The Benedum Collaborative Model of Teacher Education is an integrated five-year, dual-degree program in which students simultaneously pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and a Master of Arts in Education from the College of Human Resources and Education. The undergraduate degree is in either the subject area they plan to teach (for Secondary Education majors) or in multidisciplinary studies (for Elementary Education and Secondary Science Education majors).

This joint program between the Eberly College and the College of Human Resources and Education allows students to gain expertise in their content area while learning specific skills and methods for effective teaching.

Admission into the Benedum Program consists of three phases.

Phase One: Admission to Pre-Education (Years One and Two)

Students are initially admitted, either directly from high school or as transfer students with some college experience, to pre-education courses and to the pre-major phase of the content degree. During this phase, students must complete 60 volunteer hours with students of the age they plan to teach. This volunteer experience must be approved before the hours are completed.

Phase Two: Admission to Teacher Education and the Academic Major (Years Three and Four)

In the fourth semester, students apply for admission to the teacher education program. After they have been admitted to the program, students will be assigned to a professional development school— a local elementary, middle, or high school where they will complete their classroom observation and teaching. Students will spend time each week at their PDS and will also continue to take classes and complete coursework at the University. The time spent at the PDS will increase each semester over the two years in the phase.

Phase Three: Admission to the Master's Program (Year Five)

Admission to the graduate year occurs at the end of the eighth semester in the program, prior to the full-time internship experience (student teaching). The graduate year consists of full-time teaching, engaging in action research, and taking a graduate course during the fall semester, as well as contracting with schools for professional development and taking additional graduate courses in the spring semester.

For Elementary Education Majors:

Students who are preparing to become elementary teachers complete the Multidisciplinary Studies Undergraduate Program in Elementary Education. Students who pursue a degree in multidisciplinary studies select three subject areas and complete the requirements for a minor in each of the areas. One of those areas must be selected from the following:

• Early Childhood (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten)
• French (grades 5-9)
• English/Language Arts (grades 5-9)
• Math (grades 5-9)
• Multicategorical Mild Disabilities (grades K-6; grades 5-12)
• General Science (grades 5-9)
• Social Studies (grades 5-9)
• Spanish (grades 5-9)

For Secondary Education Majors:

All students who are preparing to become secondary teachers will receive their bachelor’s degree from the Eberly College in one of the following areas:

• English
• Foreign Language
• French
• Spanish
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• General Science and one of the following:
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics

Students will also complete general educational classes (Secondary Education Course Requirements) while they are working towards their bachelor’s degree in order to prepare for the graduate degree in education.
In addition, the following secondary teaching fields are also available:

• German
• Health Education
• Journalism

For more information about the 5-Year Teacher Education program at WVU, please visit the College of Human Resources and Education’s website.