Admission to undergraduate teaching programs

Admission to a B.S. in Education program will be dictated by the admissions policies of VCU. Applicants for undergraduate degree programs should be graduates of an accredited high school, anticipating graduation from an accredited high school or hold the GED Certificate.

The level and type of high school courses and consistency and trends of grades are also considered. Other factors such as co- or extracurricular activities, community service, personal statement/essay, recommendations, special talents and leadership are also considered. Primary emphasis, however, is placed on academic credentials. 

Transfer applicants are considered for admission provided they present evidence of good standing at the last institution attended. See the admissions website for specific requirements. Transfer candidates must meet the specific guidelines listed in the freshman undergraduate admission guidelines. Transfer students and students currently attending VCU who wish to change their majors to this program must have a minimum GPA of 2.5; however, note the requirement of a GPA of 2.8 for admission to teacher preparation and then to student teaching outlined below.

For additional information, see the School of Education’s website.

Special requirements

Admission to teacher preparation

Because the B.S. in Education programs lead to initial professional licensure, students must both declare an area of study and be formally accepted into teacher preparation. During the first semester at VCU, first-year students will be eligible to take lower-level course work that will focus primarily on general education/liberal arts, professional studies and courses specific to the initial licensure area. Transfer students will work closely with their assigned undergraduate adviser to determine their plan of study and timing to teacher preparation, taking into consideration eligible transfer course work.

After successfully completing a minimum of 50 credits, students are eligible to apply for formal admission into teacher preparation, specifying in which initial licensure area they wish to be endorsed. Students eligible to apply for admission to teacher preparation are required to schedule an appointment with their assigned adviser to review the application requirements to ensure success. In order to complete the application for teacher preparation, students must show a minimum cumulative institutional or transfer GPA of 2.8. Information on admission to the teacher education program can be found on the Student Services Center website.

Requirements for admission to teacher preparation:

• Submission of completed Application to Teacher Preparation form
• Minimum of 2.8 cumulative GPA (institutional GPA or transfer GPA)
• Successful completion of EDUS 202 and EDUS 301 (seven credits)
• Passing scores on required Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment
• Successful completion of a background/criminal history self-report (with no record of a felony conviction)
• Completion of the Dispositions Self Rating Survey
• Adviser or department chair recommendation

Application to clinical internship (student teaching)

All students are required to complete a full semester of clinical internship. Students must complete and submit an application to the clinical internship by the beginning of their junior year in order to be eligible. If students do not complete their applications on time and with hard copies of passing score reports, they will not be guaranteed acceptance into a clinical internship.

Requirements for clinical internship:

• Formal admission into teacher preparation (see above)
• Submission of completed departmental application for a clinical internship by the established deadline
• Successful completion of all other required course work
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA qualitative and no grade lower than a C in education courses
• Passing scores on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment
• Passing scores on the Praxis II: Subject Assessment
• Passing scores on the Reading for Virginia Educators (elementary and special education only)
• Completion of the online Child Abuse Prevention training and certification of successful completion
• Submission of a tuberculosis screening (must be dated no more than a year from the expected date of completion of a clinical internship)
• Completion of Dyslexia and Learning module and certification of successful completion
• Virginia State and Local Civic Education Module (elementary and secondary history and social sciences)
• Criminal background check without a felony conviction
• Descriptive statement on experiences related to children or teaching
• Successful faculty practicum review