Step 6) Consider Pre-Professional Interests
TEACHER EDUCATION
The document below is a Teacher Education Program Interest Form which students who are thinking about become teachers should submit to the Department of Education.
The role of the Department of Education is to help develop the competencies and dispositions necessary for successful teaching. Admission into the Teacher Education Program is by application and with the consent of the faculty of the Department of Education. All teaching endorsement areas at the University are approved by the Virginia State Department of Education, the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia, and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. In addition to full preparation for the state teaching license, a University of Mary Washington student completing the Teacher Education Program and the appropriate major will have a foundation for further study at the graduate level, in such professional specializations as special education, educational psychology, school administration, instructional supervision, and guidance and counseling.
The Elementary Teacher Education Program is a 5-year, M.S. degree program. Students who are accepted into this program will begin taking education courses as undergraduates and graduate with a bachelor's degree. They will continue in the University of Mary Washington Teacher Education Program for an additional year of coursework and field experiences to qualify for teacher licensure and for a M.S. in Elementary Education. Students wishing to consider teaching in elementary schools (grades PreK-6) may choose any major offered at Mary Washington as a base for their educational career. Students contemplating becoming elementary teachers must include courses in early American history, economics, geography, linguistics, literature, mathematics, a laboratory science sequence, and foreign language.
The secondary (6-12) and the PreK-12 programs are undergraduate programs only. Students admitted to these programs complete all degree requirements and licensure requirements within the four years of their undergraduate education. Students interested in preparing to teach in secondary schools (grades 6-12) or art, foreign language, or music (PreK-12) must have a major in the subject that they wish to teach, and they may also take additional courses for "add-on" certification in certain subjects.
University degree requirements and licensure requirements frequently overlap. If a student plans carefully, with the help of his/her academic advisor and Department of Education advisor, s/he usually can complete the Mary Washington degree requirements and the undergraduate professional education requirements within the 122 credits needed for graduation. Students interested in teaching must attend a Department of Education group information session. They may choose one of three group information sessions that are offered during the fall and spring semesters. Attendance at one of these information sessions is required for acceptance into the first education course. Prospective students who wish to pursue a teaching career should complete and return the Teacher Education Program Interest Form to the University of Mary Washington Department of Education.
When creating a schedule, it may be useful to consult the check sheet for the specific licensure you are interested in pursuing. Getting an early start with courses that overlap general education requirements is a good idea. Please go to the Education Department website for more detailed information.