Students are admitted to the Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education with Special Education degree in Pre-Candidate status, based on the entrance criteria established by the University, College of Arts & Sciences and Division of Education and Leadership. Students follow the course of study published in the Shenandoah University Undergraduate Catalog for their academic year of matriculation at the university.
Candidate Screening
Each Secondary Education with Special Education student undergoes candidate screening by the end of their sophomore year or, if they are a transfer student, during or just after their first term at SU. To be eligible for Candidate Screening, Secondary Education majors must:
- Successfully complete EDU 310 The Teaching Profession or its equivalent with practicum experience. Evaluations must be submitted by cooperating teachers;
- Pass the following practice tests offered by “240 Tutoring”. Remediation is provided at this site for students who need support to pass:
- Praxis Core: Reading Practice Test
- Praxis Core: Writing Practice Test
- Praxis Core: Mathematics Practice Test
- Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the education major; and
- Earn satisfactory ratings from the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board.
The Teacher Education Application Process is as follows:
- Student completes Teacher Education Program (TEP) application
- Student provides contact information for Recommendations in the application
- Submit the application to Office of Educator Licensure via link in the Teacher Education Handbook
- Applications are reviewed on March 1, May 1, October 1 and December 1 (or on the nearest weekday)
- The Faculty Committee Chair will schedule interviews and reflective writing times with applicants via email.
After the interview day, students will be notified via email letter of their status: approved, probationary (with conditions), or rejected (with appeals process noted). The Teacher Education Handbook gives more details on this process.
Pre-Student Teaching Candidate Licensure Assessments
Student teaching is the culminating experience in the Bachelor of Education curricula. This final semester provides candidates with the opportunity to apply their classroom management skills, pedagogical knowledge, and subject-matter expertise in real-world setting.
To be eligible for student teaching, Secondary Education with Special Education candidates are required to:
- Pass the required assessment: Praxis II in History & Social Sciences
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA in their major;
- Successfully complete the application for student teaching (found in the Teacher Education Handbook), including submission of required recommendations;
- Earn satisfactory ratings from the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board;
- Complete a criminal background check within thirty days of student teaching.
Shenandoah University has been entrusted by the Virginia Department of Education and our K-12 School Partners with the responsibility for determining the fitness of an individual to student teach. Therefore, Shenandoah University reserves the right to determine that an individual is unfit to student teach.
All Secondary Education with Special Education Core courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.