Coker University

Coker’s distinctive field experience program allows you to observe and assist experienced teachers beginning your freshman year. You’ll be immersed in the learning community and provided opportunities to develop and demonstrate competence. You will complete a minimum of 100 hours of planned, supervised, objective-based field experiences to ensure that you receive a broad exposre to the various populations that you may encounter as a teacher, including different cultures, exceptional abilities, and socioeconomic groups, in a variety of school settings and grade levels. Each field experience has a particular emphasis and appropriate degree of involvement which allows for practical applications of teaching methods learned in the university classroom.

TEP's courses and field experiences are designed to provide teacher candidates many opportunities to build appreciation for and better understanding of the unique academic and social/emotional needs of students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and languages.

Coker University attemps to connect future teachers with experienced and highly-effective mentors who coach and provide meaningful feedback during internships and clinical experiences. The mentorship doesn't end once you graduate. They encourage their alumni to stay in touch with their friends and former professors from Coker, to take advantage of networking opportunities, and return to the campus with many events throughout the year such as Homecoming, Alumni Day/Golden Circle Celebration, Professional Development Workshops, Alumni Socials and Family Weekend.

The Wiggins School of Education at Coker University is accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education. This accreditation covers all initial teacher preparation programs at Coker University. The Teacher Education Advisory Committee (TEAC) is composed of 12 to 20 members and represents all constituencies of the Teacher Education Program. Representatives include faculty in each certification area, students, university and district administrators, alumni, teachers, and community leaders.

The Teacher Education Advisory Committee (TEAC)'s central purpose is to continuously review the professional education program and the curriculum to determine strengths and to suggest the necessary improvements and revisions. The Teacher Education Advisory Committee interviews each Teacher Education applicant and reviews his or her credentials. Students are admitted by a majority vote of the members present provided a quorum exists. TEAC approves admission to student teaching upon the concurrence of the student's faculty advisor and the Director of Teacher Education. A majority vote by the TEAC members resolves any disagreements among faculty members. TEAC Members advise the Dean and the Director of Teacher Education on issues related to approved programs. However, the Director of Teacher Education makes final decisions. All curricular decisions must be made within the guidelines established by the Coker University Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate.