Objective: To provide prospective teachers with significant professional development at the master's level.
Five-Year Program Bachelor's Degree and Master of Education Degree
Students may select a Five-Year Program leading to the appropriate bachelor's degree and a professional studies master of education degree. This option provides more subject area content for teacher preparation students at the undergraduate level and significant professional preparation in the fifth year. Students may also select a special education option that meets the endorsement requirements for special education - general curriculum K-12. Students must complete 33 graduate semester hours to receive the master's degree.
Interested E&H undergraduate students should apply to enroll in the five-year teacher preparation program before taking EDUC 300 level and about courses. In addition, all other undergraduate program requirements must be completed. Students accepted into the Five-Year program should complete EDUC 505, EDUC 524, and either 549E (Elementary) or 549S (Secondary) in their senior year, which will count no more than nine credit hours toward the graduate degree. Students should consult the Director of the Teacher Preparation Program or M.Ed. Program Director.
Students Coming to Emory & Henry College with a Bachelor's Degree (Fast Track M.Ed.): Person holding a bachelor's degree may be eligible to apply to the Professional Studies Master's Degree Program. Students should consult the Director of the Teacher Preparation Program or M.Ed. Program Director.
Requirements for Admission (M.Ed. Program)
Admission to the Master of Education degree program requires a completed application; official transcript(s) from undergraduate institution(s) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in the major; submissions of writing sample of high quality; review by an admissions committee; and passing scores on Praxis I Math (or exemption) and the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA). Prospective graduate students are required to provide two recommendations from individuals familiar with their work, submit a completed application for graduate admission, and provide official copies of required professional assessments they have completed.
Any undergraduate work required for Virginia Board of Education licensure also will be required including an additional reading course for middle school licensure. Before any student may enter the professional semester, s/he must have passed all required assessments including Praxis II and RVE (elementary and special education only).
Professional Semester
Supervised clinical teaching is required of students for teacher licensure. The student is expected to devote full time to this activity, taking only the required 15 semester hours of the professional semester; ten in supervised teaching along with the seminar in teaching and the appropriate methods course. Jobs and extracurricular activities should be avoided.
Student teaching requires a full semester of actual classroom experience under supervision-including observation, participation, responsible teaching, and conferences. All travel and personal expenses are the responsibility of the student. Prerequisites: overall GPA of at least 3.0, and 3.0 in major subject field at Emory & Henry, successful Program Interview, and admission to the teacher preparation program, including passing of Praxis I Math test or Virginia Department of Education approved alternatives, Praxis II, Virginia Communications and Literacy Assessment, and Reading for Virginia Educators, if required for licensure. Student Teaching is the senior project for teacher preparation, but individual departments may have additional senior project requirements. Students who enter the M.Ed. program with a baccalaureate degree do not complete a senior project in their major area.