Future Teachers Can Take Lateral Entry Courses Online at VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College, which officially launched its Lateral Entry teacher-certification program earlier this year, will begin offering the major Lateral Entry courses online in the spring 2008 semester. “We are trying to make it as flexible and as convenient as possible for busy people who want to pursue a teaching career,” said Jennifer M. Johnson, a VGCC education instructor and program head who oversees the Lateral Entry program. Johnson currently has nine students enrolled in the new program, and she receives four or five phone calls from people interested in Lateral Entry each week.

“If you’d like to change careers to become an educator, you don’t have to go back to earn a four-year education degree,” Johnson said. “If you’ve already got a four-year degree in anything, you can come to VGCC and start working on a Lateral Entry certificate.”

Starting in January, four Lateral Entry education courses will be offered online: Classroom Management & Instruction ( EDU 163 ), Learning Theory ( EDU 243 ), Policies and Procedures ( EDU 245 ) and Educational Technology ( EDU 271 ).

Potential Lateral Entry students do not have to wait until January to start one other course. Child, Family & Community ( EDU 131 ), a course that fulfills both Early Childhood Associate and Lateral Entry requirements, starts Oct. 16 as part of the college’s eight-week mini-semester. Like the spring offerings, this course is offered online.

Lateral Entry programs prepare adults who already have four-year college degrees to become certified teachers. Recent changes to state law make more North Carolinians eligible to enter such a program, addressing a statewide demand for more classroom teachers.

To earn the Lateral Entry certificate, participants need to take a total of nine courses (for 27 credit hours). Some of the courses are offered at VGCC, and others by North Carolina Central University.

Course work for completion of the certificate includes human growth and development, learning theory, instructional technology, school policies and procedures, home, school, and community collaborations, and classroom organization and management to enhance learning. Courses offered by NCCU cover instructional methods, literacy, special needs and diversity.

Additional requirements, such as pre-service training and passing the PRAXIS test, are required for licensure after a person completes the nine courses.

For more information on Lateral Entry at VGCC, contact Jennifer M. Johnson at (252) 738-3408.