Inspire Students to Discover Their Passions
Growing up, you had exemplary educators that possessed great knowledge, passion and experience in their respective subject areas. With the help of the Teacher Education Program at Bridgewater College, you too can take the first steps towards becoming an educator with a profound impact. Seeking a comprehensive route reinforces the notion that teaching what you are most passionate about is not only essential to your career fulfillment but to your future students.
Your path to becoming an educator will be just as unique as you are. Once you are admitted into the Teacher Education Program, you can major in your chosen content field. We make it simple with our state-approved program for PreK-12 educators so that you can be licensed to teach in Virginia, and many other states, through reciprocal certification contracts upon completion of the program.
We share a common goal with parents, educators, and policymakers nationwide Emphasize a love of learning from Pre-K to beyond
Required Courses
The following courses are required in addition to the major and the education courses listed for licensure in Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, or Spanish Education.
- EDUC 140 – Intro to Teaching (3 Credits)
- EDUC 200 – Educational Psychology (3 Credits)
- EDUC 215 – Diversity in the Classroom (4 Credits)
- EDUC 334 – Literacy in the Context Area (3 Credits)
- EDUC 372E – Classroom Management, Secondary (4 Credits)
- EDUC 380X – Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques (3 Credits)
- EDUC 412 – Curriculum and Instruction Second Class Secondary Classroom (4 Credits)
- EDUC 452 – Seminar in Educational Practices, Secondary (1 Credit)
- EDUC 470 – Professional Student Teaching (13 Credits)
The following courses are required in addition to the major and the education courses listed for licensure in Health and Physical Education.
- EDUC 140 – Intro to Teaching (3 Credits)
- EDUC 200 – Educational Psychology (3 Credits)
- EDUC 215 – Diversity in the Classroom (4 Credits)
- EDUC 334 – Literacy in the Context Area (3 Credits)
- EDUC 372E – Classroom Management, Secondary (4 Credits)
- EDUC 380X – Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques (3 Credits)
- EDUC 452 – Seminar in Educational Practices, Secondary (1 Credit)
- EDUC 470 – Professional Student Teaching (13 Credits)
Refer to the music department section of this catalog for the education course sequence for information about Music Education Licensure.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Hough is a passionate educator who provides valuable insights as an Assistant Professor of Education at Bridgewater College.
Dr. Hough’s area of expertise is literacy which means she teaches the elementary education courses relating to teaching reading and writing in the elementary classroom. Dr. Hough’s research in global literacy helps bolster her efforts in providing support for teachers in under-resourced schools in Latin America and Africa as a means to improve their reading instruction.
She states her passion is teaching Maasai girls in Kenya and her hobby is riding her horse.
“Be open to the opportunities that come your way. Take risks. Be bold,” advises Dr. Hough to her students.
Clinical Experiences
Students interested in the Teacher Education Program must complete a set of clinical experiences in their licensure and endorsement area:
The observational and participatory clinical experiences you would be expected to complete are:
- EDUC 215: Diversity in the Classroom; 10 hours
- EDUC 334: Content Area Literacy; 20 hours
- EDUC 372: Classroom Management Secondary; 20 hours
- EDUC 412: Curriculum and Instruction; 20 hours
- EDUC 380X: Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques; over 100 hours
- EDUC 470: Student Teaching; 150 hours
All students will have completed more than 150 hours of clinical experience in PreK-12 classrooms prior to their semester of student teaching.
Licensure Assessments for PreK-12 Education
- VCLA
- The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment examines the ability of educators in the commonwealth to communicate effectively with parents, other teachers, and professionals in the education community
- Praxis All Grades Content Knowledge
- There are many kinds of Praxis Exams which assess the qualifications of educators depending on the subject and grade level they teach
For more information regarding required assessments for VA licensure in All Grades Education, access our Assessments Required page. Our comprehensive list of the exams you will need specifies passing scores, costs, preparation, and all the information you need to learn about becoming a certified educator.
Teacher Education Program students listen to each other and engage in discussion during a socratic seminar.
Frequently Asked Questions
The practicum is a three-week, full-day, placement taken immediately before student teaching. You will be expected to teach in a grade-level range different from your student teaching placement, but within your range of licensure. You will teach a minimum of two lessons, partnering with the coordinating teacher and engaging in reflective seminars. The course number for the education practicum is EDUC 380X.
A clinical experience is a guided, hands-on, practical activity designed to allow for practicing and demonstrating the application of professional knowledge and theory in field-based settings. These include, but are not limited to, culminating clinical practices such as student-teaching or internships.
Student teaching placement is a semester-long final clinical experience involving instructional planning, observation and teaching. You will be supervised by the coordinating teacher and a college supervisor. During the placement, you are expected to assume complete responsibility for the classroom and to engage in all activities related to teaching in the school community.
Reciprocal certification contracts allow an educator to obtain a teaching license in the state of VA that is transferable among 46 other states. To view more information about how teaching license reciprocity varies by state, click here.
