Office of Professional Licensure
Karen Huff, Director
Gregory Hall, Room 115, (540) 665-4549, khuff@su.edu

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences seeking to become licensed as teachers take courses in Arts & Sciences as the predominant part of their first two years at the university. Courses that relate to teaching, children and schools are the predominant part of the third and fourth years in the program. Students in the programs seeking endorsement in elementary or secondary education will be required to declare a major in one of the following liberal arts areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Kinesiology (PreK-12) or University Studies (PreK-6, 6-8). As part of the degree requirements, students also must complete the requirements of the core curriculum in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Admission Requirements for All Candidates for Teacher Licensure

State Requirements for Teacher Licensure

Students preparing to be teachers are expected to meet the requirements for teacher licensure currently in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most states grant teaching licensure on a reciprocal basis when the educating institution is approved by its own state department of education or when graduates of an institution are eligible for teaching licensure in the state in which they were educated. Teacher education programs at Shenandoah University are approved programs of the Virginia State Board of Education, and graduates will have met all educational requirements for Virginia licensure.

Statement Regarding Professional Assessments

All initial licensure teacher education programs at Shenandoah University require that 1) the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) exam must be taken before admission to candidacy in teacher education programs; 2) the PRAXIS II exam must be taken in the student’s last year prior to student teaching; and 3) VCLA must be taken before student teaching. In addition, PreK-6 elementary education candidates must take the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test before student teaching.

The university’s Academic Enrichment Center assists students with preparation for PRAXIS Core exams by providing study materials, help sessions and access to a computer tutorial software program. This assistance is also extended to Shenandoah University alumni.

The Teacher Education Program Application also requires the following for an applicant to be considered for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program:

1. Submit two recommendation checklists (professional attitude, punctuality, attendance, communication skills, scholarship, cooperativeness, etc.); one from a professional in the major field and one from a professional outside the major field.
2. Submit official transcripts showing a grade point average of at least 2.9 in the area of the major and an overall grade point average of at least 2.5.
3. PRAXIS Core scores – passing by Virginia Standards or substitute appropriate SAT or ACT score or VCLA plus PRAXIS Core mathematics test. See Admissions section of this catalog for specific score requirement.

Score reports must be sent to Shenandoah University’s Office of Admissions. Students must receive satisfactory ratings on the checklists in order to be approved by the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board prior to admission into the education program and prior to student teaching. A minimum grade point average of 2.9 in the academic major is required. Prior to student teaching, all students must successfully complete Praxis II in their subject areas, VCLA, and elementary (PreK-6) education students must also pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test. Shenandoah University reserves the right to determine the fitness of an individual to student teach.