Director: Andy Cox
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) Teacher Education Program (TEP) is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) and is approved by the Virginia Department of Education to offer programs that lead to initial teaching endorsements.
Candidates pursuing programs leading to an initial teacher license must complete the appropriate curriculum for teacher education, including the general education requirements, requirements for one of the majors offered by the College, specific teaching endorsement requirements, professional studies requirements, and the teaching internship (student teaching).
Candidates planning to teach at the PK-6 level or special education must complete a major in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Those who possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and wish to become eligible for an initial teacher license must complete all requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Students who do not meet all requirements of the State Approved Program at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, including a teaching internship, will fall under the alternate route guidelines of the Virginia Department of Education and additional coursework may be required when seeking licensure.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Admission to UVA Wise does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education Program. Candidates seeking teacher licensure must apply for and be granted admission to the TEP by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee. TEP applications are available online at my.uvawise.edu.
Candidates are encouraged to apply for entry into the TEP after completing the EDU 2510 class. Candidates who have completed 30 or more semester hours of coursework and students who have already completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and wish to be admitted to the TEP should apply immediately after their admission to UVA Wise; candidates holding a degree must complete all requirements for admission to the TEP by the conclusion of their second semester enrolled at the college.
All candidates admitted to the TEP are required to complete at least six semester hours on campus. Distance education students through the Center for Teaching Excellence who pursue education coursework without seeking admission to the TEP cannot be verified as program completers in their respective endorsement areas. Those students who have a grade point average of 2.5 (or higher) and a four-year college or university degree and have not been admitted to the TEP may be permitted to take courses requiring TEP admission.
Entry requirements for the TEP are as follows:
- Admission to The University of Virginia’s College at Wise;
- Completion of at least 30 semester hours of academic credit from an accredited college or university;
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better for all coursework completed at UVA Wise and an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better from all colleges and universities attended;
- Recommendations from:
a. The Chair of their major academic department at UVA Wise,
b. The Dean of Students,
c. Four college instructors (including at least three members of the UVA Wise faculty) who have observed and assessed the candidate’s performance as a student;
- Completion of EDU 2510, Foundations of Education and the Teaching Profession, with a recorded grade of “C-” or better; and
- Candidates are required to pass an interview with the TEP Admissions Committee. The Teacher Education Admissions Committee will interview those candidates who have been identified as eligible for admission. Interviews are held in September, October, November, February, March, and April each year. Candidates can request interviews using the online TEP application found at my.uvawise.edu. If candidates do not reach a passing score on the interview, they can request a second interview through the Director of Teacher Education. Candidates who fail the second interview are required to meet with the Director of Teacher Education to seek clearance to write a formal request to the Teacher Education Admissions Committee for permission to conduct a third interview. If the Teacher Education Admissions Committee grants permission for a third interview, then the candidate may interview with the Committee again. Candidates who fail the interview after the third attempt will not be eligible for admittance into the TEP.
Expectations for Students Regarding Professional Dispositions
Teacher Education Program candidates are preparing for careers in public education, where their professional behavior directly impacts student learning, motivation, and development. Faculty therefore evaluate not only academic achievement but also candidates’ professional dispositions-the patterns of behavior and habitual tendencies that affect students, colleagues, and the school environment.
The Virginia Department of Education has identified several behaviors that may indicate problematic professional dispositions, including excessive absences or tardiness, inadequate class preparation, failure to complete assignments or meet deadlines, intolerance toward others and their ideas, and lack of respect for diversity. These dispositions are considered during both the admission process and throughout a candidate’s progression in the program.
When faculty observe negative dispositions, they document their concerns through a Dispositions Report. The Director of Teacher Education reviews each report with the candidate and advises them of potential consequences, including denial of admission or withdrawal from the program if improvement is not demonstrated. Two or more reports from different instructors establish a pattern of concerning behavior and provide grounds for denial of admission or removal from the Teacher Education Program.
Candidates with identified disabilities who may require additional time to achieve passing scores on required assessments are eligible for probationary admission to the Teacher Education Program. However, all candidates must achieve full admission status before enrolling in Intern Teaching.
Admission to the Teaching Internship
Admission to the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee admission to the Teaching Internship. Candidates must meet all of the following requirements before enrolling in the teaching internship course:
Academic Requirements
· Full admission to UVA Wise Teacher Education Program
· Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all UVA Wise coursework and overall from all institutions attended
· Major coursework GPA of 3.0 or higher for endorsements in 6-12 English, Foreign Language, Theatre, and History
· Grade of “C-” or higher in all professional education courses
· Satisfactory completion of professional education courses that are prerequisites for the teaching internship
· Completion of at least six semester hours of coursework on the main UVA Wise campus
· Completion of all liberal arts core requirements prescribed by UVA Wise
Assessment Requirements
Passing scores on appropriate assessments (Mathematics Competency Test, PRAXIS Subject Assessment and, Teaching Reading) are required by specific deadlines:
· Fall internship candidates: assessments must be passed by June 1
· Spring internship candidates: assessments must be passed by November 1
Professional Standards
· Demonstration of interpersonal skills necessary to establish and maintain successful professional relationships with students, parents, teachers, and supervisors in the school community
Pre-Internship Certifications and Training The following must be completed before beginning the internship:
· Background check (completed at internship school district)
· Fingerprinting (completed at internship school district)
· Tort insurance through VEA
· Behavior Intervention and Support training (online)
· Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training (online)
· Dyslexia Awareness Training (online)
· Tuberculosis skin test within one year of beginning internship (administered by College Nurse or Family Practitioner)
· Emergency First Aid, CPR, and AED certification or training
Licensure Application
Upon successful completion of the teaching internship and all other degree and teaching license requirements, candidates will complete the VDOE electronic license.
Internship Placements
The Coordinator of Intern Placements works with school administrators to arrange internship placements for on-campus students within the following school districts: Wise, Scott, Russell, Tazewell, Washington, Smyth, Dickenson, Lee, Buchanan, Bristol City, and Norton City Schools. Interns are typically placed within a 45-mile radius of UVA Wise and are responsible for providing their own transportation during the internship. Students enrolled in the A2B program will submit a request for Internship form to the Director of Teacher Education the semester prior to student teaching. The form is used by the student to request and internship placement. The form does not guarantee an internship placement. The Director of the TEP will work with each school district to arrange and secure an internship placement.
Appeal
A student who is denied admission to the Teacher Education Program or whose full admission status has been rescinded by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee may submit a written appeal to the Provost.
Non-degree Status Students Seeking Licensure
Candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree and seek an initial teaching license may apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program as non-degree status students. These candidates must meet the following requirements:
· Hold a degree from a regionally accredited college or university
· Be admitted as a non-degree status student at UVA Wise
· Complete all professional studies requirements, including admission to the TEP, Intern Teaching, and required assessments
TEACHING ENDORSEMENT AREAS
| Career and Technical Education – Business and Information Technology |
6-12 |
| Driver Education (add-on endorsement) |
6-12 |
| Elementary Education PK6 |
Pre-K-6 |
| Engineering |
6-12 |
| English |
6-12 |
| Foreign Language (French, Spanish) |
Pre-K-12 |
| Health and Physical Education |
Pre-K-12 |
| History and Social Science |
6-12 |
| Library Media |
Pre-K-12 |
| Mathematics |
6-12 |
| Mathematics - Algebra I (add-on endorsement) |
6-12 |
| Music Education - Instrumental |
Pre-K-12 |
| Music Education - Vocal/Choral |
Pre-K-12 |
| Science - Biology or Chemistry or Earth Science (add on) |
6-12 |
| Special Education-General Curriculum K-12 |
Pre-K-12 |
Teaching Endorsement for Secondary Education (Licensure) Requirements
Individuals seeking licensure with secondary grades 6-12 endorsements may meet requirements thorugh the completion of an approved program. Components of the licensure program include an appropriate major, professional studies requirements, and any specific endorsement requirements.
Licensure Requirements, Pre-K-12
Licensure at the Pre-K-12 level may be obtained in library media, music education, and health and physical education. Students must be accepted into the Teacher Education Program and complete the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, an appropriate major offered by the College, and the professional studies and teaching internship requirements.
Secondary Education Minor
Each student admitted to the Teacher Education Program at the secondary level may earn a minor in secondary education by completing the professional requirements for secondary grades 6-12.
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