Q. WHAT EDUCATION DEGREE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE EVENING
PROGRAM?
A. Students have the following options.
- Students
may proceed through the IS approved teacher licensure program curriculum
and complete a student teaching requirement which enables them to earn
both a Bachelor of Arts degree and VA teacher licensure. .
- Students may already have a degree but wish to take
the additional coursework necessary to secure teacher licensure.
- Students may already be employed as teachers but wish
to supplement their credentials with an add-on endorsement (e.g., Special
Education).
The Virginia Intermont College Department of Teacher
Education has offered Pre-K-sixth teacher licensure through the Adult Degree
Studies Program since 1996. In contrast
to many courses offered through ADS, those Interdisciplinary Studies courses
that have VA Department of Education teacher competencies addressed in them are
full-contact courses, meeting with the instructor for the total clock
hours. For example, a three credit
course would meet 40-45 clock hours in the classroom setting. IS courses are scheduled two/three evenings
per week and some Saturdays during each term.
The curriculum includes: Core Curriculum Requirements (48
semester hours), Major Requirements (41 semester hours) and Professional
Studies/Field Experience Requirements (35 semester hours). The community college transfer articulation
agreement does not apply to courses which address teacher competencies. These courses must be taken. Due to the approved program requirements,
Professional Studies/Field Experience courses take the place of elective hours
assigned to the Interdisciplinary Studies without licensure major.
Q. WHAT WOULD A TYPICAL SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?
A. Below would be a typical schedule:
- Term I
EDUC 101 Introduction to Education; ENG 314 Advanced Composition:
Theory and Practice; MATH 202
Concepts of Modern Mathematics I; PHSC 101 Introduction to Physical
Science
- Term II ENG 371 The English Language; ENG
381 Children’s and Adolescent Literature; HIST 101 World History I; MATH
204 Concepts of Modern Mathematics II
- Term III
EDUC 310 Foundations of Education (Summer Term)
- Term IV
EDUC 342 The Teaching of Reading;
EDU 410 Curriculum and Instruction In
the Primary Grades; HEAL 311 School and Community Health; PSY 302 Psychology of
the Exceptional Child
- Term V
EDUC 318 Diagnostic and Remedial Reading; EDU 340 Teaching the Language
Arts; EDUC
412 Curriculum and Instruction in the Intermediate Grades; PSY
204 Developmental Psychology
- Term VI
EDU 484 Student Teaching; EDU 305, 323, 325 Physical Education, Art
and Music for the Elementary Teacher
Q. HOW MANY CLASS
NIGHTS DURING THE WEEK?
A. Typically, for a full time student (12 or
more credit hours per semester) you would meet 3 class nights and some
Saturdays.
Q. WHAT IS THE PRAXIS AND HOW IS IT USED AT VI?
A. The Praxis I
and Praxis II tests are nationally-standardized examinations that assess the
basic reading, writing and mathematical skills of prospective teachers.
The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)
and the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) are state mandated assessments.
Students must successfully pass Praxis I before being permitted to enroll in
the approved program’s entry level course, EDUC 310 Foundations of Education.
All VIC and VA DOE required assessment tests must be passed before students may
register for EDU 484 Student Teaching.
Q. IF I'M NOT PLANNING TO TEACH IN VIRGINIA,
DO I STILL HAVE TO PASS THE ASSESSMENT TESTS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA?
A . Yes. The VIC teacher licensure programs have
achieved Virginia Department of Education approved program status. The mandated
assessments are part of the approved program requirements. All teacher licensure graduates must have met
the approved program requirements.
Q. WHY AREN'T THE COURSES STRUCTURED LIKE COURSES IN OTHER
ADS PROGRAMS?
A. The Virginia
Department of Education mandates exact equivalence between the approved program
offered in the traditional format and the program offered through ADS. Since
traditional courses are not structured like most ADS courses, then IS courses
through ADS must mirror the traditional approved program.
Q. IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM WITH LICENSURE IN
LESS THAN THE NORMAL TIME?
A. No. In order to do so, students would have to
assume overloaded schedules to the extent that it would compromise the
integrity of the entire educational experience. Our position is that VI isn't dedicated to graduating students quickly, but, instead, to
graduating students who are very thoroughly prepared for a successful teaching
career as passionate professionals.
Q. HOW CAN I ACCOMMODATE MY STUDENT TEACHING SCHEDULE WITH MY
WORK SCHEDULE?
A. This is a
very real concern of many of our students, not only during student teaching,
but in meeting course requirements to engage in a total of 200 hours of
pre-student teaching classroom instructional assistantship. In short, most of
our students take leaves of absence during their student teaching. However, since so many of our IS students work
in school divisions already, they find their employers very amenable to
accommodating their needs. Nevertheless, it is critical that prospective IS licensure students be aware of these requirements
before committing to the program.
Q. WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR GRADUATES OF YOUR PROGRAM?
A. The outlook
is excellent, especially in the
Southwest Virginia
region. An overwhelming percentage of our graduates are offered positions
immediately upon graduation, some even before! However, the key seems to be in
remaining flexible. If you are looking only to teach third grade at the
elementary school a half-mile from your home, your chances of finding
employment decrease dramatically. Our advice is that you keep an open mind
about grade, location, salary, yearly schedule, etc.
Q. I HEAR A LOT ABOUT
S.O.LS. WHAT ARE THEY? A. Standards of
Learning have been adopted by the public schools of
Virginia to assess the minimum skill levels
and competencies of its students. Our courses must address these standards in
depth.
Q. CAN I OBTAIN A
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADD-ON?
A. YES - Special Education Add-on Endorsement (PreK-12) Add-on
endorsement programs are reserved for individuals holding a valid teaching
license or those currently completing coursework for a full teaching license.
- Term I
EDUC 346 Curriculum & Instruction: LD/ED/MR; EDUC 415 Teaching
& Remediation of Special Students; EDU 411 Special Education
Assessment
- Term II
EDUC 345, Behavior Management; EDU 414 Consultation/ Collaboration/
Inclusion;
EDUC 416 School Law
- Term III
EDUC 485, Student Teaching for Add-On Endorsements
Students must hold a valid teaching license or be in the
process of completing EDUC 484 Student Teaching before taking this course. VA
DOE Special Education Assessments are required.
Students pursuing the Special Education add-on endorsement
must also successfully complete PSY 302
Psychology of the Exceptional Child, EDUC 340 Teaching Language Arts and EDUC 342
The Teaching of Reading in order to obtain this endorsement. Field
experience in the public schools is included in these courses.
* Teaching licensure
requirements are subject to change by the Virginia Department
of Education. Programs of study and
assessment requirements are altered accordingly when changes are deemed
necessary to assure that candidates meet Commonwealth of Virginia
approved program /licensure requirements.