Return to: Curry School of Education: Departments/Programs
Students interested in earning licensure to teach complete a five-year curriculum leading to the simultaneous awarding of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. This program, sponsored cooperatively by the College of Arts and Sciences (CLAS)/School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)/Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy (Batten), and the Curry School of Education, provides an extensive liberal arts foundation, content area preparation, and professional study in education. Students earn a B.A. or B.S. degree from the College/SEAS/Batten, and an M.T. from the Curry School of Education.
Teaching Specializations
Requirements for each teaching specialization are largely determined by the kind of teaching position for which the student is preparing. General and specific requirements for each of the areas below are listed on the Teacher Education website: http://curry.virginia.edu/teacher-education.
Elementary Education This education program leads to licensure and endorsement for teaching in PreK-6 classrooms. Students must complete a broad liberal arts program including English, science, math and American history. Prospective elementary teachers may complete a major from any discipline in Arts and Sciences, or Youth and Social Innovations (YSI) in Curry; however, students are encouraged to seek a major in a core content area.
Secondary Education The University of Virginia offers a wide choice of academic majors, with specified majors leading directly to an endorsement to teach in a secondary school: English, mathematics, history and social sciences or an area in science (biology, physics, chemistry, earth science). Batten students are eligible for endorsement in history and social sciences; SEAS students are eligible for endorsement in math or science.
Foreign Language Education Endorsement options for PreK-12 are available in Chinese, French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Students majoring in a foreign language are required to spend at least six weeks abroad and take a speaking proficiency test in their target language.
Health and Physical Education The five-year program leading to endorsement in health and physical education requires a Kinesiology major in the Curry School of Education for a combined B.S.Ed.-M.T. degree.
Special Education – General Curriculum The general special education program prepares teachers to serve students in grades K-12 with mild disabilities in a variety of settings – inclusion classrooms, modified resource rooms, and self-contained classrooms. Prospective special education teachers may complete a major from any discipline in the College (CLAS) or Speech Pathology in Curry; however, students are encouraged to seek a major in a core content area. Students can consider a dual endorsement with one of the aboe programs in addition to the add-ons listed below.
Add-on Endorsements Once a candidate has been accepted into one of the above programs, there may be an opportunity to add-on additional endorsement areas. Curry is approved for Gifted Education, Mathematics-Algebra I, and English as a Second Language (ELS). To do so, they must seek permission from their Curry Advisor and the Program coordinator of the add-on program.
Application (Permission to Enroll) Process
Interested students should apply for permission to enroll in the Teacher Education Program by February 1 of their second year of study. They should have completed, or be enrolled in, EDIS 2010 and EDIS 2880 at the time they apply. Students who have advanced standing due to AP and dual enrollment credits may be eligible to apply for admission as early as their second semester at U.Va. To investigate this option, attend one of Curry’s information sessions during fall and spring semesters.
Transfer students from other institutions should apply to the program through the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions during their second year of study.
All applicants must provide SAT/ACT/VCLA or Praxis core academic skills for educators scores that meet requirements specified on the Curry website and established by VDOE
Academic Requirements
Courses required for the B.A. or B.S. degree taken at the 4000 level or below may be successfully completed with a passing grade of D- or better unless the program requires a higher grade. Courses in the major must reflect a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Courses taken at the 5000 level or above in the Curry required courses for the MT require a minimum grade of B- or better.
Professional studies courses at the 5000 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. The advisor and the Office of Teacher Education must approve course substitution or retaking a course. Program deficiencies may result in the student being suspended from the program.
General Education: All students in the five-year teacher education program must complete the general education requirements specified by their undergraduate program in addition to completing 30 academic credits at the 5000-level or above for their master’s degree.
In accordance with licensure requirements, specific courses within the general education core vary by teacher education program area. Detailed information can be obtained on the Curry website (http://curry.virginia.edu/teacher-education) or from the Teacher Education Office (326 Bavaro Hall).
Echols Scholars: Echols scholars enrolled in the B.A./B.S. to M.T. program must meet Virginia State Department of Education requirements for coursework in mathematics, natural science, social science, U.S. history, English communication, literature, and other humanities. See the Teacher Education web site for specific requirements: http://curry.virginia.edu/teacher-education
Policy Exceptions: Exceptions to program policies in teacher education must be requested on the Teacher Education Policy Exception form and must be approved by an advisor and program coordinators.
Student Advising Handbook: Teacher Education program policies and procedures are specified in the Student Advising Handbook found on the Teacher Education website.
Professional Studies Description: Program guides delineating the semester-by-semester sequence for professional studies in each content endorsement area can also be found on the Teacher Education website.
Advancement to Graduate Study
By December 1 of the fourth year, students apply for advancement to graduate status. Criteria for advancement include: (1) demonstrated competence in basic skills (verbal, quantitative, and computer skills), (2) a high grade point average (2.750 overall/3.000 in academic major), (3) satisfactory performance in all field experiences, (4) approval of program faculty. During their fifth year, even though they have not yet received their undergraduate degree, the Office of Financial Aid classifies teacher education students as graduate students. Thus, they qualify for graduate scholarship and loan programs, not undergraduate grants.
Applying for Graduation and Licensure
All students must take and pass the Praxis II exam (where required by VDOE), and the Virginia Communication and Literacy examinations to graduate. Elementary and special education students must also pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) assessment.
Return to: