Teacher Education Program

Elementary Education

Academic Requirements

The Elementary Education degree program consists of the following components: SVSU Basic Skills Requirements, General Education Requirements, Academic Minors and Planned Program Minor requirements, and Professional Studies Courses (which are taken upon admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program).

Our faculty will guide students, helping them to develop an acute awareness of individual differences and the diversity of learning styles within the boundaries of the elementary classroom. We have sequenced our courses in ways that model what is known about effective teaching and learning: that meaningful learning is a building process that occurs within a framework of carefully constructed steps designed to challenge and extend individual student

SVSU Basic Skills Requirements:

Each student must satisfy basic skills course requirements in mathematics, reading, and writing. Placement into or exemption from required courses in mathematics, reading, and writing will be determined by results of ACT scores and/or course placement tests. For transfer students, placement into or exemption from these required courses also may be determined by results of the Transfer Evaluation Report which is completed upon admission to SVSU. This requirement must be complete prior to applying to the College of Education Elementary Teacher Education Program. Please refer to the SVSU Catalog for detailed information regarding the Basic Skills Requirement. Individuals who have already obtained a bachelor's degree are exempt from the University Basic Skills requirement.

SVSU General Education Requirements:

SVSU students are required to complete General Education coursework which offers a broad range of knowledge which includes the human thought process, appreciation of the arts, knowledge of the history of civilizations, competence in communication, and exploration and development of individual values and ethics. All of these areas are key components in preparing a student for a career in teaching. In some cases, General Education courses may also be used to satisfy Academic Minors and Planned Program Minor requirements. The General Education Requirements do not need to be complete in order to apply to the Elementary Teacher Education Program. Individuals who have already obtained a bachelor's degree are exempt from the General Education requirements.

Minor Requirements:

Elementary Education majors must select two academic minors from the following four content areas listed below, and complete twelve (12) credits in each of the remaining two content areas (which in combination will constitute a planned program minor).

Students must officially declare two academic minors and a planned program minor when submitting their application to the Elementary Teacher Education Program.

Professional Studies Coursework:

The final component of the degree program is the completion of the Professional Studies courses. These courses prepare the student to become introspective teachers who are reflective in the decisions that they make and who are able to interact with their environments in a meaningful and responsive way. Students will continually evaluate theory and practice as they work in the university classroom and the field classroom. Grades of "D" may not be used to fulfill any of the minor or Professional Studies Requirements.

Additional endorsements are also available in Early Childhood, Special Education (Emotionally Impaired or Cognitive Impairment), Bilingual Spanish, and English as a Second Language. For detailed information, please refer to the Endorsement Options.

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification:

Students must complete and pass all sections of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills Tests to apply to the Teacher Education Program at SVSU.

It is recommended that students take the MTTC tests in Elementary Education and their subject area minors prior to enrolling in Student Teaching. This will expedite the application process for a teaching certificate upon the final semester at SVSU. Students are strongly encouraged to review the MTTC testing requirements for elementary education on the COE website prior to signing up for their MTTC test(s).

Course Substitution/Waiver Requirements:

Students must complete a course petition form to obtain written approval of any course substitutions or waivers. For more information on the course petition process, on campus students should contact the College of Education Admissions and Certification Office at 989-964-4057 (option #3). Port Huron students should contact the SVSU Regional Education Center-Port Huron at 810-982-5530, and Macomb students should contact the SVSU Regional Education Center-Macomb at 586-749-0067. Please allow at least three weeks for processing.

Student Teaching:

Students will complete a 14-week student teaching experience upon completion of all coursework. Students must submit an application for Student Teaching. These applications are accepted in November for the next year’s Fall Semester Student Teaching assignment and in March for the next year’s Winter Semester Student Teaching assignment. Application materials are located on-line at: http://www.svsu.edu/coe/clinicalexp/.

Questions related to student teaching can be directed to the College of Education Office of Clinical Experiences at (989) 964-7109.

First Aid/CPR Requirement:

Michigan legislation passed in June, 2003 now requires that individuals complete a course in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) prior to being recommended for an initial teaching certificate.

The law requires that a student complete an approved course or training program that includes first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a test demonstration on a mannequin, and instruction in foreign body airway obstruction management.

SVSU will require students to present a current certification card issued by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association with their application for initial teacher certification that verifies they have met this requirement.. No other suppliers of this coursework are currently approved by the Michigan Department of Education. The first aid and CPR certification must be valid at the time the student applies for initial teacher certification. It is highly recommended that students complete a course in first aid and CPR training prior to enrolling in student teaching.

Note: Students who have a physical limitation that makes it impractical to complete this requirement should contact the SVSU Office of Disability Services at 989-964-4168 for assistance in developing supporting documentation for their application for an initial provisional teaching certificate.

Complete information on First Aid and CPR requirements for the initial certification of Michigan teachers is located on the Michigan Department of Education’s website.