Mar 29, 2024  
Graduate Record 2011-2012 
    
Graduate Record 2011-2012 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Master of Teaching (M.T.)


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The Master of Teaching (M.T.) degree is for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree and wish to qualify for a teaching license. M.T. programs require one-and- a-half to two years of full-time study, including academic course work in the specialization field and teacher education experiences leading to initial endorsement in one or more specialties. (Opportunities for applicants to correct deficiencies in liberal arts preparation may also be required based on undergraduate course work.) 

M.T. degree programs are available in elementary education (PreK-6); special education (general curriculum K-12); early childhood/special education (ages 0-5); health and physical education (K-12); foreign languages–French/German/Spanish/Latin (K-12); and secondary education (6-12), with specialization in English, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, earth and space science, general science, physics), or social studies. Any student majoring in general special education must have a corollary area in elementary or secondary education or ESOL.

State Assessments of Teacher Education  Under the Commonwealth of Virginia’s approved program status for schools of education, all students enrolled in a teacher education program at the University of Virginia must take the appropriate licensing exams required by the Commonwealth of Virginia for program area endorsements.

A testing schedule for all required tests is provided on the Curry website.

Admission Requirements Post-graduate Master of Teaching applicants seeking teacher licensure must have a B.A. or B.S. degree with the equivalent of an academic major in the arts and sciences (or an appropriate discipline) and an acceptable general studies component. The general studies component should be a well-planned sequence of courses and experiences that includes theoretical and practical knowledge gained from studies in mathematics, natural science, social science, U.S./American history, English, communication, literature, and other humanities.

The following are examples of acceptable courses within the specified areas. Science: natural science, astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics. Social science: anthropology, economics, government and foreign affairs, linguistics, psychology, sociology, and Western civilization. A course in some area of non-Western studies is also desirable. Humanities: English, literature, speech communications, public speaking, debate, drama, art, music, philosophy, religious studies, foreign literature in translation, and foreign language.

In addition to submitting GRE scores (see Curry web page for target scores) applicants must provide ACT, SAT or Praxis I scores that meet criteria described on the application web site. 
 
Program requirements The following requirements must be met:

  1. An approved program of study leading to licensure and endorsement. Information on specific program course sequences can be obtained on the Curry web site. 
  2. Teaching Associateship (student teaching practicum) in which students demonstrate an ability to integrate the theoretical concepts of education with academic material in a practical teaching experience. This associateship is equivalent to an entire semester’s course work (EDIS 5880: 12 credits). Degree candidates must complete the Teaching Associateship to earn a Master of Teaching degree.
  3. Field Project/Comprehensive Examination approved by the program area advisor. In special cases, a master’s comprehensive examination may be required.
  4. Satisfactory Academic Performance in courses required for the B.A. degree or teaching specialty. Courses taken at or below the 4000 level may be successfully completed with a passing grade of D- or better. Courses in the major must reflect a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Courses taken at the 5000 level or above require a minimum grade of B- or better; 5000-level courses in which a student has performed below the level of B- must be retaken, or a substitute professional course must be taken to replace the deficiency. The advisor and the Director of Teacher Education must approve course substitution or retaking a course. Program deficiencies may require that the student be suspended from the program.
  5. Passing scores on Praxis II Examinations are required for initial licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for graduation.
  6. An application for the Degree must be submitted by October 1 for January graduation, by February 1 for May graduation, and by June 1 for August graduation.
  7. Passing scores on the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) are required for students in the Elementary Education and Special Education.
  8. All applicants for licensure must complete the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).

TED policies are listed in the Student Advising Handbook, which can be found on the Teacher Education website.  
 
Transfer Credit  A maximum of six transfer credits may be counted toward the M.T. degree. The advisor and the director of teacher education must approve credits.

Time Limit   No requirements completed more than five years before the M.T. is to be awarded may be credited toward this degree. In special cases, an extension may be granted for emergency circumstances when approved by the advisor, the director of teacher education, and the dean’s office.

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