Elementary Education/Teacher Education
So, you’d like to be a teacher. Did you know that students who obtain teacher or school counselor licensure at Virginia Tech earn their degrees in such subject areas as physics, mathematics, psychology, history, and business?
Each year, approximately 150 students at Virginia Tech obtain teaching and school counseling licenses and enter the exciting profession of education. Whether your major is English or history, biology or music, marketing or math, you can increase the value and marketability of your degree by earning teaching or school counseling licensure through the School of Education, within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Each of Virginia Tech’s education programs is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Graduates of our teacher education programs qualify for licensure in Virginia, and an be licensed in all other states.
How Teacher Education Works at Virginia Tech
Undergraduate students major in the subject area most closely related to what they would like to teach. Please see the back page for a list of subject areas. When nearing completion of the bachelor’s degree and the requirements in the specified major, students apply for ad- mission to a master’s degree program in one of the education fields to complete clinical requirements and pedagogical courses for a teaching license. This license is required to enter the teaching profession in public schools.
Students in teacher education at Virginia Tech learn through intensive course work and field experiences. They participate in field-based research and learning, engage in collaborative projects with public schools, and work directly with education professionals. They learn the importance of the broad issues related to schooling, as well as the complex role education plays in the community.
In addition to academic expertise and classroom capability, Virginia Tech teacher education programs promote lifelong learning, professionalism and dedication to the teaching profession, understanding of diversity, improvement of schools, technological literacy, and knowledge of working with students with special needs.
Those interested in teacher licensure programs must pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment, Praxis I, and Praxis II (when applicable). Students in elementary education must also pass the Virginia Reading Assessment.
What should be my major?
The following information is intended to help you choose the right major for what you want to teach. For example, if you are interested in becoming an English teacher, then you should major in English—not education! Each of the teacher education programs at Virginia Tech is fully approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Graduates can qualify for certification in over 36 states in addition to Virginia.
| If you want to teach this: | Then you major in this: | Your teacher education program will be: |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Science, 6–12 | Agricultural Science or any major in Agriculture or related field | Completed at the graduate level through an M.S. in Education with a major in Career and Technical Education |
| Business, 6–12 | Any major in Business | Completed at the graduate level through an M.S. in Education with a major in Career and Technical Education |
| Biology, 6–12 | Biology, Biological Systems Engineering | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Chemistry, 6–12 | Chemistry, Chemical Engineering | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Earth Science, 6–12 | Geology, Geophysics, Natural Resources | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Elementary Education, PK–6 | Bachelor's degree in any major accepted. Applicants must complete all general studies requirements. | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| English, 6–12 | English | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| English As A Second Language, PK–12 | English or Foreign Language | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Family and Consumer Sciences, 6–12 | Human Services option in Human Development | Completed at the graduate level through an M.S. in Education with a major in Career and Technical Education |
| Foreign Languages, PK–12 | Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| History and Social Science, 6–12 | History or Political Science with 18 semester hours in the area not selected as a major, 9 hours of Geography, 6 hours of Economics | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Marketing, 6–12 | Any major in Business | Completed at the graduate level through an M.S. in Education with a major in Career and Technical Education |
| Mathematics, 6–12 | Mathematics, Engineering | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Music, PK–12 Choral or Instrumental | Music | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| Physics, 6–12 | Physics, Engineering | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
| School Counselor, Pre-K–12 | Bachelor’s degree in any major accepted | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Counselor Education |
| Technology Education, 6–12 | Architecture, Design, Engineering, or Physics | Completed at the graduate level through an M.A. in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction |
- Check out Elementary Education/Teacher Education’s website for more information: http://www.soe.vt.edu/
For More Information
Daisy Stewart
101 War Memorial Hall
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Phone: 540/231-8180
Web: Teacher Education