Education: Requirements and Application

 
The minimum overall grade point average for admission into the Teacher Preparation Program is 2.60.

Please refer to the college catalog for any questions about the requirements for the Teacher Preparation Program.

There are TWO ADMISSION PROCESSES:

First Application:  Application to the Teacher Preparation Program

Application to the Teacher Preparation Program (junior year) **Those accepted to the program may continue with education coursework; those NOT accepted may not continue education coursework. Apply spring of junior year. Students are eligible to apply if they have at least at 2.6 cumulative GPA  and have completed at least one education course with at grade of C- or better.

If a student has questions about applying to the program, please contact the department chair.

Second Application :   Application to Student Teaching (senior year) Apply fall of senior year. Students are eligible to apply for student teaching if they maintain a 2.6 cumulative GPA and have earned at least a 2.6 GPA in the major field. (those with GPA average of 2.4-2.59 in the major may also be reviewed upon recommendation of the major department). Students must also continue to demonstrate competence in professional education courses and experiences.

In each case, the student's application will be reviewed and action will be taken by the department in which the student is majoring, by the Department of Education, and by the Teacher Preparation Committee of the college. 

Applicants will be considered with regard to the following:

1. Personal characteristics which seem to indicate that the student has the potential to become an effective teacher.
2. Physical and mental health
3. Proficiency in written English (grade of C- or better in FYE; English 185, GNED 103; or advanced placement credit or transfer credit).
4. Proficiency in oral English skills (grade of C- or better in COMM 210)
5. Proficiency in math (grade of C- or better in one math course taken to satisfy the collegiate requirement, or advanced placement credit).
6. Proficiency in history (grade of C- or better in History 100/101 or History 111/112*) *NOTE: History 111/112 must be taken for all ELEMENTARY minors and for those planning to teach HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY. (history and social science endorsement)
7. Successful completion of PRAXIS 1 or acceptable substitute scores (see link for Praxis 1 scores and substitute scores)

Application Guidelines for Persons who are NOT Full-time R-MC Students

The spring block course work (includes coursework and student teaching) is designed for full-time undergraduates of the college. In certain unique circumstances, graduates of Randolph-Macon may enroll in the spring block  (and January term if elementary minor) if:

1. Accepted into the program by application to the Teacher Preparation Committee,
2. Written understanding that the student may apply for student teaching the following spring,
3. All conditions for acceptance to student teaching are met.

This policy became effective for the program in the spring of 1997. Graduates of other colleges and universities who desire to complete spring block coursework for teacher licensure may be considered if :

1. Conditions for acceptance to the program are met,
2. All conditions for acceptance into student teaching are met.

Application Forms and Procedures for Submission

Applications are available in the Department of Education. Applications for admission into the program are due in March of the student's junior year, and applications for admission to student teaching are due by November of the student's senior year. All applicants for the program and student teaching are responsible for getting the applications and turning these into the Education Department of the college.

Students are asked to declare the education minor by fall of the junior year.  This allows the department to plan and secure student teaching placements and to contact the students to remind of application processes for the program and for student teaching.

Applications and Faculty Recommendation Forms should be printed from the links below. The completed copies must be delivered as hard copies to the Education Department in order to be reviewed. Applicants must also print copies of the Faculty Recommendation Form and give to a faculty member to request a recommendation. Click here to download the Application & Recommendation Forms.

Standardized Assessments

• PRAXIS 1 (basic skills test or accepted substitute assessments- see link to Praxis 1 for scores and substitutes)
• PRAXIS 2 (content area assessment)
• Virginia Reading Assessment (prek-6 only)
• Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (all education minors)

1. Successful completion of PRAXIS I tests is another aspect of the acceptance process or acceptable substitute assessments - see link to Praxis 1 for scores and substitutes.  PRAXIS I is a professional assessment for beginning teachers and it or accepted substitute assessment is required for acceptance into the Teacher Preparation Program. The aggregate R-MC pass rate on the PRAXIS I basic skills (reading, writing, and math) tests for 2009-2010 was 100%.
2. Selected endorsement areas also require successful completion of PRAXIS II for licensure by the Virginia Department of Education. Applicants for PRAXIS I and II testing may call 804-346-8777 for dates/times/place for taking the assessments in the Richmond area. Other information about PRAXIS Tests may be found at the ETS site.
3. T he Virginia Department of Education requires all persons seeking pre-K -6 teaching licensure to pass the Virginia Reading Assessment. More information is available at www.VRA.nesinc.com.
4. Beginning January 2007, the Virginia Department of Education requires all applicants for teaching endorsements to take the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment. More information is available at www. VCLA.nesinc.com
5. ALL standardized assessment scores must be submitted to the Randolph-Macon College Education Department. *Students must keep their own copies of these assessment scores to apply for their teaching licensure at the successful completion of student teaching. The department will NOT supply copies.

Information on these assessments and other questions about teaching licensure in Virginia may be found at Virginia Department of Education site.