Students majoring in Spanish or Business may elect to enroll in the Professional Studies Certificate in Secondary Teacher Education so they can apply for a Virginia Teacher’s license in that field. This stands in contrast to students seeking licensure as Biology, Chemistry, English, History, or Mathematics teachers: they enroll in the Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education. 

This secondary education certificate program contains the education core coursework required by the Virginia Department of Licensure Regulations for secondary education (6-12) teachers.

 

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 nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); thus, graduates who have successfully completed all requirements for the Secondary Education program will have met all educational requirements for Virginia licensure.

 

Candidate Screening

A prospective teacher education student undergoes candidate screening by the end of sophomore year or, if they are a transfer student, during or just after their first term at SU. To be eligible for Candidacy Screening, Secondary Education students must:

1. Complete EDU 310 The Teaching Profession course or its equivalent with practicum experience. Evaluations must be submitted by cooperating teachers;
2. Pass the following practice tests offered by “240 Tutoring”. Remediation is provided at this site for students who need support to pass:
   • Praxis Core: Reading Practice Test
   • Praxis Core: Writing Practice Test
   • Praxis Core: Mathematics Practice Test (if seeking a Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry Endorsement)
3. Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the education major; and
4. Earn satisfactory ratings from the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board.

The Teacher Education Application Process is as follows:

1. Student completes Teacher Education Program (TEP) application
2. Student provides 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, October 1, December 1 (or nearest weekday)
5. 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.

 

Requirements Prior to Student Teaching

Student teaching is the culminating experience in the undergraduate education curricula. This final semester provides candidates with the opportunity to apply their classroom management skills, pedagogical knowledge, and subject-matter expertise in real-world setting.

To be eligible for student teaching, Secondary Education candidates are required to:

1. Pass the Praxis test specific to their chosen endorsement prior to student teaching:
2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in their major;
3. Successfully complete the application for student teaching (found in the Teacher Education Handbook), including submission of required recommendations;
4. Earn satisfactory ratings from the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board;
5. Complete a criminal background check within thirty days of student teaching.

Shenandoah University has been entrusted by the Virginia Department of Education and our K-12 School Partners with the responsibility for determining the fitness of an individual to student teach. Therefore, Shenandoah University reserves the right to determine that an individual is unfit to student teach.

 

All courses in this professional studies certificate program must be completed with a grade of C or better.