2008 Woodie Awards
Education department seeks new licensure
Kristen Oxley
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
Milligan's education department is looking to expand students' options by applying for licensure in the areas of visual arts and special education.
"We think there's a need in our constituencies for teachers to teach art or special education," said Academic Dean Mark Matson.
Students who earn a degree in visual arts education would be able to teach classes such as photography and painting from kindergarten through high school, if the department is granted licensure.
"For both of them, we've had quite a few requests in the past couple years," said Lyn Howell, area chair and associate professor of education. "The art people want that option."
With the special education licensure, Milligan graduates would be qualified to work with special-needs children in pre-kindergarten through third grade.
"In the last several years we've had more students interested in special education," Howell said. "The schools are in need of more special education teachers."
According to Howell, both student interest and the need for teachers in these areas persuaded the education department to apply for licensure.
To receive approval, the education department will send in a matrix for each area to the Tennessee Department of Education.
The matrix is broken up into three parts: the performance indicator, a description of what students will understand and demonstrate; the required coursework, an outline of the required classes; and the performance assessment, a detailed report of what students need to do to fulfill the requisite indicators.
Beverly Schmalzried, professor and director of teacher certification, put together the matrixes. The licensure requests will be sent into the state department for authorization within the week.
The state department will then send the proposal to three different readers who decide whether the programs should be approved. Howell expects to hear back from the state department by the beginning of fall semester.
"We think there's a need in our constituencies for teachers to teach art or special education," said Academic Dean Mark Matson.
Students who earn a degree in visual arts education would be able to teach classes such as photography and painting from kindergarten through high school, if the department is granted licensure.
"For both of them, we've had quite a few requests in the past couple years," said Lyn Howell, area chair and associate professor of education. "The art people want that option."
With the special education licensure, Milligan graduates would be qualified to work with special-needs children in pre-kindergarten through third grade.
"In the last several years we've had more students interested in special education," Howell said. "The schools are in need of more special education teachers."
According to Howell, both student interest and the need for teachers in these areas persuaded the education department to apply for licensure.
To receive approval, the education department will send in a matrix for each area to the Tennessee Department of Education.
The matrix is broken up into three parts: the performance indicator, a description of what students will understand and demonstrate; the required coursework, an outline of the required classes; and the performance assessment, a detailed report of what students need to do to fulfill the requisite indicators.
Beverly Schmalzried, professor and director of teacher certification, put together the matrixes. The licensure requests will be sent into the state department for authorization within the week.
The state department will then send the proposal to three different readers who decide whether the programs should be approved. Howell expects to hear back from the state department by the beginning of fall semester.
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