Teacher Education Program

Program Eligibility

Applications are accepted during September for Winter admissions and during January for Fall admissions. Note: A student cannot gain admission to begin the program during the Spring/Summer semester.

After acceptance into the Teacher Education Program, any student who does not enroll for courses at SVSU for seven or more consecutive semesters will have to reapply for admission to the university as well as readmission to the Teacher Education Program, and will have to abide by the rules and regulations of the catalog at the time of readmission.

Eligibility

A 2.75 grade point average based on the last 60 credit hours of coursework.
Successful completion of SVSU Basic Skills in Reading, Writing, and Math.
Successful completion of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (M.T.T.C.) Basic Skills Tests in Reading, Writing, and Math. Note: A minimum score of 220 is required for passing.
A minimum of 61 credit hours complete with a grade of "C" or better.

In Progress
The following may be in progress when filing an application, but must be successfully completed by the end of winter semester for fall admission or by the end of fall semester for winter admission.

Psychology 100 with a grade of "C" or better.
Introduction to Teaching with a grade of "C" or better.
(SVSU's TE 100, KINE 100 or any equivalent course from any accredited community college or university will apply). If course is in progress at an institution other than SVSU, evidence of enrollment must be submitted with application.
Secondary students must have completed 15 credit hours in their major and 9 in their minor (courses in progress during the current semester will count).
Secondary Special Education majors must have 9 credits completed in their content major or in each of their content minors to apply (courses in progress during the current semester will count).

Additional Eligibility Information

Criminal background checks will be required in order to work in field in all school districts, private, and public schools.
Candidates may not apply to the College of Education more than three times.

Disqualifiers

The College of Education reserves the right to refuse admission to individuals with the following background characteristics:

Any felony conviction
Documented instances of child abuse
Documented instances of alcohol and/or substance abuse
Documented cases of assault

Additionally, an admissions hearing will be scheduled to consider grounds for review, probation or dismissal from the Teacher Education Program in the following circumstances:

Academic

Students who receive C's in two professional sequence courses.
Students who receive a grade of D or F in any professional studies course.
Students whose grade point average falls below 2.5 in their professional studies.
Students who fail to complete any classroom component of any professional course because of continued lack of appropriate preparation. Appropriate preparation will be determined by professional course professor.
Students who fail to complete the field component of any professional course because of: unprofessional behavior toward fieldwork students, classroom teacher, or other staff working in the fieldwork setting; lack of preparation for field as evidenced by a refusal to follow parameters and/or criteria for fieldwork experience established by professor of professional course.

Conduct

Students who do not comply with the Professional Behavior Policy adopted by the College of Education. Additionally, students are held accountable for The Student Code of Conduct outlined in the University Student Handbook.
Students who pose a threat in the fieldwork or classroom setting toward students, teachers, administrators, or staff members in the setting will result in immediate dismissal. Threats include verbal, written (including electronic transmissions), behavioral gestures and/or statements. The admissions hearing will be attended by the course professor, the student, a student advocate, the affected Department Chair, and the College of Education Admissions and Review Committee Chair.

Admission to the SVSU College of Education does not guarantee certification by the State of Michigan. The SVSU College of Education cannot guarantee approval of any recommendation made to the State of Michigan for any type of certification. Final approval of a recommendation made by SVSU is granted only by the Michigan Department of Education based on their policies and procedures current at the time the recommendation for certification is made.

Any student who has been admitted to the SVSU College of Education Teacher Education Program is required to notify the Chair of the Teacher Education Program Admissions and Review Committee should the student be convicted of a crime in any state or jurisdiction after the initial background check is completed. Court documents indicating the crime of which a student is convicted, dates, and sentences imposed, and any information on pending criminal charges must be supplied by the student and will be reviewed by the Admissions and Review Committee. Based on a review of the conviction or pending criminal charges, the student may be subject to dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.