TITLE

Alternative Fifth-Year Program

HISTORY

Approved by the Alabama State Board of Education in 1986; implemented the same year; IHEs set up proposed programs.

MOTIVATION

To create a quality-controlled alternative route to teacher certification.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

All.

WHO OPERATES

IHE.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM

The individual must have an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

The participant must have a 2.5 grade point average (on a 4-point scale), submit a score on the GRE or MAT, and meet prerequisite coursework in general studies and the chosen teaching field.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The master's degree program requires:

A teaching field of at least one-third of the total number of graduate hours in the program.

Study in each of the following areas:  curriculum and teaching; professional studies; special education; evaluation of teaching and learning; technology; and reading.

and

A full-time internship as a teacher in the teaching field for at least 12 weeks and at least 300 clock hours.  The college may request a waiver of the internship if the individual has 1-year full-time teaching experience in the same area as the alternative program being completed.

Upon completion of the program, the individual receives a regular certificate at a higher level than that issued to a graduate of a four-year teacher education program.

The program does not require the participant to be employed as a teacher.  If employed as a teacher, a one-year Special Alternative Certificate may be requested a maximum of three times by the local superintendent or headmaster of a nonpublic school (the nonpublic school must be accredited, State-approved and/or State-registered).

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE:

Determined by the institution.

LENGTH OF TIME:

Determined by the participant and IHE regulations.