Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2005-2006 
    
Undergraduate Record 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Teacher Education


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Students wishing to pursue an academic program leading to teacher licensure are required to complete a five-year curriculum leading to the simultaneous awarding of both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This program, sponsored cooperatively by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Curry School of Education, provides an extensive liberal arts foundation, content area preparation, and professional study in education.

Teacher education students earn a B.A. or B.S. degree from the College. (Academic training comparable to the liberal arts degree is provided for physical/health education teachers through the Curry School, culminating in a B.S.Ed. degree.) These bachelor’s degree experiences are integrated with professional training in subject matter specialties, pedagogical aspects of education, and clinical/school-based experiences.

The five-year Teacher Education Program offered by the Curry School is recognized nationally for its strong foundation in the liberal arts and its advanced professional training aspects. The program requires that students complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree while also completing requirements for licensure and the Master of Teaching degree. Students are involved in the practical aspects of teaching during each year of the program.

Sample Program for Teacher Education

Teacher Education programs have been revised to meet new state licensure regulations. Consult the Teacher Education Web site at http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/teachered or the Office of Teacher Education.

Enrollment Procedures for the Five-Year Teacher Education Program


Students who are in the College of Arts and Sciences should apply for permission to enroll in the Teacher Education Program during the second semester of their first year of study, (application deadline is March 1). Students, including transfers from other institutions, may also apply to the program during their second year of study (prior to March 1) but must attend summer school in Charlottesville to complete professional course work before the start of their third year. Students in science, special education, math, or foreign languages may apply by March 1 of their third year.

Permission to enroll requires that the applicant be in good standing in the College of Arts and Sciences, provide adequate SAT/ACT scores, and complete a permission to enroll application with statements describing his or her (1) commitment to continued learning and intellectual growth, (2) interest in teaching, and (3) previous experience working with children and youth. After enrollment, students are expected to demonstrate competence in quantitative skills, verbal skills (oral and written), and computer literacy. Students must remediate any identified deficiencies prior to graduation. All teacher education students must have a primary major in the College of Arts and Sciences (or in the Curry School for health/physical education majors).

Advancement to Graduate Study


By December 1 of the fourth year, students apply to the Master of Teaching degree program in the Curry School of Education. Criteria for advancement to graduate study include: (1) demonstrated competence in basic skills (verbal, quantitative, and computer skills), (2) an outstanding grade point average (2.750 overall/3.000 in academic major), (3) one letter of recommendation from a non-Curry faculty member addressing current or potential teaching skills, (4) satisfactory performance in all field experiences, (5) demonstrated proficiency in public speaking, and (6) satisfactory performance on the GRE and Praxis I.

Satisfactory Academic Performance in Teacher Education


Courses required for the B.A./B.S. degree taken at the 400 level or below may be successfully completed with a passing grade of D- or better. Courses in the major must reflect a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or better.

Courses taken at the 500 level or above in the major and in professional studies require a minimum grade of B- or better; 500-level courses taken before the fourth year in which a student has performed below the level of B- may be petitioned, with advisor and dean’s office approval, to have the grade standard waived.

Professional studies courses at the 500 level in which a student has received a failing grade (less than a B-) must be retaken, or a substitute professional course must be taken to replace the deficiency. Course substitution or retaking a course must be approved by the advisor and the Office of Teacher Education. Program deficiencies may require that the student be suspended from the program.

Graduation Requirement in Teacher Education


All students in a teacher education program must take and pass the Praxis I and Praxis II examinations to graduate. Elementary and special education students must also pass the Virginia Reading Assessment. Applications for graduation are due by February 1 for May graduation and by October 1 for January graduation.

Accelerated B.A.-M.T. Program


Teacher education students may graduate with both the B.A. and M.T. degrees in 4.5 years. The student must meet all requirements for both degrees and attend a three week summer session. Applications for graduation are due by October 1.

Licensure Requirements


Students are required to submit paperwork and the appropriate Virginia state fee to the Admissions Office (Ruffner 104) no later than February 1 of the fifth year. All course work must be completed and Praxis I and Praxis II exams must be passed to be recommended for licensure. All elementary, special education and early childhood/developmental risk majors must also take and pass the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA).

Financial Aid for Fifth-Year Students


During their fifth year, teacher education students are classified as graduate students by the Office of Financial Aid. Thus, they qualify for graduate scholarship and loan programs, not undergraduate grants.

General Education


All students in the B.A./B.S.-M.T. program must complete the general education requirements specified by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Curry School of Education or, in the case of B.S.Ed. candidates, those requirements specified exclusively by the Curry School of Education. Candidates for the B.A./B.S. degree must have completed a total of 102 credits from the College of Arts and Sciences.

In accordance with licensure requirements, specific courses within the general education core vary by teacher education program area. Detailed information can be obtained from the Teacher Education Office (221 Ruffner Hall) or on-line at http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/teachered.

Echols Scholars


For Echols scholars in the B.A./B.S.-M.T. program, the general studies component should be a well-planned sequence of courses and experiences that must include theoretical and practical knowledge gained from studies in mathematics, natural science, social science, U.S. history, English communication, literature, and other humanities.

Policy Exceptions


Exceptions to program policies must be requested on the Teacher Education Policy Exception form and must be approved by an advisor, the Director of Teacher Education, and a Curry Dean.

Professional Education Courses


Students in teacher education pursue advanced course work in a specific discipline as well as professional education experiences. Prospective teachers begin professional studies during the second year through an exploration of teaching as a profession in a course called Teaching as a Profession (EDIS 201) and in field-based experiences in the community or schools (EDIS 288). Students declare a specific content major and continue to take courses in the teacher education program. Students are assigned two advisors, one representing the major in the College and one representing professional education (health/physical education majors have only one advisor). Students must meet with each advisor each semester. Students must complete teacher education core courses (Professional Education courses) in addition to their specified endorsement area courses.

Professional courses continue throughout the third, fourth, and fifth years, and include the following:

Note: Elementary and special education students who are psychology majors may substitute EDIS 505: Behavior Management for EDLF 501.

  • EDLF 710 Contemporary Education Issues Credits: 3
  • EDIS 788 Field Project Credits: 3

Teaching Fields


The requirements for each teaching specialization are largely determined by the kind of teaching position for which the student is preparing. The teacher education requirements are in addition to the courses required in general education and are in compliance with state licensure guidelines.

All those completing M.T. programs for initial licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia must pass the Praxis I and Specialty Area Examinations (Praxis II). Students should contact their advisor in the Curry School of Education or the Office of Admissions for further information. Praxis I exams must be taken in the third year and Praxis II in the fifth year. Taking and passing the Praxis exams and appropriate specialty tests are graduation requirements. Course sequences for all teacher education programs may be obtained from the Office of Teacher Education (221 Ruffner Hall), or on-line at http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/teachered/programs.

Elementary Education Programs


The elementary education program leads to licensure and endorsement for teaching in PreK-6 classrooms. Prospective elementary teachers may complete a major from any discipline in the arts and sciences.

Secondary Education Programs


The University of Virginia offers a wide choice of academic majors, with many majors leading directly to an endorsement to teach in the secondary school.

Note: The credits required for a major at the University of Virginia generally do not match the credits required for an endorsement in a particular field. Introductory courses that may not be counted for a major in the College may be counted for endorsement purposes.

When completing a second endorsement, the specific pedagogy courses for each of the requested endorsement areas are required.

The following descriptions are for endorsement programs approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education:

English


The curriculum for prospective teachers of English fulfills the guidelines of the National Council of Teachers of English plus all requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia for teaching grades 6-12. In addition to teacher education core courses minimum requirements include:

  • 3 credits in English composition (ENWR 110) or equivalent
  • 32 credits in upper-division English courses, including:
    • 6 credits in history of English literature
    • 6 credits in literature before 1800
    • 1 course in Shakespeare
    • 1 course in American literature (pre-1900)
    • 1 course in American literature (post 1900)
    • 1 course in the novel
    • 1 course in poetry
    • 1 course in creative or non-fiction writing
    • 1 course in teaching composition
    • 1 course in language, literacy, and culture
    • 1 course in literature for adolescents
    • 2 courses in American/English literature at the graduate level

Course work should include the history of the English language. Courses dealing with women and minority American writers and those providing a working knowledge of theatrical and cinematic aesthetics are recommended.

Foreign Language Education


Endorsement programs for PreK-12 are available in French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Students must complete a 30-credit major at the 300 level and above, plus two graduate-level courses in the appropriate foreign language and literature department. Course work must be related to advanced grammar and composition, advanced conversation, culture and civilization, literature, and applied linguistics, with a minimum of the following credits in the specific language.

  • French: 36 credits at the 300 level and above
  • German: 30 credits at the 300 level and above
  • Spanish: 36 credits at the 300 level and above
Students majoring in a foreign language are required to take a speaking and writing proficiency test in their target language. Final admission to the Teacher Education Program will be contingent upon the results of these tests. An exit proficiency test in both skills will be required for licensure as a teacher of foreign languages. In addition to language and language education courses, students are required to complete teacher education core courses.

Latin


Students seeking endorsement as a Latin teacher must complete 18 credits (above LATI 103) and 12 credits in related subjects. Course experiences should include reading and comprehension of Latin; Latin phonology, morphology, and syntax; the culture and civilization of the Roman people; and literary masterpieces. Teachers who have completed requirements for endorsement in other modern languages may be additionally endorsed by completing 12 credits above LATI 103 and CLAS 202.

Students who have completed a major (including all endorsement requirements) in one modern foreign language or Latin may be endorsed in a second language by completing 18 credits above the 300 level. Course experiences must include advanced grammar and composition, conversation, culture and civilization, literature, and applied linguistics.

An endorsement in English as a Second Language is available to students with majors in an existing licensure program or with a valid teaching license. ESL is an add-on endorsement only. Students wishing to pursue ESL should speak to their advisor and contact the Teacher Education Office for approval.

English as a Second Language


An endorsement in English as a Second Language is available to students with majors in an existing licensure program or with a valid teaching license. ESL is an add-on endorsement only. Students wishing to pursue ESL should speak to their advisor and contact the Teacher Education Office for approval. Requirements include credits in linguistics, including general linguistics; English phonology, morphology and syntax; applied linguistics; and courses in teaching and assessment of English as a second language.

Mathematics


Requires a major in mathematics or its equivalent, including at least 9 courses in mathematics above the calculus sequence. The math major must include calculus, 6 credits of mathematical analysis with differential equations, 6 credits of linear and modern algebra, 6 credits of probability and statistics and 3 credits of geometry. At least 6 of these credits must be taken at the 500 level or above. In addition, at least 3 credits of computer science and 3 credits of educational computing must be presented. Required professional endorsement courses include EDIS 545 (Teaching Secondary Mathematics) and EDIS 587 (Seminar in Mathematics).

Algebra Add-on Endorsement


A student who has completed requirements for an endorsement in another area may also be endorsed to teach general mathematics and algebra by completing a concentration of 20 credits of computer science and math, including two courses in differential and integral calculus, one course in linear or modern algebra, two courses selected from mathematical analysis, discrete mathematics, geometry, probability, statistics, and at least one course in computer science.

Science


Teacher education students interested in science participate in programs designed to meet or exceed the standards of the National Science Teachers Association. Science education majors can teach in grades 6-12 and must complete 52 credits in science, mathematics (at least to introductory calculus), statistics, and computer applications in order to demonstrate depth and breadth of scientific background. Additionally science teacher education students are required to take at least 1 course in the history of science.

Biology: 32 credits in biology, with at least one course from each of the following areas: botany, cell biology/biochemistry, ecology, genetics, physiology, zoology; plus 20 credits in a related field, including chemistry, earth/space science, mathematics (above introductory calculus) and physics. At least 6 of the science credits must be taken at the 500 level or above.

Chemistry: 32 credits in chemistry, with at least one course from each of the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry; plus 20 credits in a related field, including biology, earth/space science, mathematics (at or above calculus), and physics. At least 6 of the science credits must be taken at the 500 level or above.

Earth and Space Science: 32 credits in earth and space science, with at least one course from each of the following areas: astronomy, geology, meteorology, oceanography; plus 20 credits of supporting courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. At least 6 of the science credits must be taken at the 500 level or above.

Physics: 32 credits in physics including the following areas: classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, waves; plus 20 credits of supporting courses in biology, chemistry, earth/space science, and mathematics through introduction to differential equations. At least 6 of the science credits must be taken at the 500 level or above.

Social Studies


The Social Studies program is designed for teachers in grades 6-12 who wish to be prepared to teach United States History, World History, Government, Economics, Political Science, or Geography. Students are required to successfully complete the following courses and are encouraged to major in history or government:

General Electives


In addition to the requirements in the teaching specialization, general education, and professional education programs, the remaining credits needed to complete graduation requirements may be elected, subject to the approval of the student’s advisor, from any courses offered in the University. (All actions regarding registration for courses require the permission of the assigned Curry School advisor. B.A. students also need permission from their College advisor.)

Additional Information


Courses offered for undergraduate credit in the Curry School of Education are described below. Additional graduate courses are required for the completion of the M.T. degree. For descriptions of courses that may be used to satisfy the general education requirements for the B.A. or B.S. in Education, see chapter 6 of this Record. Course prerequisites consist of the stated courses or their equivalent, as determined by program area faculty. Courses offered in the Curry School of Education are listed by departments within the school.

The Curry School of Education is organized into three academic departments. For further information, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (924-3334) of the Curry School of Education.

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