Applying to the Teacher Education Program

Before you can apply for admission to the Teacher Education program, you must be admitted to the University. If you have not applied and been admitted to SVSU, please visit one of the following sites:

• Seeking a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at SVSU
• Seeking Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated Teacher Certification
• Seeking Post-Baccalaureate Initial Teacher Certification

The following requirements must be successfully completed prior to submitting an application to the Teacher Education Program:

Elementary & Secondary Education Applicants:

The following requirements must be complete prior to submission of the application:

• Completion of Pre-Education Seminar Module found in Pre-Education Canvas Course;
• All University Basic Skills requirements in mathematics, reading, and writing (undergraduate candidates);
• Minimum 3.0 grade point average based on the last 45 credit hours of university-level (credit earning) coursework for elementary applicants and 60 credit hours of university-level (credit earning) coursework for secondary applicants.  Letter grades associated with entry-level coursework will not be considered.

Elementary Education Applicants:

The requirements listed in the Catalog or on the advising guide.

Secondary Education Applicants:

The following criteria must be successfully completed or in progress at the time of application:

• PSYC 100, General Psychology, or an approved equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better.
• TEMS 100 Exploring teaching, or an approved equivalent with a grade of “C” or better.
• 72 credit hours (minimum) with a grade of “C” or better; the 72 credit hours must be applicable to the applicant’s College of Education certification program. It is recommended that applicants have 10 or fewer remaining credit hours of their content area majors and minors left the time of application.
• PSYC 315, Adolescent Psychology, or an approved equivalent a with grade of “C” or better (Note:  K-12 Music Education candidates are not required to take PSYC 315.)

Please note: Students who enter the Teacher Education Program after Winter Semester 2023, will no longer be required to take PSYC 317 as a prerequisite for admission into the program. Students should plan to take PSYC 317 and a new course, TEMS 334 Equity and Diversity in School, together during the first semester of the professional studies. 

Students must apply and be accepted into the College of Education Teacher Education Program prior to enrollment in 300-400 level professional studies courses. Applications are accepted online twice a year, in September for a Winter semester start and in January, for a Fall semester start.

A criminal background check is required of all candidates who submit an application and are accepted to the SVSU College of Education Teacher Education Program. This process is required by the school districts, public and private, to allow program candidates to participate in the fieldwork component of the program. 

ICHAT PROCESS

Candidates will be required to complete the ICHAT process upon notification of acceptance to the Teacher Education Program. Detailed information will be provided in the letter of admission.
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 Teacher Education Program 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 is granted only by the Michigan Department of Education, based on the policies and procedures current at the time the recommendation for certification is made.
 
Any candidate admitted to the Teacher Education Program, is required to notify the Chair of the Admissions and Transitions Committee, should s/he be convicted of a crime in any state or jurisdiction after the initial background check is completed. Court documents indicating the crime for which a candidate is convicted, dates, and sentences imposed, and any information on pending criminal charges must be supplied by the candidate and will be reviewed by the SVSU Admissions & Transitions Committee.  Based on a review of the conviction or pending criminal charges, the candidate may be subject to dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.

A graduate endorsement in Early Childhood (ZN) is available for teachers with an elementary certificate. This 27 credit program will provide teachers with an opportunity to gain new ideas for current best practices in teaching young children and develop skills for reaching all students. Additionally, the endorsement can lead to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Early Childhood as all 27 credits of the endorsement fit within the 36 credit Master's Degree in Early Childhood.

Program Highlights:

• Classes are offered in an online or hybrid format. Approximately 90% of classes meet online, excluding the practicum.
• SVSU candidates have a higher pass rate on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Early Childhood than state average.
• The Early Childhood program at SVSU is nationally recognized by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• SVSU faculty in the Early Childhood program are highly qualified in both Early Childhood and Special Education, and use their experience to provide an excellent combination of theoretical and practical knowledge.
• The Early Childhood Education degree and associated endorsement program align with the accreditation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Program Advisors:

Last Name Initial: A-M
Dr. Debra Lively
dlively@svsu.edu
GN 285
(989) 964-4875

Last Name Initial: N-Z
Dr. Anne Tapp
artapp@svsu.edu
GN 287
(989) 964-2052