Professional Education Minor

The minor in professional education offers opportunities for students across University majors seeking a pathway into the field of teaching and to temporary teacher certification in the state of Florida.

The minor in professional education is open to all non-education majors at The University of Tampa. The minor has 25 required credit hours. Each class listed in the minor is required for state program approval for a temporary teaching certificate.

The minor includes two field placements in 6th-12th grade classrooms, prior to graduation, under the careful supervision of experienced teachers and University supervisors. The field experience is designed for UT students to observe effective teaching practices and deepen their knowledge base related to content, the learner and learning, instructional practice and professional responsibility. Students develop their planning and instructional skills as they work with individual and small groups of 6-12th grade students.

Coursework meets the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) requirements for the Professional Training Option (PTO), is consistent with the program requirements of FLDOE State Administrative Rule 6A-5.066 and includes the state-required professional preparation outlined in FLDOE Administrative Rule 6A-4.006.

Upon graduation and satisfaction of all requirements for a temporary teaching certificate set forth by FLDOE, students are eligible for a temporary Florida teaching certificate.

For information about types of certificates, visit:
Types of Certifications

For information regarding subject area master, refer to:
Subject Area Knowledge

Students enrolled in the minor are provided with the coursework that — in conjunction with successful completion of Florida teacher certification examinations, one year of successful teaching experience and successful completion of a district-approved competence demonstration program for first-year teachers — allows for converting a three-year non-renewable temporary certification into a five-year renewable professional certification.

An application to the program is required.

Requirements

*Note: EDU 309/EDU 335 are co-requisites and EDU 320/EDU 358 are co-requisites.

Undergraduate Admission for Minors

Students who intend to earn a minor in professional education at The University of Tampa must apply to UT’s Department of Education. Application forms are available at Professional Education Minor Application. Students must include the required submission of the following documentation:

• A completed admission to professional education minor application, which includes a criminal record information form.
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Undergraduate Retention Requirements for Minors

To continue in the minor in professional education, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 overall and a 3.0 in all education coursework. Students must make satisfactory progress toward mastery of the FEAPs/InTASC Standards and indicators, Florida Reading Competencies 1 and 2, and ESOL Standards documented through the LiveText electronic database and outlined in all undergraduate UT Department of Education syllabi.

During the first week of EDU 320, students are required to complete the criminal background check and fingerprinting.