Stephanie Malone, Associate Professor of Education
Bowman 117, smalone@su.edu (540) 665-4751

Professional Studies, Secondary Teacher Education 6-12 Certificate

Students who are majoring in Spanish or Business may elect to add this program as a certificate to their major so they could apply for a Virginia Teacher’s license in that field. This program contains the professional studies required by the Virginia Department of Licensure Regulations for Secondary Education teacher (6-12) endorsements.

Office of Educator Licensure

Mary Bowser, Director of Educator Licensure & Accreditation
(540) 535-3575

Admission to Teacher Education Programs

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences seeking to become licensed as teachers enroll into the Bachelor of Education Program specific to their desired teaching level and/or subject major (Elementary Education PreK-6, Middle Education 6-8, Health & Physical Education PreK-12, or Secondary Education 6-12 in Biology, Chemistry, English, History, or Mathematics. Following those program guides for courses and after successfully completing most of the SHEN-ED requirements and the EDU 310 The Teaching Profession class, they will formally apply into the Teacher Education Program through the Candidate Screening process which is explained in the Handbook for Teacher Education distributed to students in EDU 310, and briefly described below.

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. Students from out-of-state wishing to teach in their home states must declare that choice before admission to the university, and are advised to speak with the Director of the Office of Educator Licensure about their intentions and prospects.

Statement Regarding Professional Assessments

The PRAXIS II exam must be taken in or before the student’s last year, but prior to student teaching. In addition, PreK-6 Elementary Education candidates must take the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test before student teaching.

Candidacy Screening

A prospective teacher education student undergoes candidate screening by the end of sophomore year; transfers undergo candidate screening during or after first term at SU. The Academic Requirements for Candidacy Screening are as follows:

1. Complete EDU 310 The Teaching Profession course or Equivalent with Practicum Experience – evaluations submitted by cooperating teachers;
2. Pass “240 Tutoring” “Praxis CORE Practice Tests” in Reading and Writing;
3. Elementary and Math/Science majors need to Pass ALEK math placement test;
4. Remediation provided in “240 Tutoring” for students who need to pass; and
5. minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the education major is required.

The Teacher Education Application Process is as follows:

1. Student completes Teacher Education Program (TEP) application
2. Student notes contact information for Recommendations in the application
3. Submit the application to Office of Educator Licensure via link in Teacher Education Handbook
4. Applications reviewed March 1, May 1, Oct. 1, Dec. 1 (or nearest weekday)

(10) The Faculty Committee Chair will schedule Interviews and reflective writing times with applicants via email.  

After the interview day, students will be notified via email letter of their status: approved, probationary (with conditions), or rejected (with appeals process noted). The Teacher Education Handbook gives more details on this process.

Students must receive satisfactory ratings by the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board prior to admission into the education program and prior to student teaching. Prior to student teaching, all students must successfully complete Praxis II in their subject areas, and elementary (PreK-6) education students must also pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test. Students must complete the application for student teaching (found in the Teacher Education Handbook, along with required recommendations.  Shenandoah University reserves the right to determine the fitness of an individual to student teach.