Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Secondary Education, 6-12 Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement

3101 Education Building
757-683-3284

Secondary programs include the Master of Science in Education degree program and three Post-baccalaureate licensure programs. Within the Master of Science in secondary education degree program there are a number of concentrations and content area choices for both licensed teachers as well as those seeking initial licensure or endorsement.

For those seeking initial licensure there are the following content areas:  6-12 (content areas:  biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies) and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages K-12 (TESOL).

For licensed teachers seeking additional education there are the following concentration areas: 6-12. Post-baccalaureate endorsement programs are designed for individuals with a non-teaching BS or BA degree who want to obtain licensure, or for those with a teaching license who want to be licensed in an additional teaching area. The two endorsement programs offered in secondary education are 6-12 and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages K-12 (TESOL).

Please note that there are secondary education programs for earning a bachelor's degree with initial licensure in grades 6-12 described in the ODU Undergraduate Catalog.

Secondary Education, 6-12, Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement

This Post-Baccalaureate endorsement program in secondary education (grades 6-12) is designed for individuals with a non-teaching BS or BA degree who want to obtain licensure as a teacher in grades 6 through 12 in the following content areas:  English, mathematics, earth science, chemistry, biology or physics, and history/social studies, which will be listed on the license.

Admission

1. All students must apply for and be admitted into the approved post-baccalaureate endorsement program for Secondary Education (grades 6-12).

2. Students must meet the required criteria for admission by passing the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments and earning the minimum required Grade point averages (GPA).   For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website, http://www.odu.edu/oce and review the Teacher Education Handbook.

3.  A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is required for admission.

4. Only courses that meet the grade required in the academic major or professional education will be accepted for admission in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.

5. An application for non-degree admission must be submitted by the appropriate deadline for admission. Under certain circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission to the program may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to conditions specified by the graduate program director for secondary education.

Additional Requirements

Continuance

1. Students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) modules during the first twelve graduate credit hours at Old Dominion University.
2. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the graduate professional education coursework.
3. A grade of “B” or higher is required in all practicum coursework and a grade of B- or higher required in the remaining graduate professional education courses.
4. Students must take and pass all Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments including the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), and the  Praxis Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) examination for the appropriate secondary endorsement prior to or while enrolled in the instructional strategies course and the Seminar in Teacher Education (TLED 583) course.
5. A clearance background check must be completed prior to placement in a field experience required for an observation or practicum courses and for the teacher candidate internship.  For  more information please review the clearance background clearance process on the Office of Clinical Experiences website.
6. All assessments must be passed prior to the start of the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation session.
7. Students must obtain certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.

To review more information on the Virginia Board of Education prescribed professional assessments visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website.

Exit

Requirements for completion are as follows:

1. a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, with a minimum "B" grade for the practicum courses, and a minimum "B-" grade for the remaining graduate professional education courses required.
2. successful completion of the Teacher Candidate Internship,
3. completion all course requirements, and
4. submission of an application for Virginia licensure.

Only courses that meet the grade required for the academic major or professional education will be accepted toward licensure requirements in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.

Program Requirements

Students seeking initial licensure for grades 6-12 must meet the grade required for the academic concentration and professional education courses. Transcripts will be evaluated by the education advisor to determine whether the academic requirements have been met by previous course work. Subject area specific course work that was not met in previous course work must be completed prior to Teacher Candidate Internship (student teaching) orientation session.