Undergraduate Teacher Education Program and PBTL Admission

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Undergraduate and PBTL Requirements for Admission to the Teacher Education Program (seeking licensure)

Undergraduate students seeking admission (Level One) to the Teacher Education Program (TEP), Bachelor/Master of Arts in Teaching, or Bachelor/Master of Education programs may apply at any time. The application is an online form available on the myMBU, School of Education tab.

Through the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (PBTL) program, students who already have a bachelor’s degree can pursue initial licensure at the undergraduate level in the Teacher Education Program. This is a licensure program that takes into account all the credits a student has already earned and applies those toward the goal of obtaining a Virginia teaching license. This program does not lead to a certificate or graduate degree. All students enrolled in the program must devote their final semester entirely to a 14-week, full-time, student teaching placement. Applications are available online through the Office of University Admissions and require a GPA of 2.5. For more information on the PBTL program, please contact the School of Education.

Licensure Endorsement Areas Offered

Initial Licensure Endorsement Areas

Elementary Education (PK–6)
Middle Education (in a teaching subject area for grades 6–8)
Secondary Education (in a teaching subject area for grades 6–12)
Special Education General Curriculum (K–12). (Requires practicum experience in two levels: elementary and middle or high school.)
English as a Second Language* (PK-12)

*Must complete 6 s.h. of a spoken modern foreign language through the intermediate level prior to applying for the ESL endorsement.

Add-on and Additional Endorsements

Add-on endorsements are not stand-alone endorsements. A student must seek another endorsement simultaneously or already hold an active teaching license.

Add-on endorsements oﬀered are:

English as a Second Language (ESL)
Gifted Education (K-12)
Special Education General Curriculum Add-on's for K-6, 6-8, or 6-12**

**Must hold or be concurrently seeking an initial license in the same endorsement area in which one is seeking the Add-on. (For example, if one is seeking the Special Education 6-8 Add-on, the initial license must be in a content area for Middle Education.)

Additional endorsements oﬀered are:

Elementary Education (PK-6)
Special Education General Curriculum (K-12)

As soon as the student identifies an interest in pursuing teacher licensure, he or she should arrange a meeting with an education advisor to go over specific licensure requirements.

Teacher Education Program (TEP) - Initial Licensure Levels of Progression

The School of Education, in compliance with our accreditor, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), has adopted the Teacher Education Program - Initial Licensure Levels of Progression rubric to meet accreditation requirements. All Education students must meet admission and program progression requirements as they progress through varying levels of the program. This process is outlined below.

Teacher Education Program Admission

Requirements for admission:

GPA 2.5 (for current undergraduate students applying to the Teacher Ed Program and PBTL - most recent transcript)
GPA 3.0 (for current students applying for BA/MAT or BA/MEd - most recent transcript)
Undergraduate students must have their major declared and on file with the Registrar's Office
Correct, fluent written and spoken English. Non-native English speakers must submit one of the following with the minimum score noted:
- Duolingo, 130
- IELTS, 7.0
- TOEFL, 98

Level One - Experiential Learning Through Field Placement

A Level 1 student has met the requirements above and been admitted to the Teacher Education Program, BA/MAT, BA/MEd or PBTL program. This student is now eligible to take fieldwork placement/practicum courses such as ED 112 and ED 324.

Level Two - Candidate Eligibility for Instructional Strategies/Methods

Requirements for advancement to Level 2:
The student is ready for Level 2 in the TEP when they have met/completed the following:

GPA 3.0 (for all students)
Methods & Practicum Placement Request Form
Child Abuse & Neglect Recognition Training
Civics Education Module (if applicable)
Cultural Competency Training
Dyslexia Awareness Training Module
Professional Ethics Module
Special Education Modules (Building a More Inclusive School Community and Meaningful IEP Meetings)
Understanding the Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion

A Level 2 student who has met the requirements above and is now eligible for Instructional Strategies/Methods (ED 312, 315, 345, 607, 624, 649).

Level Three - Selected Candidate Student Teaching

Requirements for advancement to Level 3:

The student is ready for Level 3 in the TEP when they have met/successfully completed the following:

Continued GPA 3.0
Student Teaching Request Form
All pre-requisite courses (in progress are acceptable)
Instructional Strategies/Methods (B- or better)
Acceptable score from the Instructional Strategies Instructor on the PQDT evaluation
Attempted and scores received for the following: (pass is required by Level 4)
- Praxis II, if applicable
- RVE or Teaching Reading: Elementary, if applicable

A Level 3 Selected Candidate has met the requirements above and may progress to student teaching and seminar.

Level Four - Program Completer Apply for Licensure

Requirements for advancement to Level 4:
The student is ready for Level 4 in the TEP and to proceed towards licensure application and employment when they have met/completed the following:

Continued GPA 3.0
Successfully completed Seminar and Student Teaching
Successfully completed the Student Impact Project
Acceptable score from the University Supervisor on the PQDT evaluation
Passed Praxis II, if applicable
Passed RVE or Teaching Reading: Elementary, if applicable
First Aid/AED/hands-on CPR
Submitted licensure application, transcripts, and certified check or money order to the Licensure Coordinator for processing

A Level 4 Program Completer has met the requirements above and their licensure application has been submitted to the Virginia Department of Education for processing. A Program Completer is a licensed student/alumnus who is employed in their endorsement area.

Periodic reappraisal of teacher candidates will be made as the student progresses through the Teacher Education Program.

Bachelor's/Master's Options

The School of Education oﬀers three Bachelor’s/Master’s options. Each program is designed to allow an undergraduate student to complete up to 18 credit hours of graduate coursework toward a Bachelor’s degree and apply it toward a Master’s degree. As a Master's degree student, one must complete at least 18 credit hours and be continously enrolled for one-year following completion of the Bachelor’s degree. Please see the following sections below (Bachelor’s/MAT, Bachelor’s/MEd, and Bachelor’s/MS) for speciﬁc program options, policies, and requirements.

Course Restrictions
Prior to admission to a Bachelor’s/Master’s program (see Admission requirements below), undergraduate students may only take two graduate courses (6-7 credit hours). However, exceptions may be made with SOE approval for students completing certiﬁcates or special course sequences. Following admission to a Bachelor’s/Master’s program, students may take additional graduate courses but will be assessed an additional nominal fee beyond the ﬁrst six credit hours. No more than 18 graduate credit hours may be taken prior to Bachelor’s degree conferral for students in these programs. No graduate courses can be taken for P/NC credit unless the course itself is set up as a P/NC grading option.

Program Requirements/Terms of Graduate Study
Students must be continuously enrolled in the Bachelor's/Master's program full-time over the course of two or more semesters, enrolling in a minimum of 18 credit hours, as a Master’s degree-seeking student following conferral of the Bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor's/Master's of Arts in Teaching

The Bachelor’s/MAT is designed as a program that allows students to complete a Bachelor’s degree, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and teacher licensure upon MAT graduation. This program is available to undergraduate students except those in our Elementary Education (BA) and Special Education (BA) majors. Students selecting either of these undergraduate majors would apply for our BA/MEd program. Admission requirements are above in the section Teacher Education Program - Initial Licensure Levels of Progression. Students combine graduate courses with undergraduate work, leading to a MAT one-year following completion of the Bachelor’s degree but prior to the start of their teaching careers enriching their pre-service preparation. Students interested in the Bachelor’s/MAT should arrange a meeting with an education advisor to thoroughly review all course requirements.

Program admission requirements:

GPA 3.0 on most recent transcript
Submit a completed application (found on myMBU, School of Education tab)
Students may apply at any time.

Concentration areas for this option are:

Elementary Education (LAIS only; BA Elementary Education majors should choose Bachelor's/MEd)
English as a Second Language
Middle Education
Secondary Education
Special Education (LAIS only; BA Special Education majors should choose Bachelor's/MEd)

Education Leaders Learning Collective
The Education Leaders cohort allows high-performing and motivated College for Women and University College students to complete both the Bachelor’s and MAT or MEd degrees in four years, essentially accelerating through the undergraduate curriculum in three years (same Bachelor’s requirements as all Bachelor’s students), with one year remaining for graduate studies and student teaching. For more information on the Education Leaders program, please contact the School of Education.

Bachelor's/Master of Education

The Bachelor’s/MEd allows undergraduate students to complete both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Education. Students combine graduate courses with undergraduate work, leading to an MEd one year following completion of the Bachelor’s degree. All students must complete the MEd Required Core Courses plus one concentration area to earn the MEd degree. Students interested in the Bachelor’s/MEd should arrange a meeting with an education advisor to thoroughly review all course requirements.

Program admission requirements:

GPA 3.0 on most recent transcript
Submit a completed application (found on myMBU, School of Education tab)
Students may apply at any time.

Concentration areas for this option are:

Elementary Education PK-6 (for students who did not pursue licensure through the Elementary Education (BA) major)
Special Education Gen Curr K-12 (for students who did not pursue licensure through the Special Education (BA) major)
Special Education Add-ons K-6, 6-8, 6-12 (licensure)
English as a Second Language (licensure option available)
Gifted Education (licensure option available)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authentic Learning and Leadership
Curriculum and Instruction
Special Education Non-Licensure

Bachelor's/Master of Science

The Bachelor’s/MS allows undergraduate students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis. Students combine graduate courses with undergraduate coursework, leading to an MS one year following completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students interested in the Bachelor’s/MS should arrange a meeting with the Applied Behavior Analysis department to thoroughly review all course requirements. Students may review admission and course requirements on the Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies (BA) Academic Catalog page.

Conditional Admission for Undergraduate Teacher Education Program, PBTL, and Bachelor’s/Master’s programs

Students who do not meet the full-admission criteria for their program may be considered for conditional admission on the basis of strong evidence that they can succeed in a program that requires maintenance of an average 3.0 GPA. Conditionally admitted students must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in all coursework and complete all other admissions requirements in order to be considered for full admission. In general, conditional admission status does not continue for more than three successive semesters. Conditional admission is not available in all programs*.

*PBTL students on a provisional license who do not meet the GPA standard may request a review. The student must provide a letter of support from their superintendent or his/her designee to be considered. Conditional admission is not guaranteed.

Moving from Conditional to Full Admission Status

The School of Education monitors the progress of conditionally admitted students at the end of each semester. Course grades, course instructors’ assessments of students’ writing and speaking skills, and professional qualities evaluations are considered in this review. The School of Education informs students and their academic advisors in writing regarding their status:

continued conditional admission,
admission to full degree-seeking status,
suspension, or
dismissal.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

Students who do not meet admission requirements but hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution are eligible to enroll in education courses as non-degree seeking students. No ﬁnancial aid services are provided. Upon completion of nine credit hours of coursework, non-degree seeking students in non-CAEP governed MEd and MS programs may be eligible for a status change to conditional or full admission providing they have maintained a 3.0 GPA in MBU coursework. Teachers seeking recertiﬁcation credits may enroll as non-degree seeking students. One must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program in order to enroll in Instructional Strategies/Methods coursework (ED 312, 315, 345, 607, 608, 624, 649). Students completing VDOE coursework on a provisional license should talk with an Education advisor.