Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (Non-Degree)
The post-baccalaureate licensure program is an accelerated program for students who already have an undergraduate degree and would like to pursue an initial teaching license. Viterbo University offers programs that can lead to initial teaching licensure in three primary paths:
- Elementary Education,
- Cross-categorical Special Education, and
- Nine different Content Areas
For most Content Areas, the program can be completed in as little as one year. The program has an Education Core of 25 credit hours, plus any additional content specialty coursework needed. Total credit hours for each Content Area vary based upon prior undergraduate coursework. Content Areas include:
- Art Education
- Business Education
- English Language Arts Education
- Math Education
- Music Education
- Social Studies Education
- Science Education
- Technology Education
- Spanish Education
The Elementary Education post-baccalaureate program is an online program can be completed in two years. The program consists of 47 credit hours with the option to take three additional Cross-categorical Special Education courses for a total of 55 credit hours.
The Cross-categorical Special Education licensure program is a two-year, 38 credit hour program offered online.
Cross-categorical special education:
- Completion of required content coursework with a grade of “C” or better in each course
- Methods coursework in the content area
- 50 hours of field experience
- Earn a B or better in EDUC-681
Elementary/secondary education:
- Completion of required content coursework (art, broad field social studies, business education, cross-categorical, English, mathematics, music, science, Spanish, or technology education) with a grade of “C” or better, or a passing score on the Praxis II in content area
- Methods coursework in the content area (art, broad field social studies, business education, cross-categorical, English, mathematics, music, science, Spanish, or technology education)
- Field experiences or hours as determined by the instructor
- Earn a passing score on the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test (for students pursuing elementary education)
Developed by the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) and adopted by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
- PUPIL DEVELOPMENT – The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and the teacher designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
- LEARNING DIFFERENCES – The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
- LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS – The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- CONTENT KNOWLEDGE – The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
- APPLICATION OF CONTENT – The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic, local, and global issues.
- ASSESSMENT – The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
- PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTION – The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
- INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES – The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
- PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND ETHICAL PRACTICE – The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning, uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
- LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION – The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
- VITERBO STANDARD – The teacher demonstrates personal qualities and values which reflect the Franciscan values identified in the Viterbo University teacher education conceptual framework.