Bluefield College | Christian College Virginia | Teaching License 6-12 Degrees

Teaching License: Secondary Grades 6-12

Teaching License: Secondary Grades 6-12 Overview

Those who seek to teach middle and high school students major in the particular subject they are most passionate about teaching. Along with taking courses for the academic major, students may possibly begin taking education courses as soon as the freshman year. An integral aspect of the program includes public school field experience opportunities that are strategically placed within the required course, letting students explore a variety of classrooms. A strong academic major prepares students to pass Praxis II: Content Area Assessments. Completing requirements for the teaching license and the bachelor’s degree within 4 years opens the door for graduates to obtain additional credentials through master’s degrees in a number of areas.

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Licensure Areas
Field Experiences
Outcomes
Clubs and Organizations
Contact Information
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Teaching License: Secondary Grades 6-12 Licensure Areas

The following degrees combined with required education courses and field experiences lead to the teaching license:

Teaching License: Secondary Grades 6-12 Field Experiences

All students in the teacher education program participate in Pre-Student Teaching Field Experience Courses which consist of classroom observation and participation in public schools combined with seminars on campus for discussion and reflection. Topics include teaching strategies, student differences and classroom management. Prior to taking the field experiences classes, students enroll in a human growth and development class which includes a public school field experience focusing on child and adolescent development.

Student teaching takes place the last semester, usually spring of the senior year. To prepare students to work with different age levels, student teaching is organized into two placements, one at a middle level, and one at the high school level. Bluefield College faculty serve as the college supervisors for the student teachers, and the student teachers meet weekly for seminars. Throughout the semester, the student teachers build a professional portfolio which is presented to a faculty and school personnel panel for review and practice with interviewing skills.

Common sites for Field Experiences

Bluefield College holds partnership agreements with the public schools in Tazewell and Bland Counties in Virginia, and Mercer County in West Virginia. School personnel from these school systems are involved in the mentoring and assessment of our students.

Teaching License: Secondary Grades 6-12 Outcomes

Students are placed in public schools with diverse student populations providing them with the experience of working with children who have different backgrounds and needs. In addition, college coursework emphasizes the teacher’s role in valuing diversity and maintaining high expectations that all students can learn.

Graduate Schools

Many graduates from the Bluefield College School of Education have successfully completed master’s degrees from various institutions including: Virginia Tech, Radford University, University of Virginia and Concord University. Beyond that level, other students have achieved a doctoral degree from Virginia Tech. They have received master’s degrees in reading, guidance counseling, library science, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, and leadership, as well as content areas.

Positions Held by Alumni

Our graduates are employed in schools in Virginia and surrounding states as teachers and administrators. We also have a recent graduate serving as a missionary in China.

Clubs and Organizations

Students belong to the Student Virginia Education Association (SVEA) which allows them to connect with the National Education Association and provides opportunities for leadership, service, professionalism and celebration of the profession.

Contact Information

Dr. Donna Hardy Watson

Office: 276-326-4475

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Emily Sears Cook

Class of 2012

"The experience that I gained at Bluefield College in the Teacher Education Program helps me every day as a teacher. For example, I try to incorporate all learners in the lessons; as I plan, I think about all of my students and their various learning styles, and try to make sure that I reach the auditory, visual or kinesthetic learner. And above all, being at BC inspired me to be a positive force in the classroom"