The Professional Semester

Bluefield State College operates on a block system for scheduling student teaching. A semester is reserved for the student in which he/she will schedule a block of professional education. The class week is viewed as 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, meaning that students may be required to attend seminars and workshops during the day, the evening, or weekends during the student teaching experience. The first part of the semester will be devoted to classes on the main campus. A minimum of 12 weeks during the last part of the semester will be devoted to full-time student teaching in the public schools. Students wishing to pursue more than two content specializations may be required to spend an additional period of time in full-time student teaching. For admission to the professional semester, the student must:

1. File the appropriate application with the Director of Teacher Education early in the semester prior to the one in which student teaching is to be done.
2. Have completed all General Studies requirements.
3. Have completed all of the pre-requisite Professional Education courses.
4. Have completed all required courses in their teaching specialization. Exceptions will be considered if the student lacks only one course in each specialization.
5. Have earned an overall grade point average of 2.5, or better.
6. Have completed a minimum of 96 semester credit hours.
7. Have completed SPCH 208 and a computer applications class.
8. Be interviewed by faculty to review status and pre-plan student teaching placement before completing registration for the professional semester.

Upon successful completion of the professional semester, and all program requirements, which include taking the required Praxis II exams prior to graduation and submission of the Student Teaching Portfolio, the student may apply for certification through the Director of Teacher Education. Certification is granted by the West Virginia Department of Education upon passing the Praxis I (pre-professional skills tests), Praxis II in the chosen teaching field(s), maintaining at least an overall 2.5 grade point average, and successfully completing student teaching in each programmatic level for which certification is sought (ex. K-6, 5-9).