Major -Educational Studies
A Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies may be pursued by a student interested in the study of education and/or human services in a liberal arts context. This degree would support career preparation for a field allied to the teaching profession, i.e., child care, library science, ministry, social service, human resource management, or wellness.
Educational Studies - Program of Study
To be eligible for acceptance into the program for the degree, the student must declare the major, have completed at least 12 hours of education coursework, and make formal application to the department. Upon acceptance, the student must complete 36 hours of coursework in education, including an internship, with a minimum grade of C in each. In consultation with an education advisor, the student chooses 25 hours of electives related to interests and professional goals.
The Educational Studies major includes the following courses
ED 300 Introduction to Education
ED 301 Human Growth and Development
ED 302 Education and Society
ED 303 Children’s Literature
ED 304 World of the Young Child
ED 305 Introduction to the Exceptional Child
ED 312 Educational Psychology
ED 350 Arts in the Elementary School
ED 351 N.C. History or an approved United States History
ED 399 Diversity in Education
ED 401 Educational Dynamics and Communication
ED 493 Internship (100 field hours)
ED 493 Internship (3 credit hours) may be taken twice for a total of 200 field hours, or a student may take ED494 Internship (6 credit hours) for a total of 200 field hours. No more than 6 hours of internship permitted.
Educational Studies - Resources
Kappa Delta Pi
Honor students in education are invited to join the Upsilon Eta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an international society promoting excellence in education. Membership is open to honor students who have shown commendable personal qualities, worthy educational ideals, and sound scholarship. Involvement in KDP provides students with the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other members of the teaching profession, inspires students to strive for individual and professional growth, and encourages them to become active participants in state, regional, and national meetings.
Curriculum Resource Center
The Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) is a resource facility (located in room 112, William Gaston Science Building) that provides a variety of education services for students and faculty. The CRC houses curriculum materials, professional literature, and instructional equipment. It supports the goals and objectives of the Department of Education, which reflect the instructional needs and practices of teachers in elementary schools. The center serves as an active learning environment for students and provides opportunities for examination, production, and evaluation of educational resources.
Federal and State Compliance
The teacher education program at Belmont Abbey College is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and its program in teacher education is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
The Sister Christine Beck Department of Education of Belmont Abbey College is in compliance with Section 207 of Title II of the Higher Education Act of the United States Department of Education. This act requires Institutions of Higher Education (IHE’s) to report to the federal and state governments as well as to the public. These reports and relevant data are available upon request from the Sister Christine Beck Department of Education Office.
Educational Studies Faculty
Melinda Ratchford - Associate Professor of Education and Director of Program
B.S. Appalachian State University ; M.S.L.S. University of North Carolina-Greensboro ; Ed.S. Appalachian State University ; Ed.D. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Dr. Ratchford worked in the North Carolina public schools for thirty-one years, retiring in July 2000. She is currently the Director of the Curriculum Resource Center, and in 2002 won the Adrian Faculty Excellence award. Her avocation is a forty-five year interest in the study of RMS Titanic and her history, having given presentations on the topic to almost two hundred groups. She is an avid reader and a life long learner returning every ten years to get another degree; her latest was an A.A. in Paralegal Technology from Gaston College in 1999. She and her husband have traveled in forty-eight of the fifty states repeatedly and in Europe on numerous occasions.
Wilson, Pam - Assistant Professor and Director of Field Experience in Education
B.S. Winthrop University ; M.Ed. Winthrop University.
After retiring from the public school system with thirty-three years of service, Mrs. Wilson joined the College faculty as an Assistant Professor. Her work in the public school system includes twenty-nine years of classroom experience in grades K-3 and four years as an Instructional Specialist. Ms. Wilson provides training and consulting services for teachers in various school systems.
Powell, Sara Davis– Chair and Associate Professor of Education; B.S. in Mathematics, Southern Nazarene University;
M.A.T. in Math Education, University of Colorado; Ph.D. in Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum Development, University of Colorado.
Dr. Powell has taught all grade levels, with most of her public school teaching experience in a middle school math classroom. She taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the College of Charleston for 12 years before joining the BAC faculty in fall 2006. Her areas of expertise include math education, upper elementary/middle grades, and instructional techniques. Dr. Powell is the author of Introduction to Middle School, a college text published in 2005 by Prentice Hall and An Introduction to Education: Choosing Your Teaching Path, a college text published in 2008 by Pearson.
Sutton, Benette - Instructor
B.A. Sacred Heart College; M.Ed. University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Mrs. Sutton worked for the Gaston County School System for over thirty years. She has been a classroom teacher, reading specialists, and Title I Program Coordinator. For the last eight years, Mrs. Sutton has taught at the Abbey and has implemented a tutoring program placing Belmont Abbey teacher candidates in local elementary schools to work with students needing extra instruction. Mrs. Sutton is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Gaston Literacy Council.
McDonald, Judith Richards - Assistant Professor
B.S. in Secondary Education, West Virginia University; M.Ed. in Science Education, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Dr. McDonald has taught in elementary, middle, and high school, with most of her experience in middle school science. Her focus and passion is instructing teachers in inquiry science. She supports the community in many ways, including science clubs, science awareness, and mentoring new science teachers. Dr. McDonald serves on numerous local, regional, and state committees that promote science education.
Helm, Carroll – Associate Professor
B.A. in Psychology with Social Studies Minor, Carson-Newman College; M.S. in Administration and Supervision, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Collateral in Human Development and Learning, East Tennessee State University.
Dr. Helm has taught in the elementary and middle school as well as serving as an elementary principal. He has held numerous K-12 central office positions, as well as Dean of a Community College. Dr. Helm has taught graduate and undergraduate courses for Tusculum College, East Tennessee State University, and the University of the Cumberlands. His research and publications have focused mainly on effective teaching and learning through proper teacher dispositions
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