- Requirements for Admission to Teacher Preparation Program (TPP)
- Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching
- Standardized Test Requirements
- Teacher Licensure/Reciprocity
- Job Placement
- Student/Faculty Research
- The Rosel Schewel Lecture Series
- School Awards Program
- Honor Societies and Student Organizations for Education majors
- Lynchburg College/Lynchburg City Schools Partnership (LC/LCS)
Requirements for Admission to Teacher Preparation
- Completed application on file by November 1 of the junior year or March 20 of sophomore year
- Praxis I test scores or submit approved SAT or ACT scores
- Minimum 2.5 overall GPA
- Completion of core courses with grades of C- or above.
Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching
- Completed application on file by February 1 for fall student teaching or September 15 for spring student teaching
- Overall minimum 2.5 GPA and 2.75 GPA in major
- Full admission to the Teacher Preparation Program
- Completion of all major courses with grades C- or above
- Submit Praxis II scores
- Three favorable recommendations
Standard Test Requirement
The Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as many other states, requires passing scores on a nationally standardized test. The Virginia Board of Education has established the following requirements:
- Praxis I scores of PPST Reading (178), PPST Writing (176) and PPST Math (178)
- Praxis II scores must be submitted by all licensure candidates except Special Education - www.ets.org/praxis
- Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) must be submitted by all licensure candidates - www.va.nesinc.com
- Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) must be submitted by elementary and special education licensure candidates - www.va.nesinc.com
Complete information about the test requirements and registration procedures is available in the office of the School of Education and Human Development. It is the student's responsibility to supply the School of Education and Human Development with official scores. Students who plan to seek employment in other states should also contact the relevant State Department of Education for information on testing requirements.
Teacher Licensure/Reciprocity
Lynchburg College students can become licensed through different routes. The initial route is through the undergraduate programs (as described above). A second route is to begin coursework as an undergraduate student and complete certain additional requirements and student teaching after receiving the baccalaureate degree.Students completing approved licensure programs are eligible for a Virginia teaching license with endorsement in a specific area of study. All programs at Lynchburg College are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. Virginia participates in a reciprocal agreement with approximately forty other states and consequently students can receive out-of-state licensure in a straightforward fashion. The School's director of Teacher Licensure works with all students completing programs to facilitate their obtaining a teaching license in Virginia, in states participating in the reciprocal agreement, and in all other states as well.
Job Placement
The School is committed to the successful career placement of individuals completing our undergraduate and graduate programs. Lynchburg College students are supported in their job search efforts by staff in the Career Development Center as well as by College faculty. The College sponsors a variety of activities on campus to facilitate the successful launching of careers. Most notably, a jobs fair specifically for those interested in the field of education is held each spring.Our graduates are well-represented throughout the human services fields. Job placement data indicate that our students fill positions throughout the region in elementary, middle, secondary, and special education and in counseling and administration. Through the interstate reciprocity agreement with forty other states, our graduates find fulfilling positions throughout the nation.
Numerous School graduates have been honored as outstanding teachers in their districts (e.g., teacher of the year). Graduates are included in the ranks of superintendents, principals, facility and agency directors, program supervisors, and college professors.
Students can search for various jobs at: http://www.teachers-teachers.com
Student/Faculty Research
Student/faculty research is promoted in the School of Education and Human Development. For undergraduates, students can elect to pursue School Honors by engaging in a research project during the senior year. In recent years, student honors projects have included work on educational aspects of fetal alcohol syndrome, latchkey children, due process hearings in the schools, the savant syndrome, chromosomal anomalies, generalization training, multiculturalism and diversity issues, international curricular comparisons, and language acquisition.For graduate students, participation in research projects with faculty is encouraged. Recent research endeavors have focused, for example, on school homework policies and practices, testing adaptations in the classroom, grading modifications, referral and recidivism patterns in community agencies and hospital settings, causation of learning disabilities, Appalachian storytelling, recycling and teaching materials, and inclusion.
The Rosel Schewel Lecture Series
The Rosel Schewel Lecture Series annually brings to the campus distinguished speakers on topics related to education and human diversity. The lecture program was begun in 1990 and presenters have included Jonathan Kozol, Alex Kotlowitz, Cornell West, Nikki Giovanni, J. David Smith, Dan Clark, and Ron Clark. The lectures are sponsored by an endowment established by Rosel H. and Elliot S. Schewel.
School Awards Program
The School annually honors the outstanding undergraduate and graduate student with the M. Weldon Thompson Award and the D.L. Warren Award, respectively. In addition, two individuals are selected annually to receive the Evelyn P. Bickham Outstanding Alumni Award (for former undergraduate students) and the J. Edward Petty Outstanding Alumni Award (for former graduate students). These awards are given during the Annual Teacher Induction Ceremony, a special event prior to the College's Commencement that formally launches all teacher preparation candidates into the profession.
Honor Societies and Student Organizations for Education majors
A number of honorary societies and student organizations complement the academic programs of the School. Kappa Delta Pi, the national education honorary, and Chi Sigma Iota, the national honorary for counselors, are housed within the School. In addition, the Student Education Association (SEA) offers further opportunities for involvement for our students. The opportunities for leadership experiences are reflected in the numerous College service and academic honors received by education students in recent years.Lynchburg College/Lynchburg City Schools Partnership (LC/LCS)
Begun in 1988, the LC/LCS partnership involves our faculty and students in the educational programs of the local schools beyond the regular field experiences program. Activities that have been regular components of the partnership have included student tutoring, visitations to the campus by local children, program evaluation activities, mentoring of middle school children from culturally diverse backgrounds, and presentations by faculty at local PTAs.For more information about the School of Education programs, please contact the School of Education at 434/544-8381 or e-mail Dr. Jan S. Stennette, Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at stennette@lynchburg.edu.