Education Department
The following are the areas in which Hiram offers licensure.
Early Childhood License (grades PreK-3, ages 3-8)
Early Childhood licensure is based on an “Education” major.
This license is valid for teaching children who are typically developing, at risk, gifted, and who have mild/moderate educational needs.
Middle Childhood License(grades 4-9, ages 8-14)
Middle Childhood licensure is based on an “Education” major. The middle childhood teacher education program includes preparation in areas of concentration in at least two of the following:
1. reading and language arts
2. mathematics
3. science
4. social studies
Adolescent to Young Adult Licenses
These programs are based on majors outside of the Department of Education.
Adolescent to Young Adult (grades 7-12; ages 12-21)
License |
Major |
| Integrated Language Arts | Integrated Mathematics |
| Mathematics | Integrated Social Studies |
| Integrated Social Studies | Life Studies |
| Biology | Integrated Science |
| Science | Life/Chemistry |
| Science | Life/Physics |
| Science | Physical Sciences |
| Science |
Multi-age Licenses, grades PreK-12, ages 3-21
These programs are based on majors outside of the Department of Education.
Multi-Age
Drama/Theatre
Visual Arts
Spanish
French
Music
**All students with an interest in one of these programs are strongly advised to meet with an advisor in the Education Department as soon as possible for specific details of the programs.
For Course Offerings and Program Requirements see The Hiram College Catalog.
1. Which courses are for first year students who wish to explore new areas of interest, but have no clear intent to major in this area?
EDUC 610: Elementary tutoring (1 semester hour), EDUC 203: Education, Culture and Society (meets a social science distribution requirement), and EDUC 324: Exceptionality (meets a Social Science distribution requirement).
2. What is the desirable course work a prospective major/minor should complete by the end of their first year and the end of their second year?
Majors:EDUC 601: Teacher Licensure Policy and Procedures. This course is a requirement for every student seeking licensure.
All students seeking teacher licensure must take specific courses required for that license.
For example, students seeking middle childhood licensure must complete at least two areas of concentration (language arts, social studies, math, or science). Students should begin to take these courses in their first semester at Hiram College.
Students seeking licensure in the sciences are advised to meet with both an education and a science advisor during Institute Week. It is important to take CHEM 120 or CHEM 121 (depending on your performance on the placement test) in the fall of the freshman year. This will prevent you from having to take three lab science courses in one semester in your junior or senior year. Don’t try to take all your distribution requirements and leave your science classes until your junior or senior year!
3. What is the minimum a prospective major/minor must do by the end of their first and second year?
Meet with education advisor
Take EDUC 601
Take curriculum content courses required for the licensure area
4. How important is it for a student with some interest in majoring in your area to make contact with a member of your department?
VERY! Any first year student thinking of obtaining teacher licensure should see an advisor in the Education Department as early as possible. It is best to make contact during Institute Week at the departmental open house.
5. What are the major pitfalls a student should avoid during their first year and how can an advisor help the student to avoid them?
Not coming to see a member of the Education Department.
Randomly taking courses that sound interesting that happen to be open or offered at a certain time. The courses required for licensure are very specific. You should work from a list of courses that not only meet college distribution requirements, but licensure requirements as well. These program descriptions are available in the Education Department.
MATH- All students should take the math placement test given during Institute Week. Students are required to have specific minimum scores on the ACT, SAT, placement test, or Praxis I in order to be admitted to the education program.
G.P.A.- Students must have a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.0, as well as an education g.p.a. of 3.0 before taking 300 level “methods courses."
Adolescent and Multi-age licensure
Students complete an academic major as well as courses that are required for licensure by the State of Ohio. These courses are not always an exact match, so it is very important that the student work with a major advisor for departmental requirements AND an education advisor for licensure.