Application Window

To be admitted for Fall Cohort, applications may be submitted by October 1, but no later than December 1 for spring registration

To be admitted for Spring Cohort, applications may be submitted by March 1, but no later than May 1 for summer and fall registration

To be admitted for Summer Cohort, applications may be submitted by June 1, but no later than August 1 for fall registration

Transfer Students

Transfer students are encouraged to contact the Office of Teacher Preparation as soon as possible to review prior coursework and discuss applicable timelines for admission.


Required Documents

Complete and submit the application along with the following documents through Microsoft Forms:

  • Criminal background check results 
  • Negative TB test results

Required Modules

Complete the following Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) modules and submit certificates of completion through Microsoft Forms:


GPA Requirements

Candidates must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Prospective teacher candidates who have an overall GPA ranging from 2.5 to 2.99 will be placed on a waitlist until the end of the semester in which they applied and will be admitted once they reach a 3.0 GPA or until the cohort average reaches a 3.0 GPA.

The Office of Teacher Preparation (OTP) will admit as many students as mathematically possible while maintaining the cohort's average GPA of 3.0 as required by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

These calculations will be made at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters, immediately after new grades are reflected in the candidate's GPAs.  Calculations for waitlisted candidates will be made with new GPAs and will remain "open" until the end of the last day of the add/drop period of the next semester.  

In the event that candidates cannot be admitted as part of the semester's cohort, they will be expected to work with their academic advisors to develop a plan for improving their overall GPA, which can include course retakes and/or tutoring services. Students will remain on the waitlist until such time as they have the 3.0 GPA, can be admitted as part of a future GPA waitlist cohort, or request that OTP cancel their application to the Teacher Preparation Program


Course Requirements for OTP Admission

Earn a “C minus” or better in ENGL 165 or the transfer equivalent

Earn a “C” or better in the introductory education course for the specific program area:

  • Special Education General Curriculum K-12: SPED 202
  • Music Education: MUSC 145, EDUC 245, EDUC 260
  • Physical and Health Education: HLTH 205, HPEP 201, HPEP 202, HPEP 203 (two of the four courses)
  • Art Education: EDUC 245
  • Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education PK-6, Middle Education 6-8, English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History and Social Sciences, TESL, and Theatre: EDUC 245 AND EDUC 260 or EDUC 261

Placement Requirements

Teacher preparation admission is required before placements can be made for the following courses: EDUC 361, EDUC 370, EDUC 463, and EDUC 473.

Teacher candidates will not be allowed to enroll in 300-400 level EDUC courses until they are admitted into teacher preparation.

The special education program requires admission to teacher preparation for all 300-level SPED and EDUC courses except SPED 321.

The early childhood program requires admission to teacher preparation for ECED 482. 


Courses Requiring Admissions into Teacher Prep

Art Education

  • ART 441 Art in the Secondary Schools
  • ART 442 Art in the Elementary Schools
  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry into the Classroom Community
  • EDUC 410 Directed Elementary/Secondary Teaching for Art, Music, and Theatre

Elementary and Elementary + Middle Education

  • EDUC 310 Foundations of Literacy Instruction
  • EDUC 361 Practicum Integration
  • EDUC 423 Elementary Literacy Methods
  • EDUC 433 Elementary Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Methods (PK-6)
  • EDUC 443 Middle School Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies methods (6-8)
  • EDUC 461 Practicum Application
  • EDUC 467 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • EDUC 400 Middle and Elementary Directed Teaching
  • EDUC 401 Elementary Directed Teaching 

English Education

  • EDUC 370 Practicum Three-Weeks
  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry in to the Classroom Community
  • ENGL 482 Directed Teaching in the Secondary Classroom

Health and Physical Education

  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • HLTH 465 Comprehensive School Health Education
  • HPEP 351 Teaching Fundamental Movement Concepts, Skill Themes and Dance 
  • HPEP 352 Lifetime Activities 
  • HPEP 374 Methods of Teaching Secondary Physical Education 
  • HPEP 377 Teaching Elementary Physical Education 
  • HPEP 482 Directed Teaching in Elementary and Secondary Physical Education and Health
  • HPEP 483 Seminar in Teaching

History/Social Sciences Education

  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 455 Principles of Secondary Education
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry in to the Classroom Community
  • EDUC 487 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • HIST 300 Teaching History and the Social Sciences in the Secondary School
  • HIST 382 Practicum in Teaching History and the Social Sciences in the Secondary School
  • HIST 482 Directed Teaching of Social Studies in the Secondary School

Mathematics Education

  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 487 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • MAED 482 Directed Teaching in the Secondary School

Modern Languages (French, German, and Spanish) /ESL Education

  • EDUC 370 Practicum Three-Weeks
  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry into the Classroom Community
  • EDUC 487 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • FREN 482 Directed Teaching in the Elementary and Secondary French Classroom
  • GERM 482 Directed Teaching in the Secondary German Classroom
  • SPAN 482 Directed Teaching in the Elementary and Secondary Spanish Classroom
  • TESL 482 Directed Teaching in the Elementary and Secondary Classroom

Music Education

  • MUSC 346  Practicum in Secondary Schools
  • MUSC 441 Elementary School Music and Methods
  • EDUC 410 Directed Elementary/Secondary Teaching for Art, Music, and Theatre

Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)

  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry into the Classroom Community
  • EDUC 487 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • SCED 482 Directed Teaching in the Secondary School

School Librarianship Education

  • SLIB 573 Practicum in Curriculum and Instruction for School Librarians
  • SLIB 689 Supervised Experience in School Libraries

Special Education

  • SPED 327 Practicum II
  • SPED 411 Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication in the General Curriculum
  • SPED 451 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • EDUC 406 Directed Teaching for Students with Exceptional Needs
  • SPED 559 Supervised Experience in Special Education

Theatre Education

  • EDUC 370 Practicum Three-Weeks
  • EDUC 432 Content Area Literacy
  • EDUC 473 Inquiry into the Classroom Community
  • EDUC 487 Classroom Management and System Issues
  • EDUC 410  Directed Elementary/Secondary Teaching for Art, Music, and Theatre