Special Education Major — Elementary (B.A.)

Grade Point Average Requirement

Students in the Department of Teacher Education will be required to maintain an accumulative GPA of at least 2.50 in all professional studies courses in order to student teach. Additionally, NCATE accreditation requires an accumulative GPA of 2.50 prior to recommendation for certification.

Students failing to maintain the required GPA in either case may be dismissed from the program, subject to an appeal. Information for an appeals process may be obtained from the dean’s office.

Seven Year Time Limit for Professional Studies Courses

All professional studies courses (credits and requirements) must be completed within seven (7) years prior to the date on which the degree is to be granted.

Student Teaching

TE 420 is graded on a pass/fail basis. Evaluations are made and kept on file in the College of Education Office. Application forms for student teaching can be obtained from the College of Education web site and must be returned to the director by the last working day of the month of November for the next year’s Fall Semester Student Teaching assignment, or by the last working day of the month of March for the next year’s Winter Semester Student Teaching assignment.

Student teaching and the seminar (TE 410/420) constitute a full course load. No student may enroll for any additional credits without written permission from the Director of Clinical Experiences. Student teaching normally involves 14 weeks of full-time teaching in an area school. Assignments are made by the Director of Clinical Experiences.

Student teaching assignments are routinely made only for fall and winter semesters. Summer student teaching assignments may be approved by the faculty of the Department of Teacher Education upon recommendation of the Director of Clinical Experiences. Such assignments are to be exceptional and/or experimental.
Note: It is particularly important that students placed in student teaching assignments for a given semester immediately notify the Director of Clinical Experiences when they are not able to fulfill their placement obligation. When a student drops student teaching without approval of the Director of Clinical Experiences, he/she will not be given a student teaching assignment during the following semester. When this student reapplies, he/she may be asked to appear for a formal hearing of the Department of Teacher Education.

Endorsements

English as a Second Language: Minor Endorsement (21 credits)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program; a student who does not complete teacher certification requirements will not be permitted to graduate with this minor.

This course of study is designed to meet the state of Michigan requirements for endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL). To obtain this endorsement, students must complete all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major as given above, pass the certification test for ESL at the initial level of certification earned: Elementary (K-8); this is not a K-12 endorsement.

Interested students should contact the ESL Program Advisor to schedule an appointment prior to beginning the program. The specific program requirements may be found in the program listing for English as a Second Language: Minor Endorsement.

French Minor – Elementary Teaching Endorsement (23 credits)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program; a student who does not complete teacher certification requirements will not be permitted to graduate with this minor.

This course of study is designed to meet the state of Michigan requirements for an endorsement to teach French at grades 6-8. To obtain this endorsement, students must complete all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major as given above, pass the certification test for French at the initial level of certification earned: Elementary (K-8); this is not a K-12 endorsement.

Interested students should contact the French Program Advisor to schedule an appointment prior to beginning the program. The specific program requirements may be found in the program listing for French Minor – Elementary Teaching Endorsement.
 

Spanish Minor – Elementary Teaching Endorsement (23 credits)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program; a student who does not complete teacher certification requirements will not be permitted to graduate with this minor.

This course of study is designed to meet the state of Michigan requirements for an endorsement to teach Spanish at grades 6-8. To obtain this endorsement, students must complete all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major as given above, pass the certification test for Spanish at the initial level of certification earned: Elementary (K-8); this is not a K-12 endorsement.

Interested students should contact the Spanish Program Advisor to schedule an appointment prior to beginning the program. The specific program requirements may be found in the program listing for Spanish Minor – Elementary Teaching Endorsement.
 

Early Childhood Minor (28 credits required)

Prerequisites: Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program; PSYC 310, Child Psychology; a student who does not complete teacher certification requirements will not be permitted to graduate with this minor.

This course of study is designed to meet the state of Michigan requirements for an endorsement to teach Early Childhood, birth to age 8. To obtain this endorsement, students must complete all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major as given above, pass the certification test for Early Childhood in addition to the certification for Elementary Education, and complete a student teaching internship in addition to TE 420 Student Teaching: K-8.

Interested students who have been admitted to the Elementary Teacher Education Program should contact the Early Childhood Program Advisor for an application to the Early Childhood Program. The specific program requirements may be found in the program listing for Early Childhood Minor.

Elementary Education Major course requirements for TE 343 and TE 344 are met through completion of the early childhood minor courses as noted above.
 

Special Education Major – Elementary (B. A.) (40 credits required)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program; a student who does not complete teacher certification requirements will not be permitted to graduate with this major.

This course of study is designed to meet the state of Michigan requirements for an endorsement to teach Special Education, K-12. To obtain this endorsement, students must complete all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major and the Special Education Major, pass the certification test for Special Education in addition to the certification test for Elementary Education, and complete student teaching in a Special Education setting in addition to TE 420 Student Teaching: K-8.

Interested students who have been admitted to the Elementary Teacher Education Program should contact the Special Education Program Advisor for an appointment prior to beginning the Special Education Program. The specific program requirements may be found in the program listing for Special Education Major – Elementary (B. A.).

Requirements for this program are completed in addition to all of the requirements for the Elementary Education Major except TE 343 and TE 344. The requirements for these courses will be met in the required Special Education courses of TE 430 and TE 516.