Preliminary Teaching License-only Program
Purpose
The Preliminary Teaching License-only program is designed to prepare candidates holding an undergraduate BA or BS degree or a Master’s degree in a field other than education with the content and methods necessary to be an effective teacher. Thematic strands such as critical thinking, curriculum, assessment, classroom management, cultural proficiency, and technology are integrated throughout the curriculum. The themes add qualities to the overall cohesiveness of the program and are integrated throughout the curriculum.
The Teacher Licensure program may be completed through a program of study in two semesters part-time, plus one semester full-time.
The program is available to individuals who have completed an undergraduate BA or BS degree or Master’s degree in a field other than education.
Program Outcomes
Educational Objectives
To enable students to:
- Build on their knowledge of subject matter as they develop pedagogical skills and research methodologies
- Gain knowledge about the psychological, sociological, historical, and philosophical foundations of education
- Apply these understandings in early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary classrooms
- Successfully meet the challenges of classroom teaching
Professional Objectives
To enable students to:
- Meet the federal government's guidelines for a Teacher Performance Assessment
- Receive an Oregon Preliminary Teaching License upon completion of the program and passing scores on the appropriate standardized measures (NES Content Specific Examination for single subject licensure, ORELA for multiple subjects authorization, Protecting Students and Civil Rights exam and the State Assessment)
The Preliminary Teaching License provides for adding endorsements in the following areas: advanced mathematics, art, basic mathematics*, biology, business, chemistry*, health education, integrated science*, language arts, marketing, music, physical education, physics, social studies, and Spanish.
* These subjects may be added to another endorsement for high school (single-subject) applicants
Admission Requirements
- Teacher Licensure application and application fee
- Submit one official transcript from each college/university attended
- Completion of the character reference statement required by Oregon TSPC
- Three recommendations
- A group assessment with the Teacher Licensure Admission Committee
If accepted into the program, a $200 tuition deposit is required. Deadline for application is March 1st. Preference will be given to those candidates who have had experience in schools working with students in their desired authorization level as well as to those candidates who have passed the appropriate ORELA exam.
Prior to full-time student teaching, students must have taken and passed the appropriate ORELA exam. If a student has not completed this requirement, the student may apply for an exception; however, if an exception is granted and the student does not pass the required exams prior to graduation, the director will not sign any official documents recommending the student as a candidate for licensure in Oregon or any other state.
Transfer Credit
Residence Requirements
Course Requirements
Other Program Requirements
The program structure will be characterized by:
Cohort Model
Students will work in cohorts of 12 to 18 students. Cohorts will include elementary and secondary levels. Cohorts are both blended- and authorization-specific. Although they are separate cohorts, they will be blended together for certain experiences and courses.
Theory-Into-Practice Links
Practicum experiences will be a large component of the program. The involvement in a semester-long practicum experience will provide preservice teachers with opportunities to apply learning from course work. University faculty, cooperating teachers, and administrators from local districts will be involved in collaborative efforts to plan links between course work and application in classrooms.
Thematic Strands
Major strands, such as cultural proficiency, differentiation, assessment, action research, and decision-making, will be incorporated throughout the professional courses. Other topics such as classroom management and technology will also be integrated in several of the professional courses.
Study of the Subject Matter Knowledge and Structure
Students will research and discuss the nature and structure of the subject areas while concentrating on their major subject. They will engage in interdisciplinary discussions that will allow them to discern relationships between the subject areas.
Reflection
The ability to reflect on learning about teaching and on the practice of teaching will be developed in small- and large-group discussions, in journal entries, in papers, and in conferences with supervisors and cooperating teachers.
Program Completion Requirements
In order to complete the Preliminary Teaching License-only Program students must:
- Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 29 semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- Achieve no grade lower than a B in all core courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
Pass appropriate exams to be recommended for licensure.