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Summary of Program Requirements

Successful completion of the Elementary Teacher Preparation Program qualifies you for a Michigan Elementary Provisional Certificate (valid to teach in Michigan all subjects in grades K-5 and subject areas [teaching major/minors] in grades 6-8). This provisional teaching license assures that you are "highly qualified" to teach in the State of Michigan. The requirements of the program are:

1. University Graduation Requirements

• Integrative Studies
  • Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences (ISS)
  • Integrative Studies in the Sciences: Biological/Physical (ISB/ ISP)
  • Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities (IAH)
• University Writing Requirements
  • Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA) Tier I (formerly called ATL)
  • Tier II writing course required within the major
• Math Requirement
  • Math 201
  • Math 202

2. Education Studies

TE 150 and TE 250 can be taken during the freshman and sophomore years and serve as prerequisites for TE 301 (Special Education students take CEP 240 in lieu of TE 250). Students must be formally admitted to the College of Education before they can take TE 301 (see the Applications & Admissions Process page for more information). Once admitted to the teacher preparation program, students typically take TE 301 during the junior year, TE 401 during Fall Semester of the senior year and TE 402 during Spring Semester of the senior year. Students are held to a minimum GPA of 2.5 for these pre-internship, professional education courses, with no individual grade below 2.0.

3. Teaching Majors

Current students are required to complete an Integrated Teaching Major (offered by the College of Education), an approved Disciplinary Teaching Major (offered outside the College of Education) or two approved Disciplinary Teaching Minors (offered outside the College of Education). Students choosing a disciplinary major must consult with an advisor in the College of their major. To be eligible for the Internship Year, students must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 at MSU, as well as a GPA of 2.5 or better in their teaching major or teaching minors.

Students who entered MSU as freshmen in the Fall Semester of 2009 must choose from among the four Integrated Teaching Majors offered by the College of Education (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). Disciplinary minors can be added but they will be extra and optional. This change was mandated by the Michigan Department of Education.

4. Elementary Planned Program

The Elementary Planned Program provides students with the breadth of knowledge that will enable them to teach all subjects in grades K-5. The Planned Program is a core curriculum of 20 or more credits that are not double counted with the student's teaching major or minors. See the College of Education website or a Teacher Preparation advisor for details.

5. Math Requirement

MTH 201 and MTH 202 are required for students in Elementary Education (MTH 201 is a prerequisite for TE 401).

6. Technology Requirement

The Michigan Department of Education requires that students demonstrate awareness, proficiency, and expertise in personal productivity and pedagogical technology before they receive a teaching certificate. MSU requires demonstration of specific skills prior to the internship.

7. Competency Examinations

The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills Test must be passed prior to admission to the teacher preparation program. At a minimum, the MTTC Elementary Education Test (083) must be passed prior to the Internship Year. Elementary Education candidates who request internship placements in grades 6-8 must also pass the test(s) corresponding to their teaching major or minors prior to the Internship Year. Although students can enter the internship without passing the subject test(s) for their teaching major/minors, they cannot be recommended for certification in a subject area until the corresponding MTTC has been passed.

8. Bachelors Degree

All baccalaureate requirements must be fulfilled and the bachelor's degree must be conferred prior to beginning the Internship Year.

9. Criteria for Progression to the Internship

All standards (academic requirements, testing requirements and professional standards) must be satisfied before a student can progress to the Internship Year.

10. Internship Year

The internship includes a full year of study and experience in a selected school. During the internship, students complete TE 501, TE 502, TE 801, TE 802, TE 803 and TE 804 (24 credits). Some of the credits earned in the 800-level courses may later be applied to selected master's degree programs within the College of Education.

11. Certification

After successful completion of all College, University, and State of Michigan requirements (including the internship and courses taken during the Internship Year), the teacher candidate must apply for provisional teacher certification. After the application has been processed by the Certification Office in 134 Erickson, the candidate is recommended to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for certification.

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