Master of Science in Education with Initial Licensure

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

This licensure/master's program in middle school education (grades 6-8) is designed for prospective teachers wanting to obtain an initial middle school teaching licensure and a master's degree at the same time. Open to students who have a non-teaching B.S. or B.A. degree, the program requires students to take courses which meet the Commonwealth of Virginia's stated academic competency requirements and leads to two undergraduate endorsement areas selected from the following: mathematics (21 credits minimum), English (21 credits minimum), science (21 credits minimum), or social studies (21 credits minimum). An additional 33 credits of education courses are taken at the graduate level. Advisors in the Office of Teacher Education Services will evaluate an individual's undergraduate transcript to determine which, if any, undergraduate academic content courses are needed to meet state requirements for licensure. No courses in the academic major or professional education classes in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted toward licensure in the Darden College of Education.

Admission

Students must (1) hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the liberal arts and sciences (or equivalent) including a minimum of 21 semester hours (which meet Virginia's stated coursework competencies) in two areas of concentration (English, mathematics, science, and history/social science) which will be listed on the license; (2) achieve passing scores (as established by the Commonwealth of Virginia) on the Praxis I Academic Skills Assessment or approved SAT/ACT scores; (3) have a general 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 45 for regular admission); (5) have an interview with the graduate program director or his/her designee; and (6) submit an application for graduate studies. Performance in classes taken as a non-degree student will not be taken into consideration in the admission process. No courses in the academic major or professional education in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted for admission 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 and receive a B or better in practicum prior to teacher internship (passing scores must be attached to the teacher internship application). All methodology courses must be completed before a student takes internship/student teaching.

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 academic major or professional education in which the student has made below a C- will be accepted toward licensure requirements in the Darden College of Education.

Program Requirements

Students seeking initial licensure plus a master's degree in middle school education (grades 6-8) must meet the academic concentration requirements (item 1) in two of the following specialties and the general academic concentration requirements (item 2) in the other two with a minimum grade of a C-. 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.

English

(1)English concentration [must include course work in language (e.g., history, structure, grammar); literature; advanced composition; and interpersonal communication or speech]: 21 semester hours.

(2)Individuals seeking endorsement in middle education 6-8 without an English concentration must have completed 12 semester hours in English.

Mathematics

(1)Mathematics concentration (must include course work in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, and applications of mathematics): 21 semester hours.

(2)Individuals seeking endorsement in middle education 6-8 without a mathematics concentration must have completed a minimum of six semester hours in mathematics.

Science

(1)Science concentration (must include courses in each of the following: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science; a laboratory course is required in two of the four areas): 21 semester hours.

(2)Individuals seeking endorsement in middle education 6-8 without a science concentration must have completed a minimum of six semester hours in science for a total of 15 semester hours in mathematics and science.

History/Social Science

(1)History/social science concentration (must include American history, world history, economics, geography, international affairs, and current events): 21 semester hours

(2)Individuals seeking endorsement in middle education 6-8 without a history/social science concentration must have completed a minimum of six semester hours in history and a minimum of six semester hours in social science for a total of 15 semester hours in history and social science.

Curriculum

Graduate Program Director:
Dr. Gail Taylor, Education Room 165-6, 757-683-4180

Graduate Program Advisor:
Nola Nicholson, Edcuation Room 152, 683-3348