Teacher Education Program: Policies and Procedures

Application Requirements

Admission into the Teacher Education Program

Academic Progression and Return Policies

Acceptance for Student Teaching

The Teacher Education Program at Saginaw Valley State University is built upon a foundation in the liberal arts, proficiency in Basic Skills, attainment of subject matter specialties, and competency in professional studies. A recommendation by the University to the Michigan Department of Education for a provisional teaching certificate is based upon the successful completion of specific requirements in those four areas, and successful completion of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification content area major and minor tests.

Students should follow the planned program in this catalog established by the College of Education for completing General Education requirements, Basic Skills requirements and approved majors and minors for teacher certification.

The steps leading to a recommendation for teacher certification are:

1. Fulfill application requirements for admission to the University.
2. Gain admission into the Teacher Education Program.
3. Successfully complete all course requirements in declared major(s), minor(s), and professional studies, including submission of assessments from professional studies to an electronic portfolio storage system.
4. Attain acceptance and successfully complete student teaching.
5. Successful completion of State required Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in appropriate content area major and minor tests.

In addition to the requirements listed here, candidates for teacher certification must complete any new requirements established by Michigan’s State Board of Education.

Candidates must apply and be accepted in to the Teacher Education Program prior to enrollment in 300-level and higher professional studies courses. The following requirements must be successfully completed prior to submitting an application to the Teacher Education Program:

1. All University Basic Skills requirements in mathematics, reading and writing.
2. Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA based on the last 60 credit hours of university level (credit earning) coursework. Letter grades associated with entry-level coursework will not be considered. In addition, applicants must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in their declared College of Education credit earning major and/or minor courses at the time of application.
3. Passing scores on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics as established by the Michigan Department of Education.
4. A minimum of 72 credit hours completed with a grade of “C” or better at the time of application. The 72 credit hours must be applicable to the applicant’s declared major(s) and/or minor(s).
5. TE 100 Exploring Teaching:  K-12 or TE 101, Exploring Teaching in P.E., or approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better.
6. PSYC 100 or approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better.
7. 15 credit hours successfully completed in major (secondary education majors only).
8. 9 credit hours successfully completed in minor (secondary education majors only).
9. Attendance at a Pre-Education Seminar (elementary and secondary education majors).

The following may be completed or in progress when filing an application to the Teacher Education Program, but must be successfully completed by the end of winter semester for fall admission, or by the end of fall semester for winter admission for the program on the main campus. Note: Applicants for the Port Huron program must successfully complete TE 300 by the end of Spring Semester prior to fall admission.

1. For elementary education majors: PSYC 310, Child Psychology, or an approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better, and PSYC 317 or approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better, and TE 300, Foundations in Elementary Education with a grade of “C” or better.
2. For secondary education majors:  PSYC 315, Adolescent Psychology, or an approved equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better, and PSYC 317, Educational Psychology, or approved equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better.  Note:  K-12 Music Education candidates are not required to take PSYC 315.

Candidates will be selected for admission into the Teacher Education Program on the basis of several admissions criteria. These criteria minimally include GPA requirements; passing scores on the MTTC Basic Skills; successful results of an interview with professional educators,; successful results from a Writing Prompt; and a criminal background check. Candidates will be notified in writing of the results of their application. Any candidate who is denied admission may reapply up to two additional semesters. After three denials, a candidate’s application for admission will not be accepted.

All candidates admitted into the Teacher Education Program must maintain a minimum overall GPA of at least 3.0 in the professional studies course sequence, and a 2.75 cumulative GPA in the required courses for their declaired major(s) and a 2.75 cumulative GPA in the required courses for their declared minor(s) to remain in the Teacher Education Program. The Admissions and Transitions Committee will review and determine the readiness of any student whose GPA falls below the required GPA in the professional studies, major(s) and/or minor(s), or upon the written request of a professor in the professional studies sequence or a professor in a student’s major or minor fields. Candidates who receive a grade of “D” in a professional studies course will be subject to immediate review by College of Education faculty prior to continuing in the program.

Student teaching placement generally occurs at the end of the professional studies sequence. Candidates must apply during the year preceding the one in which they will be ready for student teaching. To be eligible for student teaching, candidates must:

1. Have successfully completed all coursework requirements for their declared major(s) and minor(s) and professional studies.
2. Have a 2.75 cumulative GPA in the required courses for their major(s) and minor(s).
3. Have a 3.00 cumulative GPA in professional studies course requirements.
4. Have successful completion of a criminal background check.

It is strongly recommended that candidates complete the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification tests in their content areas after completing all course requirements in their content area major(s) and minor(s).