Master of Science in Education with Initial Licensure - PreK-6

This licensure/master's program in elementary school education (PreK-6) is designed for individuals with a non-teaching B.S. or B. A. degree who wish to become licensed as a teacher in preschool through grade six and a master's degree at the same time.

Admission

Students must (1) hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; (2) achieve passing scores (as established by the Commonwealth of Virginia) on the Praxis I Academic Skills Assessment or the SAT/ACT; (3) have a general undergraduate grade point average of 2.80; (4) take and receive satisfactory scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (score of 900 combined on verbal and quantitative with a minimum of 400 verbal for regular admission) or Miller Analogies Test (minimum score of 45 or 399 for regular admission); and (5) have an interview with the graduate program director or his/her designee. Performance in classes taken as a non-degree graduate student will not be taken into consideration in the admission process. No courses in the undergraduate academic major or professional education in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted for licensure in the Darden College of Education.

Under certain circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission to the program may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to conditions specified by the graduate program director for elementary/middle education.

Continuance

Students must (1) maintain a grade point average of 3.00, (2) maintain a grade point average of 3.00 in the major, and (3) pass Praxis II,Virginia Reading Assessment and receive a B or better in ESSE 679 prior to beginning the teacher candidate internship.

Exit

Students must (1) have a 3.00 grade point average; (2) pass a written comprehensive examination; (3) successfully complete internship/student teaching; (4) have an exit interview; (5) have completed all course requirements; (6) submit an application for graduation; and (7) pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) prior to licensure.No courses in the undergraduate academic major in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted toward licensure in the College of Education.

Program Requirements

Prerequisites

Individuals entering this graduate program must already possess a bachelor's degree with classes which satisfy the Commonwealth of Virginia requirements for PreK-6 in the liberal arts and sciences and must pass the professional teacher's assessment requirement (currently Praxis I or approved SAT/ACT scores) prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education. Liberal arts and sciences course work must fulfill the following requirements. No courses in the academic major or professional education in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted toward licensure requirements in the College of Education.

1.     English (must include composition, oral communication, and literature): 12 semester credits
2.     Mathematics: 12 semester credits
3.     Science (including a laboratory course) : 12 semester credits
4.     History (must include American history and world history) : 9 semester credits
5.     Social science (must include geography and economics): 6 semester credits
6.     Arts and humanities: 6 semester credits
7.     Computer/technology: 3 semester credits (satisfied by ECI 304)

Transcripts will be evaluated by the education advisor to determine whether these academic requirements have been met by previous course work. Experiential learning credit may be available for non-academic work.

For further information contact the Graduate Program Director:
Dr. Charlene Fleener
Education room 145
Phone 757-683-3483