Department: Teacher Education Student Services
College: Education

Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs
All degree programs for teacher certification require the completion of courses in general education, general professional preparation, and a teaching specialization. All bachelor's degree programs in education are subject to degree requirements listed in the appropriate program section of this Catalog.

Secondary majors must complete the post baccalaureate professional semester for teacher certification.

Responsibility for the teacher education programs at The University of West Florida rests with the Dean of the College of Education, who is the head of the professional education unit.

Undergraduate Programs of Study

Art/Education
Biology/Education
Chemistry/Education
Elementary Education
English/Education
Health Teacher Education
History/Education
Mathematics/Education
Middle School Education
Music/Education
Physical Education
Physics/Education
Pre-K/Primary Education
Social Science/Education
Special Education
Emotionally Handicapped
Mental Handicaps
Learning Disabled
Vocational Teacher Education

Admission to Teacher Education (Undergraduate)
Admission to teacher education is required of all students enrolled in teacher certification programs. Students must make formal application through the Office of Teacher Education Student Services during their first semester of enrollment in a teacher education program. The following requirements must be completed for admission to teacher education:

1. All teacher education programs at UWF are Florida Department of Education (DOE) approved; therefore, prospective teacher education candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all previously attempted college work.
2. All students are required to submit acceptable scores on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Test). A score of 950 is required on the re-centered SAT, SAT I, a score of 19 (old ACT-prior to 10/89), or a score of 20 on the enhanced ACT. The ACT/SAT I cut-off scores have been determined by the Florida Department of Education (Rule 6A-5.06-01(1)(a)(1)). Students having taken those tests should request that their test scores be sent to the Office of Admissions. Students who have not taken these tests should apply to take the tests at the University Testing Office.
3. All students are required to submit at least two letters or recommendation from former or current college faculty members attesting to the student's potential to become a successful teacher. If the student is in a secondary specialization, one of the letters must be from a content teacher in that specialization. Letters should include the student's name and social security number and should be sent to the Office of Teacher Education Student Services.
4. At the time of application to teacher education, all students are required to submit a two-page handwritten autobiographical sketch to the Office of Teacher Education Student Services. Include name and social security number.
5. At the time of application to teacher education, all students are required to submit a one-page handwritten rationale for becoming a teacher to the Office of Teacher Education Student Services. Include name and social security number.
6. For consideration for admission to teacher education all students must fully complete an "Application for Admission to Teacher Education."
7. Upon completion of the above application package for Teacher Education, all applications will be reviewed by a standing committee of faculty and then must be approved by the Dean of the College of Education.

The deadline for completion of the admission process is the end of the first semester of enrollment in a teacher education program or no more than 18 sh of teacher education credits. Those students not meeting this deadline will be restricted in the courses they can take and an enrollment "hold" may be placed on any further enrollment in teacher education courses. The "hold" may be removed by completing the admission process.

State Board of Education rules allow for 10 percent of the applicants to be admitted to teacher education on the basis of a waiver of the ACT/SAT score requirements. This alternative assists in recruiting under-represented groups into teacher education. Students wishing consideration for this waiver must submit a request for waiver to the Admissions and Retention Committee.

Students may not receive formal admission to teacher education or be allowed to enter public or private schools under the auspices of the University while a legal charge of violating any federal or state law or municipal ordinance is pending, or while a sentence resulting from a guilty judgment is being satisfied. Students may be allowed to take teacher education courses under the above circumstances with the written approval of the Dean of the College of Education. When charges have been dropped or judgments satisfied, the progress of students through the program should not be affected except in cases involving child molestation or capital crimes. Individuals convicted in the latter two instances are denied teacher certification by Florida state law.

All approvals for admission to teacher candidacy are tentative and subject to re-evaluation as students progress through the program. Students denied admission or removed from the program may appeal the decision to the Admission and Retention Committee.

Prospective teachers are expected to adhere to the Florida Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct required of public educators. Any student may be denied continued enrollment in any professional education program, if, in the judgement of the Admissions and Retention Committee and the Dean of the College of Education (head of the Professional Education Unit), the student's knowledge, character or mental or emotional stability could impair the student's ability to function in and educational environment.

Admission to Teacher Education (Graduate)
In addition to meeting the minimum University standards for admission to graduate studies, all applications for admission to graduate programs in the unit (all Professional Education Programs) must be accompanied by GRE scores and two letters of recommendation, one from a person in a position to speak regarding the student's academic potential and one from a person in a position to speak regarding professional experience (e.g., employer, principal, supervising teacher, etc.). Students seeking initial teacher certification are admitted to Teacher Education by meeting all admission requirements to the Professional Education graduate program.

General Education
All degree students must satisfy the general education requirements of the university. Students normally complete this part of the program at a community/junior college or in the lower division of a four-year college or university. Certain general education deficiencies may be completed in the junior and senior years.

General Professional Preparation
All students (excluding secondary) at UWF preparing for teacher certification must complete the following general professional preparation course work. (Specific course descriptions are found in the Catalog and are listed alphabetically.)

Required Lower Division Prerequisites
EDF 1XXX	Introduction to Education	. . . . .	3
EDG 2XXX	Teaching Diverse Populations & Field Experience	. . . . .	3
EME 2XXX	Introduction to Educational Technology	. . . . .	3

Teaching Specialization
Students preparing to teach will choose a teaching specialization from the majors listed under Teacher Certification Programs. Specialization courses are offered in the major department. (See the section of this Catalog related to the appropriate specialization for specific course requirements.)

Planning Graduate Programs
Information concerning graduate programs may be found in this Catalog in the section related to each specialization.

Admission to Student Teaching
The student teaching program, administered through the Office of Teacher Education Student Services, consists of one semester of student teaching or two semesters of internship supervised by an experienced teacher in a school. The student teaching/internship experience is scheduled during the student's senior year or post baccalaureate professional semester.

Application for student teaching must be made to the Office of Teacher Education Student Services, by January 5 for fall semester and by July 5 for spring semester.

Requirements for admission to student teaching/internship include:

1. admission to teacher education;
2. a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all course work. A grade below "C-" cannot be used to satisfy a program requirement. Some programs may have higher standards (see individual program descriptions);
3. a minimum GPA of 2.5 in academic major;
4. recommendation of an academic advisor and chairperson of the major department;
5. recommendation of the vice president for student affairs (records check);
6. classification as a senior at the University and completion of a minimum of 15 sh upper-division credit in the specialization (some departments may require additional upper-division credit);
7. a minimum of one semester in residence at the University prior to student teaching during which time a minimum of one course in the general professional preparation sequence must be completed;
8. completion of:
   1. Specialization courses are offered in the major department (see the section of this Catalog related to the appropriate specialization for specific course requirements);
9. approval of the Director of Teacher Education Student Services. During the time a student is engaged in student teaching, no outside employment or additional academic work except senior seminar is permitted.

Undergraduate GPA Graduation Requirement
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (4.0 scale) is required for graduation from teacher education programs at UWF. For additional graduation requirements, see "Handbook for Teacher Education."

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