Programs of Study

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 often served in general education classrooms, have prompted the College of Education to re-examine and revise the content of its teacher education programs in elementary and special education. For the 1999-2000 academic year, the college unified and restructured the special education and elementary education ProTeach programs into a Unified Elementary ProTeach program.

College faculty recognized the need to re-conceptualize teacher education to meet the challenges posed by an increasingly diverse student population. The challenges posed by 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 requires the commitment of the entire educational system.

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 inter-disciplinary 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 fifth year. For other specialization areas available to Unified Elementary ProTeach students refer to the School of Teaching and Learning in 2215 Norman Hall Annex and their website www.coe.ufl.edu/school/proteach/index.html.

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Unified Early Childhood ProTeach

The Unified Early Childhood ProTeach program prepares students to teach at the preschool and pre-kindergarten level through grade three. The program unifies early childhood education and early childhood special education. 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 (www.coe.ufl.edu/unifiedece/main.html).

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Postbaccalaureate Programs

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 must complete the required fifth-year ProTeach program in a postbaccalaureate status to be recommended for certification. Refer to the appropriate Graduate department for more information.

Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information on Graduate Programs

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Secondary ProTeach

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: science education (major in botany, chemistry, entomology, microbiology, physics, wildlife ecology or zoology); social science education (major in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science or sociology); foreign language education (major in French or Spanish); mathematics education (major in mathematics); and English education (major in English).

• Cooperating College Teacher Education Programs

In addition to ProTeach, the university offers four-year teacher preparation programs in collaboration with the College of Education for agriculture, art, music, exercise & sport sciences and health science education. Please contact the individual colleges for additional information:

• Agriculture Education (6-12)

• Art Education (K-12)

• Music Education (K-12)

• Exercise & Sport Sciences Education (6-12)

• Health Science Education (K-12)

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Advanced Professional Sequence

Undergraduates are required to obtain approval for the advanced professional sequence during their senior year. This approval allows them to register for EDG 4203 (Elementary/Secondary Curriculum) and apply for a teaching internship in the Office of Educational Outreach and Communications, 148 Norman Hall. Requirements for approval are as follows: passing scores on all sections of CLAST (no waivers or exemptions), acceptable ACT or SAT score, 2.5 cumulative GPA, and their college approval before submission. The application forms are due February 15 for fall semester internships and September 15 for spring semester internships.

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Secondary Education Minor

It should be understood that such a minor is preparatory to entering the ProTeach secondary master of education program, and preparatory to meeting state certification requirements.

Prospective secondary teachers are encouraged to include the pre-professional education core courses EDF 1005, EDG 2701 and EME 2040 in the first 60 hours.

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Pathways to Teaching Minor

The Pathways to Teaching Minor is available to CLAS students with majors in mathematics, science (chemistry, physics or earth science), and foreign language (French, German, Latin, or Spanish). This minor will allow students in these critical shortage areas to progress toward Florida teaching certification in secondary education, but does not include a recommendation for certification.

This minor requires the completion of 24 semester credits of course work in the professional preparation areas of psychological and social foundations, secondary curriculum and instruction, and special methods. Students in Pathways to Teaching will have the opportunity to integrate their teacher education course work with actual classroom experience.

Admission to this minor requires junior status, a cumulative 2.6 GPA and SAT of 1010 or ACT of 21.

For additional information, students may consult an advisor in the CLAS Academic Advising Center or the College of Education (Student Services, 134E Norman). Updated information will also be listed on the College of Education web site.

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General Education Minor

The intent of this minor is to provide students with a clearer understanding of the purposes and function of education and the social and psychological forces that affect young people. The minor is not intended to lead to teacher certification. Students are required to have the approval of their colleges on the "Application to Add or Cancel a Minor" available from the Office of the University Registrar. Courses from this general minor may not be substituted for the secondary PROTEACH minor.

A student who chooses this minor is expected to complete 15 hours with grades of "C" or better from the courses listed below. Courses must be selected from at least three of the five sections. No course substitutions are permitted.

Each course is three semester hours except SDS 3481, which is two semester hours, and EME 4200, which is four semester hours.

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Unified Elementary/Special Education (Grades 1-6)

Elementary Education

To remain 'on track' for this major you must meet the following critical tracking criteria. The critical tracking courses appear in bold.

Semester 1:

• Complete the SAT with a total score of 1010 or higher or the ACT with a total score of 21 or higher
• 2.00 UF GPA required

Semester 2:

• Complete 1 of 3 critical courses (EDF1005 or EDG2701 or EME2040)
• 2.3 UF GPA required

Semester 3:

• Complete 1 additional course of the 3 critical courses
• 2.6 UF GPA required for sems 3-5

Semester 4:

• Complete all 3 critical courses with a 3.0 GPA on all critical coursework

Semester 5:

• Complete 60 hours of coursework
• Complete CLAST (no exemptions)
• Complete Writing Requirement
• Complete Math Requirement
• Complete 9 hours of International/Diversity

Critical Tracking Criteria:

• For semesters 5-8 you must maintain a 3.0 upper-division GPA.

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Certification Options

During the graduate year, students may select from two certification tracks:

Option A: Dual Certification Track: 36-hour Master's degree program or 30-hour Postbaccalaureate program

• Confers elementary and special education certification with ESOL endorsement
• Requires 12 hours specialization course work in special education
• Students may select severe or mild disabilities concentration

Option B: Single Certification Track: 36-hour Master's degree program or 21-hour Postbaccalaureate program

• Confers elementary education certification (grades 1-6) with ESOL endorsement

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Unified Early Childhood Education (Pre-K-grade 3)

Early Childhood Education

To remain 'on track' for this major you must meet the following critical tracking criteria. The critical tracking courses appear in bold.

Semester 1:

• Complete the SAT with a total score of 1010 or higher or the ACT with a total score of 21 or higher
• 2.00 UF GPA required

Semester 2:

• Complete 1 of 3 critical courses (EDF1005 or EDG2701 or EME2040)
• 2.3 UF GPA required

Semester 3:

• Complete 1 additional course of the 3 critical courses
• 2.6 UF GPA required for sem 3-5

Semester 4:

• Complete all 3 critical courses with a 3.0 GPA on all critical coursework

Semester 5:

• Complete 60 hours of coursework
• Complete CLAST (no exemptions)
• Complete the writing portion of the Writing and Math Requirement
• Complete the math portion of the Writing and Math Requirement

Critical Tracking Criteria:

• For semesters 5-8 you must maintain a 3.0 upper-division GPA.

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Certification Options

During the graduate year, students complete a dual certification and endorsement track, 36-hour Master's degree program or 24-hour Postbaccalaureate program

• Preschool Education (birth - age 4);
• PreK/Primary (age 3 - grade 3); and
• PreK Handicapped Endorsement