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  • Screenings for Undergraduates
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Screenings for Undergraduates

Entry into undergraduate or graduate teacher education programs carries the expectation that the student does not have formal teaching experience, but has worked with children in some capacity. Therefore, the programs are sequentially designed with introductory, foundational courses about the teaching profession and work with children at the beginning, followed by graduated, finer foci on the specific populations and subjects to be taught in subsequent course work and field work. To measure expected development in this continuum, there is a series of checkpoints used by the faculty to assess achievement.

Screening is an assessment of a teacher education student's progress in the program by departmental faculty. It determines whether or not the student has faculty approval to continue in the program. Students must apply for screening by October 1 for fall semester screening, February 1 for spring semester.

There are two points in each teacher education program when undergraduates must complete online applications for screenings by departmental faculty. Attainment of 2.5 (on a four-point scale) cumulative grade point average and completion of required courses does not automatically qualify a student for continuation in the program.

Faculty evaluation of a student's qualifications for continuation in a teacher education program include academic and other performance factors such as:

1. Dependability (as evidenced by good attendance in classes and practica and the completion of required assignments and procedures on time)
2. Professional and ethical behavior (honesty, acceptance of responsibility, emotional maturity, etc.)
3. Attitude and interpersonal skills (including the ability to work with children and with peers)
4. Academic competence (It is possible for a student to meet minimum grade point requirements and pass all courses and still have specific academic weaknesses which might cause denial of screening applications.)
5. Teaching competence (as evidenced by successful completion of practica requirements). It is possible for a student to meet minimum grade point requirements and pass all courses and still have specific performance weaknesses which might cause denial of screening applications. These criteria rest on the professional judgment of faculty members. Whether a student meets them or not is determined by a vote of appropriate faculty. Undergraduate students seeking secondary education licensure must be approved by the Department of Teaching and Learning faculty and also by the faculty of College of Arts and Science department(s) for the A&S major(s).

Students seeking teacher licensure must be approved by each department through which licensure is sought. Secondary licensure candidates should contact an adviser or the director of undergraduate studies in the appropriate Arts and Science department(s) to be informed of any specific departmental requirements or standards for the major.

Screening Deadlines are October 1 and February 1. If either of these dates falls on a weekend, the deadline is moved to the following Monday. Deadlines are firm; late applications will not be accepted. The screening application is available at http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/screening.xml. 

Note: Screening applications require additional documents when submitted. See specific requirements on the online application.

Students will be notified of results of the faculty vote. In instances where there is a negative decision, the student wishing to appeal must do so in writing to the chairperson(s) of the department(s) denying the application. If the initial decision is upheld and the student wishes to continue the appeal, a written petition should be filed with the Administrative Committee of Peabody College.

Screening I (Formal Admission to an Undergraduate Teacher Education Program)
Each student seeking teacher licensure must be formally admitted to the teacher education program(s) by applying for Screening I review by the faculty of the department(s) in which endorsement(s) is/are sought. Online Screening I applications must be submitted by the student in the first semester of the junior year and approved by the faculty no later than the first semester of the junior year. With consent of the student's faculty adviser(s), application for Screening I may be made during the second semester of the sophomore year. Students who transfer more than 60 hours to Vanderbilt from another institution must apply for admission to the teacher education program by the screening deadline of their second semester at Vanderbilt.

Criteria for Screening I (formal admission to teacher education):

A. Specific Academic Criteria

1. Test scores (SAT 1020 or ACT 22 OR passing scores on the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (four-point scale)
3. Successful completion of at least two of the required professional education courses with a minimum grade of C- in all professional education courses
4. Screening I interview, scheduled through the department(s) of the education major(s)

B. Specific Faculty Evaluative Criteria

The faculty will consider the criteria of dependability, professional and ethical behavior, attitude and interpersonal skills, and teaching competence as itemized at the beginning of the screening section.

Screening II Admission to Student Teaching
Admission to Student Teaching is not automatic when prerequisite course work and field experiences have been completed. The semester prior to the one during which a student is to student teach, the student must submit an online Screening II application and request student teaching placements. Deadlines are October 1 for fall semesters, February 1 for spring semesters. At the time of screening application, the student should be enrolled in any remaining prerequisite courses. No course work may be taken during the semester of student teaching and seminar.

After an initial review in the Office of Teacher Licensure, the Screening II application and other submitted materials will be considered by departmental faculty according to the following criteria:

A. Specific Academic Criteria

1. Formal admission to a teacher education program granted (completion of Screening I)
2. Second semester junior standing (for student teaching in the fall of the senior year) or first semester senior standing (for student teaching in the spring of the senior year)
3. Successful completion (C- or above) of all courses required and prerequisite to student teaching
4. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale)
5. Satisfactory performance (C- or above) in coursework in areas in which teacher licensure is sought
6. Successful completion of Standard First Aid and CPR training (submit certificate copies prior to, or with Screening II application)

B. Specific Faculty Evaluative Criteria

The faculty will consider the criteria of dependability, professional and ethical behavior, attitude and interpersonal skills, and teaching competence as itemized at the beginning of the Screening section. Each Screening II application must be accompanied by additional documents, depending on the endorsement(s) being sought. Screening II applicants who are approved to student teach will receive notification of their student teaching placements no later than during the Student Teacher Orientation (Monday before VU classes begin on Wednesday for the semester).

Students who have passed Screening II are assigned two specific student teaching placements in the Nashville area. Students in early childhood and elementary education may apply to the Department of Teaching and Learning for one student teaching placement in Cambridge, England.