Teacher Education Program
Secondary Education
Academic Requirements
The Secondary faculty believe that Teacher Education students need to be prepared to be effective educational decision-makers responsive to the diversity of the social contexts in which they work. Pre-service Teacher Education students must also possess an appropriate level of mastery of the body of knowledge of their subject matter and an understanding of their content in ways to teach it. University classroom and field-based classroom experiences in the Secondary program provide opportunities for students to develop an understanding of educational theory as they develop effective pedagogy drawn from their emerging knowledge about teaching content to diverse student populations.
The Secondary faculty urge pre-service students throughout the program to incorporate an awareness of and sensitivity to the holistic growth and development of their students. Within the secondary methods sequence pre-service students are encouraged and challenged to question their beliefs about teaching and learning as they examine what they know and how they know it in relation to the students they will teach.
The Secondary Teacher Education degree program consists of the following components: SVSU Basic Skills Requirements, General Education Requirements, academic major and minor requirements, and Professional Studies courses (taken upon admission to the SVSU College of Education Secondary Teacher Education Program).
SVSU BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
Each degree candidate 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 Secondary Teacher Education Program. Please refer to the SVSU catalog for detailed information regarding the Basic Skills Requirements. Individuals who have already obtained a bachelor's degree are exempt from the University Basic Skills requirement.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Degree candidates 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 major and minor requirements. The General Education Requirements do not need to be complete in order to apply to the College of Education Secondary Teacher Education Program. Individuals who have already obtained a bachelor's degree are exempt from the General Education requirements.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in major and minor areas. Specific major and minor requirements are listed in the university catalog.
MAJOR: Choose a major from the following list:
| Biology | Math |
| Chemistry | Music |
| Communication & Theater (Speech) | Physical Education |
| English | Physics |
| French | Spanish |
| History | Special Education (E.I. or C.I.) |
| Integrated Science (pending) | Visual Arts Education |
| Industrial Technology* |
*Industrial Technology is open to students seeking a Bachelor of Applied Studies. Please schedule an appointment with the SVSU College of Education Certification Officer for complete details.
MINOR: Choose a minor from the following list:
| Biology (20 crs.) | Mathematics (20 crs) |
| Chemistry (20 crs.) | Music (24 crs.) |
| Communication & Theatre (24 crs.) (Speech) | Physical Education (24 crs.) |
| Economics (20 crs.) | Physics (20 crs.) |
| English (24 crs.) | Political Science (20 crs.) |
| French (20 crs.) | Psychology (20 crs.) *see note below |
| Geography (24 crs.) | Sociology (20 crs.) *see note below |
| History (20 crs.) | Spanish (20 crs.) |
NOTE! All minors must include at least three credits at the 200 level or above from SVSU. Additional minor requirements are listed in the university catalog. A minimum of 124 credits is needed for graduation. Out of those 124 credits, 42 credits of 300-400 level coursework are required.
Please note: SVSU will no longer certify Secondary Education students in Psychology or Sociology after May 2009. Students must apply and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program by September, 2007. This timetable will allow students enough time to start their first semester professional studies courses Winter, 2008, their second semester Fall, 2008, and student teach by Winter, 2009 - just in time to meet the dealine.
Students will also need to take and successfully complete the Psychology and/or Sociology MTTC test by April, 2009. Students are advised to test at least one or two cycles ahead of the deadline to ensure passage of the test.
Students already admitted to the Teacher Education Program must also complete all coursework requirements and pass the MTTC in Psychology and/or Sociology by the May, 2009 deadline. Students may contact the College of Education Admissions and Certification Office if they have further questions.
COGNATE REQUIREMENTS
EDL 300 (3) Foundations of Education: K-12
PSYC 315 (3) Adolescent Psychology
PSYC 317 (3) Educational Psychology
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
The final component of the degree program is the completion of the Professional Studies coursework. These courses prepare students 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.
| TEMS 302 | General Methods for Teaching Secondary & Middle Schools (3) |
| EDL 305 | Computer Applications in Secondary & Middle Schools (3) |
| TEMS 308 | Planning and Assessment in Middle & Secondary Schools (3) |
| TEMS 310 | Introduction to Classroom Assessment (3) |
| TEMS 312 | Teaching Reading in Content Areas Secondary & Middle Schools (3) |
| TEMS 412 | Seminar in Secondary Teaching (2) |
| TEMS 422 | Secondary Student Teaching (10) |
RECOMMENDED PROGRAM SEQUENCE
| Semester 1: | Semester 2: | Semester 3: | Semester 4: |
| TE 100 (1) | TEMS 302 (3) | TEMS 308 (3) | TEMS 412 (2) |
| PSYC 100 (4) | EDL 305 (3) | TEMS 310 (3) | TEMS 422 (10) |
| EDL 300 (3) | TEMS 312 (3) |
Program Notes:
- TE 100 and PSYC 100 must be taken prior to admission to the program. TE 100 may be in progress at the time of application to the Teacher Education Program.
- EDL 300 may be taken prior to or after admission to the program.
- TEMS 302 must be taken before TEMS 308 and TEMS 312.
- All Professional Studies courses may not be taken in the same semester. There are no exceptions to this policy.
- English majors are encouraged to take ENGL 380 during Semester 1 of the Professional Studies courses and ENGL 482 during Semester 2 in the program sequence. See English Department for further information on these courses.
- Students admitted to SVSU and the Teacher Education Program Fall Semester, 2008 will be required to take TEMS 310 as part of their professional studies.
FIELD-BASED EXPERIENCE
Field-based experiences are a key component of Saginaw Valley's Teacher Education curricula. In each program (elementary, secondary, and special education), the requisite courses are sequenced so that experiences vary and reinforce one another. Clinical and field-based experiences connected with the Secondary Education Program are found in TEMS 302, TEMS 308, TEMS 312, EDL 305, and TEMS 422.
STUDENT TEACHING
Students will complete a 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.
MICHIGAN TEST FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Students must complete and pass their content area major MTTC test to be recommended for a secondary provisional teaching certificate. It is recommended that students take the MTTC test in their subject area major prior to enrolling in Student Teaching. This will expedite the application process for a teaching certificate upon the final semester at SVSU. Students are not required to complete the MTTC test in their subject area minor to become certified in secondary education. However, it is recommended that students take and pass the MTTC test in their subject area minor prior to the completion of student teaching if they wish to include their minor subject area on their teaching certificate.
Students may obtain information on the tests and registration materials on the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. website at www.mttc.nesinc.com. Students should also review the College of Education's website for additional information on what Secondary Education content area tests should be taken to fulfill certification requirements.
ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENT AREAS FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION
In addition to the content area majors and minors listed above, students may complete an endorsement in the following subject areas.
- Bilingual Spanish (24 credits)
- Computer Science (22 credits)
- English as a Second Language (24 credits)
- Physical Education for Students with Disabilities (18 credits)
(Note: only for certified Special Education teachers or teachers certified in Physical Education) - Social Studies
For detailed information, please refer to the Endorsement Options.
PROGRAM MAINTENANCE
All students admitted into the College of Education Teacher Education Program must maintain a GPA of at least 2.50 in the professional studies courses to remain in the Teacher Education Program. NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education) requires applicants for initial certification to have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.
COURSE SUBSTITUTIONS/WAIVERS 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.
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 just 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.