Education

Education

Associate Professor K. Brown (Chair); Professors McGlinn, Ruppert, Sidelnick; Associate Professor Ruffin; Assistant Professors Adcock, Couzo; Lecturers Chapman, Davis; Technology Coordinator Randall; Outreach Coordinator Kessaris; Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Thompson; Field Placement Coordinator Bodenheimer; Licensure and Data Specialist Dye

The UNC Asheville Teacher Education Program, approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), requires completion of a disciplinary major and offers professional education courses required to qualify for North Carolina Standard Professional I Teaching Licensure in the K-6, 6-9, 9-12 and K-12 areas listed below.

All students/candidates taking Education courses must purchase a criminal background check and receive a satisfactory report before beginning work in any course requiring a field experience.  All licensure candidates must meet with their Department of Education and major advisor each semester. The Education advisor will determine if prior course work is applicable to licensure requirements and develop a plan for all courses necessary for licensure.  Students should consult the Department of Education Candidate Handbook for specific information related to obtaining North Carolina Standard Professional I Teaching Licensure through UNC Asheville. Visit http://education.unca.edu for additional information.

Areas of Licensure and Required Majors

The Department of Education is accredited to recommend candidates for licensure in the following areas.

• Elementary Education (K–6)
• Middle School (6–9): Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
• Secondary Education (9–12): Biology, Chemistry, Comprehensive Science, Earth Science, English, Latin, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies
• Kindergarten–12 (K­–12): Art, Health and Physical Education, Modern Language (French, German and Spanish), Special Education: General Curriculum, Theatre Arts

Candidates receiving K-12 or 9-12 licensure (except for the area of K-12 Special Education: General Curriculum) must complete a specific disciplinary major, which is the core for their licensure area. Middle school licensure candidates (6–9) must complete a major in an appropriate academic discipline, and must complete coursework specific for licensure in one of the following areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies. Candidates seeking licensure in Elementary Education (K-6) or Special Education: General Curriculum may major in any area.

Requirements for Informal Admission as a Licensure Candidate

For Informal Admission as a Licensure Candidate to the Teacher Education Program, students must complete the following requirements.

• Be accepted to UNC Asheville as an undergraduate degree-seeking or Post-Baccalaureate Licensure student
• Complete at least 30 semester hours of post-secondary education
• Enroll in EDUC 210 and EDUC 211
• Complete an online Informal Admission Form during the first course taken in the Department of Education
• Complete an online Memorandum of Understanding regarding the potential effect criminal convictions may have on those seeking licensure during their first department course
• Purchase a criminal background check and receive a satisfactory report and departmental clearance before beginning the first field experience

Requirements for Formal Admission to the Licensure Program

For formal admission to the licensure program, candidates must have completed all Requirements for Informal Admission as a Licensure Candidate and complete the following requirements.   

• Earn at least 30 semester hours and complete at least 3 semesters of post-secondary education
• Achieve a grade of C or higher in EDUC 210  and a grade of Satisfactory in EDUC 211  
• Earn a 2.7 cumulative grade-point average
• Earn a 2.5 cumulative grade-point average on all course work within the major
• Provide the Education advisor with a copy of acceptable scores as established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on the SAT or ACT, or attain acceptable scores on the PRAXIS I Core Academic Skills for Educators, during the first semester of the licensure program (undergraduate candidates only - see appropriate Education advisor for more information)
• Have a satisfactory evaluation on the Dispositions Checklists administered in EDUC 210  and other relevant courses
• Have a satisfactory evaluation of performance in all field experiences
• Self-report any new criminal charges and/or convictions occurring between required criminal background checks
• Meet with the Education advisor to complete the Requirements for Licensure Contract for Formal Admission to the licensure program, and be granted Formal Admission by the department

Licensure for Post-Baccalaureate Candidates

The department offers opportunities for individuals holding bachelor’s degrees or higher who desire initial North Carolina Standard Professional I Teaching Licensure.

Post-baccalaureate candidates must meet the same requirements as other UNC Asheville candidates, including having acceptable scores on all state-required licensure exams for the desired licensure area(s), and having a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7 for admission to the university as a teacher licensure candidate.

Post-baccalaureate students entering from an undergraduate institution that does not award letter grades or quality points must meet with an Education advisor prior to beginning their licensure program to design a plan for licensure completion. 

Requirements for Continuing in the Licensure Program

To continue in the licensure program, candidates must have completed all Requirements for Formal Admission to the Licensure Program and complete the following requirements to demonstrate at least satisfactory achievement in the areas of content knowledge, pedagogy and professionalism.

• Receive a grade of C or better in all Education courses and required licensure courses (including but not limited to PSYC 319 , MATH 211  and 215 , as required)
• Maintain a minimum major GPA of 2.5 and an overall GPA of 2.7
• Have satisfactory evaluations on the Dispositions Checklist in all relevant courses
• Have satisfactory evaluations of performance in all field experiences
• Self-report any new criminal charges and/or convictions occurring between required criminal background checks

Requirements for Admission to the Professional Year

To be admitted to the Professional Year, candidates must continue to meet all Requirements for Continuing in the Program and complete the following requirements.

• Purchase an updated criminal background check and receive a satisfactory report and departmental clearance during the capstone methods course
• Continue to self-report any new criminal charges and/or convictions occurring between required criminal background checks and the completion of the licensure program
• Continue to have satisfactory evaluations on the abilities/characteristics listed on the Dispositions Checklists administered in all relevant courses
• Continue to have satisfactory evaluations of performance in all field experiences
• Complete a Professional Year Application and all of the requirements therein (including personal statement and health screening) signed by the Department of Education advisor, and submit it to the Coordinator of Field Placements during an individual meeting no later than the announced deadline during the semester prior to beginning the capstone course

Recommendation for North Carolina Standard Professional I Teaching Licensure

To be recommended for licensure, candidates must have met all Requirements for Continuing in the Program and Requirements for Admission to the Professional Year, and successfully complete the following Candidate Requirements.

• Completion of the Clinical Practice experience, receiving a rating of “Met” on all standards on the Evaluation by North Carolina Local Education Agency (Certification of Teaching Capacity) form
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Have completed the requirements for a major in an approved discipline with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the major
• Have completed all state-required Evidences
• Have continued to self-report any new criminal charges and/or convictions occurring between required criminal background checks and the completion of the licensure program
• Have continued to have satisfactory evaluations on the abilities/characteristics listed on the Dispositions Checklists administered in all relevant courses
• Have attained passing scores on all state-required licensure exams for the desired licensure area(s).
• Ensure all appropriate licensure forms and fees are submitted to the Department of Education and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction upon completion of Clinical Practice

Education

Programs

• •  Elementary School Licensure (K–6)
• •  Middle School Licensure (6–9)
• •  Secondary School Licensure (9–12)
• •  Art Licensure (K-12)
• •  Health and Physical Education Licensure (K-12)
• •  Modern Language Licensure (K–12)
• •  Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12)
• •  Theatre Arts Licensure (K–12)