an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). This form provides explicit instructions for this process and the form in which a student may file that complaint.