148
completed independently in consultation with a project advisor. (Candidates must be eli-
gible to graduate in the subsequent academic term.) Prerequisite: EDU 5323 Research in
Education
EDU 5553 Field Experience Practicum
Licensure candidates are placed in a public school classroom for practical experience as
an
observer/participant under the supervision of classroom teachers and college fac-
ulty. Licensure candidates will attend class seminars as scheduled and will spend
100 hours in a public school classroom. Prerequisites: EDU 5113 Advanced
Educational Psychology and one other graduate level education course. License
assessments required by the Commonwealth of Virginia must be passed prior to
beginning the course. Background check requirements must be completed prior to
enrolling in any EDU course requiring field experience hours. Membership in the
Student Virginia Education Association is required for placement.
EDU 5556 Student Teaching Internship
Student teaching internship is a semester of continuous full-time professional ac-
tivities in a public school under the supervision of public school and college per-
sonnel. Licensure candidates assume the role of teacher to plan and implement
instruction, to manage the classroom, and to facilitate record-keeping. Licensure
candidates also compile a professional teaching portfolio based on the InTASC
Model Core Teaching Standards developed by the Interstate Teacher Assessment
and Support Consortium of the Council of State School Officers (CCSSO), pub-
lished April, 2011. Prerequisites: License assessments required by the Common-
wealth of Virginia must be passed prior to beginning the course. Background
check requirements must be completed prior to enrolling in any EDU course re-
quiring field experience hours. Membership in the Student Virginia Education As-
sociation is required for placement. Formal admission to student teaching. Licen-
sure candidates must make at least a C (not C-) in Student Teaching in order to be
recommended for licensure. (6 credit hours)
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MAJOR
(NON-LICENSURE)
The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education is a
non-licensure
program
within the School of Education beginning in Fall 2014. A bachelor’s degree in Early
Childhood Education prepares individuals to teach children ages birth to age eight in high-
quality, developmentally appropriate setting. Pre-School teachers in the field play a vital
role in the development of young children. While
this major does not result in a teaching
license
, earning a BS degree in Early Childhood Education provides opportunities in a
variety of settings, such as childcare programs, public schools, churches, government
agencies, non-profit organizations, medical and health related services and social service
agencies. Careers could include directly working with children, supervision and training
of staff, support and education for families, and advocacy within the community about the
education and needs of children.