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Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 25443

Last updated on March 3, 2026
Grant awarded by
TPS Eastern Region
Region
East
Organization Type
College/University
Congressional District(s)
2
Fiscal Year Of First Grant
FY 2025 [10/01/24 - 09/30/25]
Contributing Organization(s)
Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education
Organization description

Established in 1871 as a state Normal School, Shepherd University is a public university located in the Eastern Panhandle of the state of West Virginia. Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Shepherd University offers academic programs to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Shepherd University’s Secondary Education social studies program focuses on teaching candidates’ skills, methodology, and content knowledge within the field. The social studies program is housed within the university’s School of Education (SOE) and works closely with the other departments providing social studies content. Candidates are required to have three courses in United States History, two courses in Europe/Western History, a course in Non-Western History, a course on historical research, and, finally, a course on the history of West Virginia and the Appalachian region. This is in addition to upper division courses in Geography and the Social Sciences. These content related courses are in addition to a Core Curriculum required of all SU students and the specific education courses, such as Social Studies Methodology, within the Secondary Education program. 

Project description

Shepherd University’s “Almost Heaven: A Collection of West Virginia Teaching Resources” project aims to expand primary source materials available to West Virginia studies educators. Shepherd University, partnering with the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education, is hosting Social Studies educators for a two-day workshop centered upon archive examination, discussion, and lesson preparation. As part of the project, educators conduct on-site workshops at the National Archives and Library of Congress. During he two-day conference, attendees design lesson plans which will be shared on a site created for West Virginia studies educators for wider dissemination.
TPS project focus
  • Academic Courses
  • Teaching Materials
  • Workshops
Content focus
  • Geography
  • History
  • American Revolution
  • Civil War
Audience
  • Classroom teachers
  • Librarians/Media specialists
  • Teacher candidates/Student teachers
Level(s)
  • 6 - 8
  • 9 - 12
  • Undergraduate
Population focus
  • African Americans
  • Asian Americans
  • English language learners
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Incarcerated
  • Jewish Americans
  • Learners with disabilities
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Low income
  • Men and boys
  • Muslim Americans
  • Native American/Indigenous
  • Rural
  • Seniors
  • Urban
  • Veterans
  • Women and girls
Organization Contact
Jason Allen
jallen@shepherd.edu
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