Teacher preparation programs at Emory & Henry are based on the conviction that a broad liberal arts background, a strong program of study in an academic discipline, and a rigorous but minimal set of professional experiences constitute the proper undergraduate education for a teacher.

The Department of Education is a component of the William N. Neff Center for Teacher Education. The center and the department work with academic departments of the college to provide programs leading to licensure at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Admission to the college or to an academic department does not guarantee admission to a teacher preparation program. Students interested in teaching licensure must:

• Contact the Director of the Neff Center to indicate interest
• Complete and file with the Registrar a Teacher Preparation Program Intent Form and Declaration of Major
• Verify each semester’s schedule with an advisor in the Education Department, since graduation and licensure requirements are not always the same
• Achieve and maintain a GPA of 2.5 overall and 2.5 in the major
• Have a successful Program Screening Interview
• Meet all degree and licensure requirements
• Meet state requirements on Praxis I and II national teachers examinations. Prospective teacher preparation students must submit passing scores on Praxis I as a condition for admission to the Emory & Henry Teacher Preparation Program.
• Apply through the Neff Center for Virginia teaching licensure
• Complete student teaching successfully. Completion does not guarantee recommendation for licensure

Required Praxis examinations: All three parts of Praxis I must be taken before the Program Screening Interview. Students interested in teacher preparation should take Praxis I during the same semester in which they take Education 114. The fee for Praxis I is included in the course fee for Education 114. To take advantage of this fee-paid registration, the student must register for Praxis I during the semester of enrollment in Education 114, prior to the last day of class for that semester.

The Praxis II subject area test is to be taken during the semester in which the student is completing all course work. Although successful completion of Praxis II is not a graduation requirement, it is required for completion of the Emory & Henry College Teacher Education Program. Only students who have passed the Praxis II subject area test as required by Virginia will be recommended to the State for licensure as program completers. The college pays one Praxis II registration fee for students who register for the test prior to graduation from Emory & Henry and prior to completion of Supervised Teaching.

Praxis I consists of three basic skills tests. Students may pass each individual test or pass Praxis I by achieving a minimum composite (total combined) score on the three tests. All students in teacher preparation (100%) pass Praxis I prior to the student teaching semester. Program completers pass rate for individual Praxis I Tests in 2001-2002:

Emory & Henry College Statewide
PPST Mathematics 83% 92%
PPST Reading 100% 95%
PPST Writing 90% 89%

The college provides approved programs in these areas:
(1) elementary (PK-3, PK-6), elementary and middle school (PK-6, 6-8), all centered around a major in interdisciplinary English;
(2) secondary licensure in the following subjects for grades indicated:

• art PK-12
• biology 6-12
• business education 6-12
• chemistry 6-12
• earth science 6-12
• English, English and journalism, English and theatre, English and speech 6-12
• French PK-12
• geography 6-12
• history and social science 6-12
• mathematics 6-12
• music - choral/vocal PK-12
• music - instrumental PK-12
• physical education PK-12
• physics 6-12
• Spanish PK-12

Courses are also available for add-on endorsements in other areas, including driver education and English as a Second Language. Students interested in teaching but not enrolled in an approved program should consult the Director of the Neff Center for Teacher Education.