MAEd Program Gateways
The MAEd program allows aspiring teachers to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. Undergraduate students interested in the MAEd should connect with an education advisor by their sophomore or junior year to ensure they’re completing the right content courses and meeting admission requirements for a seamless transition into the graduate program.
Graduate teaching candidates encounter three gateways during the program. Each is designed to ensure every candidate is well-prepared, highly qualified, and ready to enter the teaching profession.
Program Admission
Before Starting the MAEd
Recommendation for Student Teaching
Licensure Track — End of Fall Semester
Recommendation for VA Teaching Certification
Licensure Track — Spring Internship
MAEd Endorsement Areas
Secondary (6–12)
PreK–12
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Latin
- Vocal/Choral Music
- Theatre Arts
- Visual Arts
Program Admission
Before Starting the MAEd
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in a content area matching the desired endorsement, aspiring teachers must apply and complete all program admission requirements. Both licensure and non-licensure track requirements are listed below.
Licensure Track
| Requirement | Suggested Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Complete and submit the MAEd online application | As early as sophomore year; the sooner the better |
| Submit passing scores on the Praxis Subject test for your content area | Take and pass before applying; required for admission |
| Successfully complete a bachelor’s degree in the endorsement area with appropriate content coursework | Seek advising from education and content faculty from sophomore year through graduation |
| Achieve a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 | Monitor GPA throughout — conditional admission may be available with faculty approval |
Non-Licensure Track
| Requirement | Suggested Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Complete and submit the MAEd online application | As early as sophomore year |
| Successfully complete a bachelor’s degree in the endorsement area with appropriate content coursework | Seek advising from education and content faculty from sophomore year through graduation |
| Achieve a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 | Monitor GPA throughout — conditional admission may be available with faculty approval |
Recommendation for Student Teaching
Licensure Track Only — End of Fall Semester
The supervised internship (student teaching) is the culminating experience for all licensure-track candidates. Before being recommended, candidates must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in an authentic teaching context. The following requirements must be met prior to student teaching placement.
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on MAEd coursework | Monitor grades throughout and use Batten University tutoring services when needed |
| Earn grades of C or better in ALL Professional Studies Education courses | Monitor grades in all coursework and seek advising if struggling |
| No more than 2 incompletes across the program | If difficulty completing coursework arises, contact your adviser immediately |
| Achieve “Acceptable” ratings on the Batten University Dispositional Survey for Educators | Completed while enrolled in Practicum. Class attendance, prompt submission of work, and respectful collaboration are key indicators of teacher effectiveness and impact standing in the program. |
| Submit a negative TB test and a clear Background Clearance Check | Submit prior to Practicum placement |
| Practicum Instructor grants consent for student teaching | Progress to student teaching is contingent on a successful Practicum experience. The Practicum instructor notifies the Director of Teacher Education at the end of the Practicum course. |
Recommendation for Virginia Teaching Certification
Licensure Track Only — Spring Internship
Candidates in the licensure-track supervised internship complete an impact study, build a teaching portfolio, and are observed multiple times by multiple instructional experts. Upon successful completion of all elements, the Director of Teacher Education recommends the candidate for Virginia Teaching Certification in their endorsement area.
- CPR and First Aid Certification — required for Virginia licensure; complete during the internship semester
- Virginia Licensure Modules — all required modules assigned in professional education courses; certificates of completion must be submitted before the internship concludes
- All licensure test scores — must be on file with the Education Department
- All program requirements — must be fully satisfied
Questions About the Gateway Process?
- Contact
- Dr. William McConnell, Director of Teacher Education
- Handbook
- MAEd Candidate Handbook (PDF)
