College of Education

This page contains important information about the college of education.  Please read before visiting the Unified Elementary/Special Education, Unified Early Childhood Education, and Minor programs.
 

www.coe.ufl.edu

        The College of Education is responsible for teacher education at the University of Florida. UF’s teacher education programs are approved by the state of Florida Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of

Teacher Education.

        Undergraduate programs prepare teachers in agricultural and extension education through the College of Agriculture; art education and music education through the College of Fine Arts; health science education and exercise and sport sciences through the College of Health and Human Per-formance; secondary education (biology, chemistry, English, French, mathematics, physics, social sciences or Spanish) through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; unified
elementary/special education and unified early childhood education through the College of Education.

        In the program areas of agricultural and extension education, art education, health science education, music education and exercise and sport sciences, students will be recommended for initial teacher certification upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.

        In the program areas of unified elementary/ special education, unified early childhood education and the various areas of secondary education, students will be recommended for initial teacher certification when they have completed an additional year of academic study in the College of Education, which may lead to the Master of Education degree.

ProTeach

A Program for the Preparation of Professional Teachers

        At the time this catalog went to press, a number of changes were pending for the ProTeach elementary education and special education programs.  The college’s student services website (www.coe.ufl.edu/StudentServ/Student.html) or the Dean of Students Office in 134-E Norman Hall will provide additional information.

        Teaching is a difficult and demanding task.  Conditions that teachers encounter in the classroom are complex and stressful. At the same time, parents and other members of the community are aware that a sound educational background is essential to success in later life.  Much is expected of professional teachers.

        The College of Education prepares professional teachers in unified elementary/special education, unified early childhood education and the various areas of secondary education.

        ProTeach (from PROfessional TEACHer) is a rigorous program consisting of five years of intensive work in general background knowledge,  professional studies and specialization designed to culminate in a master’s degree.

        The curriculum incorporates the best available information about knowledge, skills and personal attributes that contribute to teacher effectiveness. The latest developments in instructional approaches and technologies are used. The program incorporates comprehensive course work outside the College of Education along with foundational studies and extensive clinical experiences.

Unified Elementary ProTeach

        Since the implementation of ProTeach in 1984, the U.S. population of school children has changed, becoming increasingly more diverse.  These changes, particularly the increase of students with disabilities who are served in general education classrooms, have prompted the College of Education to reexamine and revise the content of its teacher education programs in elementary and special education. For the 1999-2000 academic year, the college has unified and restructured the special education and elementary education Pro-Teach programs into a Unified Elementary Pro-Teach program.

        College faculty recognized the need to reconceptualize teacher education to meet the challenges posed by an increasingly diverse student population.  The challenges posed by and to students with varying exceptionalities in the public schools, along with the potential for an inclusive education policy to increase this number, demanded a collaborative response from all educators.  Helping these students succeed will require the commitment of the entire educational system.
It was this issue that compelled collaboration among general and special educators.

        The unified elementary/special education program includes professional methods courses, clinical experiences, one area of specialization in education in addition to the professional education curriculum, and an interdisciplinary concentration in liberal arts and sciences. The professional education curriculum incorporates important topics in special education, classroom management, inclusive classroom settings, ESOL and other related issues.

Graduates of Unified Elementary Pro-Teach will be able to create and maintain supportive and productive classrooms for diverse student populations. These teachers also will be prepared to work collaboratively with school personnel, families and members of the community to develop alternative ways to educate all students, including those who are difficult to manage or to teach.

        Students who successfully complete the five-year Unified Elementary ProTeach program will be recommended for certification in elementary education (grades 1-6) with an endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). They also will have the opportunity to be recommended for certification in special education if they complete the special education professional specialization in the graduate year.  Other professional specialization areas available to Unified Elementary ProTeach students include interdisciplinary studies, science/mathematics, literacy and technology.

Unified Early Childhood ProTeach

        The unified early childhood education program prepares students to teach at the preschool level, prekindergarten up to grade three. The program unifies early childhood education and early childhood special education to prepare teachers to teach all students from the earliest ages to grade three. There is a wide range of professional choices for graduates of this program, including directors of nursery schools or Head Start programs, teachers of the primary grades and interventionists in hospitals.

        For students in unified elementary/special education and unified early childhood education, the clinical component of PROTEACH begins in the third year and continues through the fifth year. Students engage in early observation, supervised practice and a concluding internship in the public schools, as well as campus-based clinical experiences in micro-teaching, simulation and other controlled situations. Methods of instruction and clinical experiences are concurrent and coordinated; academic and clinical aspects of course objectives are planned together and methods instructors are also clinical supervisors.

        ProTeach students in unified elementary/ special education and unified early childhood education receive a Bachelor of Arts in Education upon successful completion of the first phase of the teacher education program, including a prescribed set of courses and experiences. An additional year (beyond the bachelor’s degree) is required for completion of the second phase of the teacher education programs.

Secondary ProTeach

        Students in the various subject areas of secondary education are required to declare an undergraduate major in the subject they plan to teach and must also complete the secondary education minor. They receive the bachelor’s degree in their content disciplines and the M.Ed. from the College of Education.

        All students in ProTeach, regardless of their chosen teaching field, complete the expanded foundational studies in education, which include: the social, philosophical and historical foundations of education, human growth and development; ethical principles governing teachers; legal provisions affecting education; children with disabilities in regular classrooms; educational diagnosis and evaluation; interpersonal relations; cognitive process in education; instructional design and implementation; and the use of computers in the classroom.

Admission to the College

        Freshmen and sophomores who have a satisfactory SAT or ACT score and GPA will be admitted to the College of Education when they declare a major in unified elementary/special education or unified early childhood education. These students maintain the ED (College of Education) classification as long as they meet the standards set by the college and UF for universal tracking. They must be on track at the 60-hour level to continue in the program and to enroll in the three-year teacher preparation program (ProTeach).

        For information about teacher preparation programs for the secondary level or in other fields (agriculture, art, health science, music or physical education), please refer to the ProTeach Requirements and Special Information section.

        An applicant’s entire record, including educational objectives, quality of courses completed and test data will be considered by the college admissions committee.

        All freshman and sophomore students are monitored for progress toward their majors by the universal tracking program. Students in the undergraduate program will be monitored at 15, 30, 45 and 60 hours. Students who fall below the tracking requirements at any stage must see an academic adviser and may need to change their intended major. For additional information, refer to the Academic Advising section of this catalog.

Universal Tracking Program

        Students must make satisfactory academic progress to continue to enroll in the College of Education. Minimum requirements for continued enrollment for UF students and transfer students at the completion of 60 semester hours are listed below:

        General education courses must be completed with grades of C or better in composition, math, science and humanities. Community college transfer students must document completion of the A.A. Other transfer students are evaluated individually upon application for admission.

Academic Advising

        Advisers in 134-E Norman Hall can provide information about requirements for ProTeach programs. A brochure listing all teacher education programs at UF is available in 134-E Norman Hall. Students who want to teach at the secondary level or in other fields available at UF should refer to the information listed under Special Information.

Computer Requirement

        The College of Education (COE) requires students to be able to use a computer to perform the required tasks and assignments needed to meet course objectives and goals. The computer platform predominately used in the college is the Macintosh. Computer requirements vary by major and will be updated as the computing environment changes.

        In general, students need access to a computer capable of generating printed output and running the most current versions of software for Internet access, word processing, database operations, computer-generated slide shows, statistical analysis and multimedia authoring software. It is also expected that the computer will have video and audio capabilities.

        Department information is available at www.coe.ufl.edu/Committees/Technology/COE _Policy.html
 The following sites are linked from this web site:

        Students can also refer to the university’s computer requirement web sites at www.ufl.edu and www.circa.ufl.edu/computers, which also link to the college’s web site.

Preparing for the Junior/Senior Years

        In the first two years at UF, students are expected to complete the general education requirements, the education core prerequisites and the general program prerequisites. These constitute 60 semester hours.

Student Teaching Assignment

        Student teaching assignments are made at various sites in Florida, in accordance with program objectives and the student’s professional goals.  In addition to regular tuition expenses, students are responsible for transportation to and/or housing in the community where student teaching is to occur. Fees imposed by school districts relating to requirements for personnel screening (e.g., finger printing, background checks and substance abuse testing) are also the student ‘s responsibility.

Postbaccalaureate Admission

        Students who successfully complete a UF undergraduate program in unified elementary/ special education or unified early childhood education but do not meet graduate school admission requirements may complete the required fifth-year ProTeach program in a nondegree postbaccalaureate status.

Graduate Programs

        The College of Education consists of five departments. Each provides the full range of traditional graduate degrees at the master’s, specialist and doctoral levels. The departments include:

Counselor Education: School guidance and counseling, student personnel in higher education, mental health counseling, and marriage and family counseling.

Educational Leadership: Administration at all levels of education: elementary, secondary, vocational, adult, community college, technical and higher education.

Instruction and Curriculum: In addition to the Pro-Teach elementary, ProTeach early childhood and secondary programs for the M.Ed. degree, graduate programs include instruction and curriculum, educational media and design, reading, mathematics education, instructional computing, educational technology, foreign language education, English education, elementary education, science education and social science education.

Foundations of Education: Educational psychology, foundations of education (social, historical, philosophical and international), research and evaluation methodology, and school psychology.

Special Education: In addition to the unified elementary/special education program for the M.Ed. degree, graduate programs include emotionally handicapped, mentally handicapped, specific learning disabilities, physically impaired, and special education administration.

Refer to the Graduate Catalog under the appropriate department for information.

Special Requirements for Admission

        Minimum SAT or ACT scores are required by state law for teacher education programs. Community college students must document successful completion of the A.A. Out-of-state transfer students must meet all requirements. Upon admission to the college, each transfer student is evaluated individually to provide credit for work already completed. Prior to completion of ProTeach, students in special education and unified early childhood education are required to provide proof of completion of up-to-date CPR and first aid training. All prospective teachers are encouraged to do the same.

ProTeach Requirements and Special Information for Secondary Education Admission

        Students who wish to teach at the secondary level complete a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate content discipline, the secondary education minor and then the M.Ed. in the College of Education. The approved subject areas of study for secondary education include biology (major in botany, entomology, microbiology, wildlife ecology or zoology), chemistry, English, French, mathematics, physics, social science (major in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science or sociology) and Spanish.

        As juniors, students should seek academic advising from the College of Education secondary education advisers. Advisers for the different areas can be reached through the Department of Instruction and Curriculum (2423 Norman Hall, 392-9191, ext. 400).

Other Teacher Education Programs

        In addition to the ProTeach, the university offers four-year teacher preparation programs in conjunction with the College of Education. Please contact the colleges for further information:
 
 
 
Field
Grade levels
Contact
Agriculture
6-12
Agricultural Communication and Education, 303 Rolfs Hall
Art
K-12
Fine Arts, 130 MUB
Music
K-12
Fine Arts, 101 FAA
Exercise and Sport Sciences
6-12
Health and Human Performance, 201 Fla. Gym
HealthScienceEducation
K-12
Health and Human Performance, 201 Fla. Gym

        Students must submit approval from their college to the College of Education (134-E Norman Hall) for admission to the advanced professional sequence in the senior year. This approval allows them to register for EDG 4203
(Elementary/Secondary Curriculum) and apply for a teaching internship in the Office of Professional Development and Communications, 150 Norman Hall. The application forms are due February 15 for fall semester internships and September 15 for spring semester internships.

        Financial aid is available through the sources listed in the Gator Aid publication and other information provided by UF’s Office for Student Financial Affairs in 113 Peabody Hall. A limited number of scholarships are available to juniors and seniors in teacher education programs. These are listed in a handout available from the Dean of Students Office in 134-E Norman Hall.

        The state of Florida provides teacher scholarships/loans for junior and senior education students. Funds are limited and available only to students in subject areas designated as critical shortage areas. Information about the Florida Minority Teacher Education Scholarship are available in 100 Norman Hall (Office of Recruitment and Outreach, Box 117045).

        Overseas Study. Students are encouraged to carry out such activities prior to completion of 60 semester hours of course work in the College of Education. They may seek advice in the Student Services Office, 134-E Norman Hall.

        Career Placement.  The UF Career Resource Center offers a Teacher Placement Day annually (usually in April) where representatives from most of the 67 school districts in Florida and several other states meet with students who are completing teacher education programs and others interested in teaching. Graduates of teacher education programs at UF complete NCATE (National Council on Accreditation for Teacher Education) and state  approved programs.

        Teacher Certification. An applicant for initial teacher certification in Florida must receive a passing score on a teacher certification examination administered by the state Department of Education and must successfully complete all CLAST subtests.

        Application materials for Florida teacher certification are available in 134-E Norman Hall and are to be completed in the last year of the program.

        GPA for Teacher Certification. The Florida Department of Education requires a 2.5 GPA on a four-point scale. Preservice teachers in agriculture, art, music, health science and physical education will have the following statement placed on their transcript if they meet the state GPA requirement upon graduation: Completed State-Approved and NCATE-Approved Program in __________.

College Requirements

        Student Responsibility. Students are expected to review the information in the Undergraduate Catalog as a guide to planning their academic careers at UF. Failure to read, understand and follow the guidelines may cause significant hardship and delays in academic progress. Clarification of college requirements is available in 134-E Norman Hall.

        Satisfactory Progress. Students in undergraduate ProTeach programs are expected to maintain a junior/senior level GPA of 3.0 or above. Academic progress is reviewed each semester. If requirements are not met, the student must meet with an academic adviser before further registration. Undergraduate ProTeach majors must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses required for the B.A.E. Courses with grades below C must be repeated.

        Program Plan.  Before the end of the first term of enrollment in ProTeach, the student will plan a program for the degree. All programs must have adviser and coordinator of undergraduate studies approval Each student is responsible for registering for the proper courses and fulfilling all requirements for the degree.

        Transfer Credit.  The first two years’ course requirements for state of Florida colleges of education are the same for all state university system institutions and community colleges. This requirement makes it easier for students to transfer from one institution to another.

        Transient Student Status. With approval of the College of Education, students may take a limited number of credits at another accredited institution. Prior to registration the student must complete a transient student form (222 Criser Hall) and obtain  approval  in 134-E Norman Hall. No transient courses will be permitted during the last 30 hours of enrollment.

        Summer Attendance. Undergraduates must attend at least one summer session. This may be done at UF or at any other SUS university. Community college courses will not meet this requirement.

        S-U Option. The S-U option may only be used for elective courses that are not required for teacher certification. It does not apply to Gordon Rule courses. The deadline for declaring the S-U option is published in the academic calendar.

        Probation. The department and the college monitor students placed on probation. Students are advised of unsatisfactory academic progress. Registration holds are placed on the records of students who do not meet the terms of probation. They must submit department approval for further enrollment in the college. College probation is removed if it is determined that satisfactory progress has been demonstrated. Proteach students are expected to maintain a 3.0 junior/senior level GPA, which is one of the requirements for admission to the graduate portion of each Pro-Teach program.

        Dismissal. Students dismissed by the university may not register for courses. Students on probation as well as students who are unable to meet degree requirements are encouraged to leave the program and to investigate other alternatives. If the department or the college determines that students have not met their probationary terms or are not progressing academically, a hold is placed on their records and they may not register for courses in the College of Education. Courses taken at other universities under these conditions will not count toward a UF degree.

        Drops. Students may drop courses without penalty during the regular drop/add period at the beginning of each semester. Dropping courses (that are not approved for exception through the petition process) after the deadline will result in grades of WF (withdrew failing). Students seeking an exception to this policy must follow the petition process. Before submitting a petition, students should meet with an adviser in 134-E Norman Hall.

        Withdrawal. To drop all courses for a semester, students must contact the UF Office for Student Services in Peabody Hall.

        Correspondence Work. No part of the professional teacher preparation program may be taken by correspondence, home study or extension unless such a procedure has been planned with a department  adviser and approved by the college.

        Special College Requirements. Students are assigned to various tutoring, assisting and teaching functions as part of their teacher education programs. Full-time attendance and participation are required; part-time attendance and participation are not available.

        Undergraduate Registration in Graduate Courses.  With department approval, an under-graduate student in the college can enroll in 5000- or 6000-level courses. After a student has been admitted to the Graduate School, up to six hours of graduate-level courses with grades of A, B+ or B, may be applied toward a graduate degree at the university, provided the credit was not used toward an undergraduate degree; further, the credit may be accepted by the graduate department only after the student is admitted to a graduate program.

        Dean’s List. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must meet the college requirement of a minimum 3.5 GPA of graded course work with a minimum of 12 hours during the fall and spring semesters, six hours during Summer A or B, or nine hours during Summer C.

        Graduating With Honors: To graduate with honors or high honors, a student is required to earn a 3.75 junior/senior level GPA. Additionally, for high honors a student also must complete a scholarly work judged by the college honors committee to be of high honors caliber. Students who meet the necessary criteria for high honors will be notified of their eligibility.

Graduation Requirements

        Students who complete a department approved undergraduate degree in the College of Education are awarded the Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A.E.).

        To receive an undergraduate degree from the college in unified elementary/special education or unified early childhood education, a student must satisfactorily complete the prescribed program, including the speech requirement and CLAST. Grades below C will not fulfill requirements in either professional education or in general education areas.

        Prior to program completion, students must demonstrate satisfactory performance on the Florida Accomplished Practices for Teachers.  Students in both programs are required to complete an additional year of study in a master’s degree or postbaccalaureate program to receive a statement on the transcript verifying completion of a Florida Department of Education and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education approved program.

        Residence. The last thirty semester hours to be applied toward a degree must be completed in residence in the College of Education.

        Honors. To graduate with honors, a student is required to earn a GPA of 3.75 during the junior/ senior years. For high honors, a student must earn a GPA of 3.75 for the first 18 hours in the junior/senior level.  To graduate with high honors, a student must maintain a 3.75 GPA until graduation and complete a scholarly work judged by the college honors committee to be of high honors caliber. Students who meet the necessary academic requirements for high honors will be advised of their eligibility.

Programs of Study: Unified Elementary/Special Education and Unified Early Childhood Education

Progression to Graduation

        After completion of the first 60 hours of course requirements, students are admitted in the junior year to the professional field of study. This phase requires 64 semester hours of work. Students are expected to complete this phase in four semesters (averaging 16 hours per semester).

Admission to the M.Ed. Program

        The Graduate School requires both a minimum junior-senior level GPA of 3.0 (B) and a minimum total (verbal and quantitative) score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students should consult the graduate coordinator of the Department of Instruction and Curriculum for specific graduate admission requirements. They also should prepare for the GRE; ProTeach students should take it during the first semester of the junior year. GRE applications/booklets and
information about preparation resources are available in 134-E Norman Hall.

    Preparation for Secondary Education: Grades 6-12 (Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Social Sciences, Spanish)

        This five-year teacher preparation program includes an undergraduate degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or College of Agriculture with a secondary education minor and a Master of Education degree from the College of Education.

        Students who plan to complete teacher education programs in chemistry, English, French, mathematics, physics or Spanish will major as undergraduates in those subjects. To become a social sciences teacher, a student may major in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science or sociology. Specific additional courses are required to meet the broad field certification requirements. To become a biology teacher, a student may major in botany, entomology, microbiology, wildlife ecology or zoology.