TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM. (COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES)
The role of the Teacher Education Program is to help develop the competencies and dispositions necessary for successful teaching. Licensure programs are offered at the elementary level (grades preK-6), secondary level (grades 6-12), and in grades preK-12 for select fields.
Admission into the Teacher Education Program is by application, and before consideration a student must complete at least 12 credits at the University of Mary Washington with a grade-point average of 2.50 or better and have the consent of the faculty of the Department of Education. Students interested in teaching must attend an Education Department group information session, several of which are held each semester. It is recommended that this be accomplished early in the University of Mary Washington experience since this is a requirement for acceptance into the introductory education course. Students who have indicated an interest in pursuing teaching credentials will be provided with a Department of Education Interest Form which should be completed and returned to the University of Mary Washington Education Department.
Transfer students who have a 3.25 GPA and have previously taken an education course at their previous institution may apply to take EDUC 203 or 204 their first semester at UMW. They should submit their application for EDUC 203/204 by May 1 for fall enrollment or December 1 for spring enrollment. Transfer students who do not submit applications by these deadlines or do not meet the above requirements may apply to take these courses along with other UMW students.
All students must attend a Group Information Session prior to enrolling in EDUC 203 or EDUC 204.
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 an 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, geography, linguistics, literature, mathematics, a laboratory science sequence, and foreign language.
The Education Department offers undergraduate programs for licensure at the secondary level in the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Earth Science, History and Social Science, Mathematics, and Physics. The department also offers undergraduate programs for licensure in grades preK-12 in the areas of Visual Arts, Foreign Language (French, German, Latin, and Spanish), and Theatre Arts. Students preparing to teach in any of the secondary or preK-12 licensure areas must have majors in the subjects they wish to teach.
Only the specific education courses required for one approved teacher licensure program may be counted in the 120 credits required for a B.A./B.S. or B.L.S. degree. A student not working toward teacher licensure may count a maximum of 12 credits in education courses toward degree requirements. A student completing Education 440 Supervised Teaching (9 credits) should be aware that a maximum of 12 credits (combined total) in supervised teaching and internships may count toward required undergraduate degree credits.
All teacher education programs 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. Virginia has reciprocal agreements with many states that accept Virginia requirements for teaching credentials.