Alternative Class A Program (Certification)

The Alternative Class A program is designed to serve those students who have completed a non-teaching baccalaureate degree. The program enables a student to obtain a master's degree and Class A certification and is offered in the following teaching areas:

MED, Elementary Education (K-6)/Early Childhood Education(P-3)
MED, Special Education(K-6)
MED, Special Education (6-12)
MED, Physical Education (P-12)
MAT, Physical Education (P-12)
MED, Biology (6-12)
MAT, Biology (6-12)
MED, Mathematics (6-12)
MAT, Mathematics (6-12)
MED, General Science (6-12)
MAT, General Science (6-12)
MED, English Language Arts (6-12)
MAT, English Language Arts (6-12)
MED, History (6-12)
MAT, History (6-12)
MED, Social Science (6-12)
MAT, Social Science (6-12)

Upon submission of an application for admission to the UWA Graduate School, indicating an interest in the Alternative Class A Program, the Teacher Education and Certification Office will determine eligibility for that program.

A student may be admitted to the Alternative Class A Program under the following provisions:

At least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a four-point scale as posted by the degree-granting college or university at the time of graduation.
A passing score on the appropriate Praxis II exam for the field of study. The only exception is the Special Education K-6 and 6-12 program. In this program, students must submit a passing score on the Praxis II Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test. Register online at www.ets.org/praxis or call 1-800-772-9476 or 1-866-387-8602 (for disability services).
A passing score on the Basic Skills Assessment Test portion of the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program approved by the Alabama State Board of Education. For further information contact Alabama State Department of Education at 1.800.294.2105 or 319.341.2500 or alabamaectp@act.org or www.alsde.edu
Fingerprint clearance by ABI and FBI through Cogent. For more information, go to the following website: www.cogentid.com/al/index_ade.htm
An acceptable score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (Verbal and Quantitative) is also required for unconditional admission to the School of Graduate Studies. Students should take the GRE or MAT prior to admission to the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate students who have completed an accredited master's degree program are not required to submit either an MAT or GRE score as a requirement for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.

NOTE: CANDIDATES MUST BE UNCONDITIONALLY ADMITTED PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN ANY COURSES IN THE ALTERNATIVE CLASS A PROGRAM.

All other Graduate School admission requirements apply to this program.

Internship Requirement in the Alternative Class A Program

A full time internship in an approved Alabama or partnership school is also required in the Alternative A Program. The student must be within four semester hours of completing all coursework excluding internship. The deadline to apply for Fall Internship is February 1. The deadline for Spring Internship is September 1.

Applications for Internship may be requested by contacting the Director of Field Experience and Outreach in the College of Education.

The Teacher Candidate Internship Program at The University of West Alabama is the culmination of professional preparation for prospective teachers during which their professional knowledge and competencies are put into practice for further development and refinement in actual teaching situations. This phase of training is considered to be one of the most important learning experiences provided for the prospective teacher.

Through the guidance of local school officials, the cooperating teacher, and the college supervisor, teacher candidate interns progressively assume a share of the responsibility for the learning process in the classroom and are given the opportunity of developing their individual capabilities to the fullest extent possible. It gives them opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations, to synthesize what has been learned in courses in professional education, and to reflect upon their experiences in a public school setting.

The Partnership School for teacher candidate internships should consist of an orientation, a gradual induction into full teaching responsibility and opportunities to explore those experiences of professional teachers outside of their teaching responsibilities. Freedom to relate principles and theories consistent with the conceptual framework of the practical experience model of teacher education at the University of West Alabama is crucial to internship and field experiences. The process skills of collaboration, application, inquiry, and reflection are practiced under the guidance of the cooperating teacher and the college supervisor. Continuous evaluation of the growth and development of the intern by the college supervisor and the cooperating teacher in addition to the constant reflection upon experiences by the intern will lead to a successful induction into the world of practice. A Alabama or partnership school site containing these elements should provide the most effective setting for initiation into the profession.

Teacher Candidates can expect to spend approximately 15 weeks in an accredited Partnership School System. For candidates who are seeking certification in two or more distinct teaching fields, an additional 15 week internship(s) shall be required.

Under no circumstances will the internship requirement be waived regardless of current or prior teaching experience.

Field Experiences and the Internship are considered on-campus courses and students are expected to be in attendance at any seminars and class meetings on UWA's campus.

General Requirements for Admission to the Internship:

Submission of internship application. The application consists of the appropriate forms, a brief autobiographical sketch, and a student articulated personal philosophy of education and its relationship to teaching practices.
Within four semester hours of completing all coursework excluding internship*
A minimum quality point ratio of 3.0 in each of the following areas: A. Overall, B. Teaching field, C. Professional
Approval of the Teacher Education Screening Committee, and the Coordinator of Field Education.
Passing score on the Praxis II portion of the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program must be submitted to the Certification Office prior to the first day of classes of the semester the internship is to be completed.
Current background clearance on file with the Alabama State Department of Education.
Freedom from any physical, mental, or emotional condition which might impair the student's effectiveness as a teacher.
Good standing of the student, both academic and disciplinary.

Applicants should not seek to do their internship in schools which they attended as students. Student interns should not plan to participate in organizational activities and/or University activities that in any way conflict with their internship assignments. Internship may be enhanced by maximizing the field experiences in the school(s) where the internship will be conducted; therefore, students are encouraged to request placement in a school where they have had prior field experience.

*With approval of the Graduate Dean, students with a GPA of 3.60 or higher may register for up to four semester hours in addition to the internship. No coursework may be taken during the normal operational hours of the P-12 school.

Program Completion Requirements

All policies of the School of Graduate Studies apply to this program.

The student shall:

Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in all courses in the approved program as verified on an official transcript with no grade less than "C."
Make a satisfactory score on a written comprehensive examination documenting mastery of the curriculum of the program.