Education Department

The faculty and staff of the VWU Teacher Education Program offered by the Education Department are committed to ensuring that prospective teachers complete an academically challenging liberal arts education that includes thorough preparation in the approved content area fields and for teaching the diverse learners of the 21st Century. The Teacher Education Program provides students with multiple field experience opportunities in diverse contexts beginning as early as the freshman year, strong mentoring by faculty and staff, engaging professional studies coursework, and pathways leading to initial licensure in 15 endorsement areas. Beginning in Summer 2018, the Teacher Education Program will begin offering a 5th-Year BA/BS to MAEd Program leading to initial licensure in six secondary (6-12) and seven preK-12 endorsement areas.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

The teacher education programs at Virginia Wesleyan University are periodically reviewed by the Virginia Department of Education and have been approved by the Virginia Board of Education.

Students interested in becoming teachers must formally apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Admission packets for the undergraduate and graduate programs are distributed in INST 202 and EDUC 225 classes and during an Education Orientation each semester, and are available in Pruden 103. Admission paperwork is to be completed and all requirements submitted to the Education Office, Pruden 103.

Students interested in the undergraduate elementary preK-6 and special education: general curriculum K-12 programs will not be allowed to register for upper level professional education courses until they are admitted into the Teacher Education Program. Transfer students interested in these programs must complete and submit admission materials by the end of their first semester of coursework at VWU.  All 300/400-level education courses are “Consent Only.”

Students interested in the graduate secondary and preK-12 programs should contact the Education Department at 757.233.8702 for information.

When the completed undergraduate application and admission requirements are received, a committee will determine admission into the Teacher Education Program.  Applications and admission requirements are due by October 15th for Fall acceptance or by March 15 for Spring acceptance. A letter of acceptance will be sent to confirm admission.  The following criteria must be met to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program:

• Achieve passing scores on Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators or ​submit ​equivalent​ SAT​ ​scores meeting criteria as a substitute for Praxis Core​
• Successfully complete INST 202 with observation experiences; otherwise, EDUC 230—Observation In ​School Settings or ​an equivalent experience will be required
• ​Achieve ​an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 at the time of application
• Achieve a grade of C or better in ​the pre-admission courses​ INST 202, INST 203, and EDUC 225 (or PSY 205 if seeking admission to the special education program)​
• Submit documentation of the FOCUS-2 assessment from the Career Development and Internship Program office and accompanying reflective essay (see guidelines in packet, effective Fall 2017)
• All students seeking endorsement in ​History and Social Sciences​​ ​6-12​, elementary​ education preK-6​, ​or ​special education​: general curriculum K-12​ must complete the ​Virginia State and Local ​Civic Education Module and submit ​the ​module certificate​​
• Successfully complete the​ Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training module and submit ​the ​module certificate​​

Following admission to the Teacher Education Program, a teacher candidate is required to complete the following requirements prior to the student-teaching semester to remain in good standing in the program:

• Maintain the required GPA in your ​endorsement area ​major 
• Maintain an overall GPA of 2.8 each semester after admission to Program
• ​Achieve ​grades of C or better in ALL professional​ ​studies ​education courses 
• ​Submit passing scores on VCL​A
• Submit a negative TB test result to the Education Department prior to practicum
• Successfully complete the Dyslexia Awareness Training Module and submit the certificate verifying completion
• ​​ Complete the required Background Clearance Check prior to your practicum course
• Provide evidence of completion of a certification or training program in emergency first aid, hands-on training for CPR, & use of AED, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross
• Submit ​pass​ing scores on the appropriate​ Praxis ​Subject Area Test​ prior to​ applying and registering for​ pre​-​service (student) teaching
• Elementary/Special Education ​Candidates ​ONLY:
• Pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) assessment upon completion of EDUC 320 and EDUC 321
• NOTE: Passing scores on VCLA, ​the appropriate ​Praxis ​Subject Area Test​, and RVE (for endorsement programs indicated above) are ​ required ​for licensure ​by the Virginia Department of Education

For information about licensure in states offering reciprocity, visit the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification