Teacher Education Program
Application Materials
Elementary Application
Secondary Application
Major / Minor Verification (Secondary Ed. only)
Application Deadline:
Applications to begin professional studies courses for Winter Semester, 2010 will be accepted Monday, September 14 - Friday, September 18 (one week only).
Office hours for dropping off applications are:
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Applications must be submitted in-person and will not be accepted unless all materials listed below accompany the application. Any application received through the mail will immediately be returned to the applicant.
- A photocopy of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills test results. A minimum score of 220 is required for passing in each area: reading, writing, and math. If you require a new copy of your results, contact MTTC directly.
- Official transcripts from all former institutions (submitted in a sealed envelope). An SVSU transcript is not required. The transcripts that are submitted with the application will become the property of the College of Education. If additional coursework has been taken at any institution since initial admission to the university, it is the responsibility of the student to submit an updated copy of their official transcript to the SVSU Registrar's Office to obtain an updated transfer evaluation. Please do not forward transcripts ahead of application. Transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the institution attended and submitted with your application.
- Letters of recommendation are no longer required. You will need to provide the name, title, phone number, email, and name of organization of three (3) individuals on your application who have agreed to be used as a reference for you. At least one reference should be from a full time or part time faculty member from a two or four year college/university. Other acceptable references could be from individuals that you have had interaction with through educational preparation in the last year (e.g., school administrators or teachers).
- Copy of current class schedule (can be obtained from Cardinal Direct).
- Students currently enrolled in a Introduction to Teaching course (equivalent to SVSU's TE 100) at another institution at the time of application, must submit evidence of current enrollment in the class.
- Students currently enrolled in a General Psychology course (equivalent to SVSU's PSYC 100) at another institution at the time of application, must submit evidence of current enrollment in the class.
- Secondary Education candidates who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree must submit the Major/Minor Verification form with their application.
Candidates sign up for an interview at the time they turn in their application and supporting materials. In preparation for the interview, students should review the Teacher as Decision Maker Model.
Please Note:
All Teacher Education Program applicants are required to complete and submit the results of the Michigan State Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) report. This process is required by school districts (public & private) to allow students to participate in the fieldwork component of the program.
Click image to go to ICHAT
There is a PowerPoint tutorial on the site giving detailed instructions on how to run your ICHAT background check. To use the tutorial, click on "How to use ICHAT," located on the left of the screen and choose number 3, "ICHAT Tutorial for Businesses and Individuals."
The cost for ICHAT is $10.00 and may be paid using MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards, whether standard credit, prepaid or debit.
If you have been fingerprinted to substitute teach within the last 12 months, you may have the results of the background check transferred to our office. Follow the district's procedure for requesting the transfer of your results. Background check results received for students currently enrolled in TE 100/TE 101 will be shared with the Office of Admissions & Certification.
If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or have any outstanding criminal charges or warrants pending against you in Michigan or any other state or jurisdiction, you will be required to submit court documents indicating the crime of which you were convicted, dates and sentences imposed with your application materials. If criminal charges are pending, you will be required to submit a statement from the issuing court indicating court date and offense.
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.