Teacher Education: 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 into the Teacher Education Program prior to successfully completed prior to submitting an application to the Teacher Education Program:

1. Attendance at a Pre-Education Seminar
2. All University
   Basic Skills Requirements
     in mathematics, reading and writing.
3. Minimum 3.00 grade point average based on the last 60 credit hours of university-level (credit earning) coursework. Letter grades associated with entry-level coursework will not be considered.
4. Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Professional Readiness Examination (formerly the MTTC Basic Skills Test) with subareas in reading, mathematics and writing, or Michigan Department of Education-approved alternative pass measures.

• MTTC scores must be submitted to SVSU electronically; select institution code #24 when registering to take the test to ensure that SVSU receives the scores. Consult the MTTC Website for details.
   
• A minimum of 72 credit hours completed; the 72 credit hours must be applicable to the applicant’s College of Education certification program.
  
  Exception: Elementary Special Education and Early Childhood Education majors either must have successfully completed all courses for their comprehensive major or must successfully complete the comprehensive major in the semester in which the application is submitted.

• PSYC 100, General Psychology, or an approved equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better

• TE 100, Exploring Teaching:  K-12;  or TE 101, Exploring Teaching in Physical Education; or an approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better

• For secondary-level candidates only:  15 credit hours in the content major and 9 credit hours in the content minor
   

The following may be completed or in progress during the semester an application to the Teacher Education Program is submitted, but must be successfully completed by the end of the winter semester for fall semester admission consideration, or by the end of fall semester for winter admission consideration:

• For elementary-level candidates only:  PSYC 313 Child Development in Education  with a grade of “C” or better 
   
• For secondary-level candidates only:  PSYC 315 Adolescent Psychology , or an approved equivalent, and PSYC 317 Educational Psychology , or approved equivalent, with grades 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 Professional Readiness Exam; 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.

Freshman Early Admission

A limited number of first semester freshman will be accepted into the College of Education’s Early Admissions Program. Applicants must have  minimum cumulative high school G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher upon graduation, an ACT composite score of 24 or higher, and be recommended for early admission based on successful completion of an interview and essay.  If selected, candidates will be required to maintain a 3.00 cumulative SVSU G.P.A. and successfully complete all prerequisites required to apply to the Teacher Education Program in their junior year at SVSU.

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 declared 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).