Semester 1

Teacher candidates focus on reading instruction, assessment, and classroom environment/management. Methods courses include science, social studies, and mathematics which focus on instruction of the subject and are practiced in an elementary practicum placement.

Semester 2

Candidates focus on reading and writing instruction, understanding the learner, working with students with different needs, and integrating music, movement, and art in the classroom. Practicum placement is in an early childhood setting and in a child development center where candidates practice teaching.

Semester 3 Summer

Two two-week intensive courses focus on the history and philosophy of education and the foundations for curriculum.

Semester 4

Clinical Practice is a placement in either a second or third grade public school setting.

Candidates have a field experience placement in a public elementary setting in one semester and then two early childhood field experience placements in a public school and child development center in the second semester. In the student teaching semester, candidates are placed in either a second or third grade placement in a public school setting. The semester before student teaching, most candidates have a practicum placement in the classroom where they will do student teaching, helping the candidate to get to know the cooperating teacher, school, students, and routines prior to the student teaching semester.

CIU's mission is to educate students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ, which means teacher education students are trained to work with learners from a range of backgrounds in the United States and around the world. All students must take and pass: Understanding the Learner, Students with Diverse Needs, and four Read to Succeed courses which include a guest professor specialized in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). ​Guest speakers address topics such as meeting learner needs, teaching ESL and engaging with school communities.

The MAT program partners with a local public charter school, providing support for the school community as well as the students. Candidates, in partnership with faculty and the school administration, conduct standardized mathematics assessment to identify strengths and areas of need. Candidates and faculty participate in a Literacy Night where parents are supported with ways to enhance literacy, founded in strong educational theory communicated in active strategies to help the student. Conversely, school administration comes to campus to speak with candidates on school-related topics such as engaging with school communities, student needs, and becoming a professional educator.

Program strength is monitored through qualitative and quantitative processes including candidate feedback on courses, exit interviews with program and field directors, and annual education preparation surveys for the first three years of teaching. School administrators participate in annual surveys to score program effectiveness based upon the program completer(s) hired. School administrators, cooperating teachers, program completers, and current students are invited to participate in the Education Advisory Council which reviews program information and offers counsel on changes to keep the program current with changes in the field. Regular research is conducted on candidate Praxis scores as well as program completer evaluations with the SC SCTS 4.0 rubric, including specific monitoring of program completers' positive impact on student learning.

This is a traditional face-to-face program with classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays with practicum placements on Wednesdays and Thursday mornings.