School of Education

Dr. Denelle Wallace, Dean
dlwallace@nsu.edu
(757) 823-8701

Dr. Cynthia Nicholson, Associate Dean
csnicholson@nsu.edu
(757) 823-2325
 

“Preparing competent, compassionate, collaborative, and committed leaders.”

The School of Education is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and evaluation of all teacher education programs at the University. Its central purpose is to provide pre-service and in-service educational programs to prospective teachers, in-service teachers, administrators, and others engaged in educational activities in schools and other agencies. Corollary purposes are as follows:

1. To contribute to the knowledge base in the field of educational theory and practice in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-racial world.
2. To provide leadership in involving public schools, universities, and communities in collaborative educational efforts.
3. To provide service to other agencies engaged in education in such a manner to promote the realization of equal educational opportunity and equal educational results for all children.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework adopted by Norfolk State University’s professional education programs describes the vision and purpose of the School of Education to prepare educators to work in PreK-12 schools. Consistent with the institution’s mission, its focus is to prepare competent, compassionate, collaborative, and committed leaders capable of meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Supported by a strong knowledge base, the conceptual framework provides a system for ensuring coherence and a well-articulated professional commitment to knowledge, teaching competence, leadership, and student learning. This is reflected in the curriculum, instruction, and clinical experiences provided to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are valued in teachers and other professional school personnel.

Accreditation

All of the teacher education programs leading to certification and licensure sponsored by the School of Education have been approved by the Virginia Department of Education and have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP). These programs are designed to prepare teachers, counselors, and administrators to meet the requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Organization of School

The courses of instruction offered by the School of Education are organized into departments that sponsor a wide array of specialization possibilities for students. The departments, centers, and laboratories are as follows:

• Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education
• Department of Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science
• Department of Secondary Education and School Leadership
•  The Office of Clinical Experiences and Student Services
• The Center for Health Disparities

The licensure and degree requirements for all programs offered by the School of Education may be revised due to the Virginia Department of Education’s regulations, Norfolk State University requirements, or regional and national accreditation standards. Department heads and faculty advisors will inform students of the most current information due to changes from any of the agencies which may be different than the information in this catalog.

School of Education Departments

Department of Early Childhood/Elementary Education and Special Education

The Early Childhood/Elementary and Special Education Department (EESE) provides undergraduate and graduate programs for students seeking preparation to work with young children in the community, agencies, and P-12 school settings. The goal of the teacher education programs is to prepare competent, compassionate, collaborative, and committed leaders. The teacher education programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The early childhood, elementary, and special education programs provide instruction, field experiences, and clinical practices that develop excellence in teaching and skills to serve diversified populations.

Department of Secondary Education and School Leadership

The Department of Secondary Education and School Leadership (SESL) offers multi-dimensional Urban Education degree programs and teacher education to assist in-service and pre-service school practitioners interested in acquiring state endorsements and enhancing their professional development.  Programs offered in SESL under the Urban Education degree include Administration and Supervision P-12, Mental Health Counseling, Professional School Counseling, and Curriculum Development and Supervision (currently under revision and not accepting students).  SESL also awards the Master of Arts in Teaching for Secondary Education and advanced teaching degrees in specific content areas.

Degree Programs