Admission to Teacher Education

2010 Updates

Table of contents

Admission to Teacher Education

College of Education

All students who wish to prepare to teach and to meet licensure requirements should obtain a Teacher Education Handbook from the Office of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall. This handbook guides students in the necessary admission requirements to teacher education and the professional semester. The application for admission to teacher education should be made during the second semester of the sophomore year, or in the case of community college transfers, early in the first semester of their junior year. A student must file an application for admission to teacher education before he/she can receive credit for pre-professional laboratory experiences counting toward a B.S.Ed. degree at Pittsburg State University. Application forms for admission to teacher education may be obtained from the Office of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall.

Requirements For Admission For Early Childhood/Late Childhood K-6 Majors and Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Birth Through Third Grade Licensure

1. Complete the Admission Application.
2. Be recommended for Teacher Education by advisor and three college instructors.
3. Meet a Basic Skills Requirement:
   1. PPST: Reading = 173, Writing = 172, Mathematics = 172,
   2. A composite score of 24 or higher on the ACT,
   3. College-Base scores: Reading, Writing and Mathematics = 235 or higher on each section,
   4. A score of 1040 or greater on the SAT.
4. Complete CURIN 261 Explorations in Education with a minimum grade of "C" and a positive recommendation for continuance from the cooperative school-based teacher.
5. Complete General Education Core Curriculum with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
6. If applicable, show remediation or progress on the Professional Teacher Candidate Improvement Plan.
7. Signed Attestation Form.
8. Complete initial electronic portfolio requirements.

Requirements for Admission For Secondary Education Majors

1. Complete the Admission Application.
2. Be recommended for Teacher Education by advisor and three college instructors.
3. Meet a Basic Skills Requirement:
   1. PPST: Reading = 173, Writing = 172, Mathematics = 172,
   2. A composite score of 24 or higher on the ACT,
   3. College-Base scores: Reading, Writing and Mathematics = 235 or higher on each section,
   4. A score of 1040 or greater on the SAT.
4. Complete CURIN 261 Explorations in Education with a minimum grade of "C" and a positive recommendation for continuance from the cooperating school-based teacher.
5. Earn a "C" or better in ENGL 101 English Composition, ENGL 299 Introduction to Research Writing, COMM 207 Speech Communication, and three credit hours of mathematics numbered MATH 113 or higher.
6. Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
7. Signed Attestation Form.

Before applying for admission to teacher education, the student and advisor should prepare a tentative plan of the full scope of the student's remaining program. The plan should ensure that all courses and requirements for admission to teacher education are met prior to the final year of study. Otherwise the student cannot enroll in restricted courses.

Students must be admitted to teacher education before they can enroll in the following courses:

Teacher candidates must be admitted to teacher education prior to application for
the professional semester. Application for admission to the professional semester
may not be made during the same semester or summer session in which application for
admission to teacher education is filed.

At least six hours of resident credit at Pittsburg State University must have been
completed before admission to the professional semester.

Basic Skills Test Options

Admission to the Teacher Education Program at Pittsburg State University requires successful completion of a Basic Skills requirement. Students who receive a 24 or higher on the ACT or a score of 1040 or greater on the SAT have fulfilled this obligation. Others will need to choose between the Pre-Professional Skills Test PPST and the College Base Test.

The PPST assessments measure competency in reading, writing, and mathematics skills. The (PPST) required scores are:

Information bulletins and test registration booklets can be obtained from the Teacher Education Office, 110 Hughes Hall, or the Testing Center, Whitesitt Hall.

Scholastic Achievement in Common Core

For admission to teacher education, the Early Childhood/Late Childhood (K-6) teacher candidate must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a common core of general education courses underlined below.

General Education Curriculum for Early Childhood/Late Childhood (K-6)

For admission to teacher education, the Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Birth Through Third Grade Licensure must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7500 on a common core of general education courses underlined below.

General Education Curriculum for Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Birth Through Third Grade Licensure

Secondary/K-12 Majors

Undergraduate students preparing to teach secondary or K-12 must meet University general education requirements and earn a minimum grade of "C" in ENGL 101, 190 or 299, COMM 207, and three credit hours of mathematics, numbered MATH 113 or higher.

Courses meeting general education requirements may also satisfy major, minor, emphasis
or program requirements.

Refer to curriculum guides in the department of your major for additional course requirements.

Proficiency in English Usage

The teacher candidate must complete ENGL 101 English Composition with a grade of "C" or higher, ENGL 299 Introduction to Research Writing, or its equivalent, with a grade of "C" or higher, as well as COMM 207 Speech Communica-tion or its equivalent, with a grade of "C" or higher.

Physical Fitness

The teacher candidate must meet the same requirements of physical condition as those pertaining to regularly employed school personnel. This criterion is met by submitting a certification of health signed by a licensed physician on a form prescribed by the Kansas State Board of Health, which includes a statement that there is no evidence of a physical condition that would conflict with the health, safety, or welfare of pupils. Forms are distributed in professional education classes.

Emotional Stability

The office of the Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Auxiliary Services and the faculty advisor will be responsible for reporting any evidence of lack of emotional stability on the part of the applicants for admission to teacher education.

Personal-Social-Ethical Fitness for Teaching

The teacher candidate's faculty advisor and three instructors named as references by the student will complete an evaluation sheet on which they provide information with reference to the student's personal-social-ethical fitness and other characteristics for teaching. In those cases where sufficient reservations are indicated, the student's application will be formally reviewed by the Committee on Admission To and Retention In Teacher Education (CARTE).

Field Experiences (on-site in PK-12 classrooms)

Laboratory experiences are required for all students preparing to teach. Such experiences normally begin in the sophomore year. To be approved for admission to teacher education, students must successfully complete the pre-professional laboratory experience.

Successful completion requires the successful completion of CURIN 261 Explorations in Education, with a letter grade of "C" or higher, and a positive recommendation for continuance from the cooperating school-based teacher.

Those enrolled in teacher preparation programs take CURIN 261 Explorations in Education during the second semester of the sophomore year.

An application for admission to teacher education must be submitted prior to placement at a school site for field experience requirement in CURIN 261 Explorations in Education.

CURIN 307 Clinical Experience is taken during the junior year. CURIN 307 Clinical Experience is required for students preparing to teach at the elementary level; some secondary education majors are required to complete a second pre-lab experience.

CURIN 308 Specialized Clinical Experience provides field experiences for students who are focusing on learners with special needs or learners in early childhood or middle school programs. (A required course for these designated areas and an elective for all other teaching areas.)

Retention in Teacher Education

After a student has been admitted to teacher education, the student must continue to meet the criteria established in the several areas indicated above.

Upon conclusion of pre-professional laboratory experiences, the cooperating teacher prepares a formal evaluation and recommendation which is utilized in the review of files for admission to teacher education and the professional semester.

In the area of scholastic achievement, the specified requirements for admission to the professional semester must be met. The record of each student admitted to teacher education is reviewed with regularity.

Reviews assure the successful continued progress of each student toward the goal of recommendation for licensure to the Kansas State Department of Education.

Teacher Education Transfer Credit

Students currently enrolled at Pittsburg State University who wish to enroll in professional education courses at another institution for transfer back to Pittsburg State University must have written approval of the student's advisor, the department chair, and the Dean of the College of Education prior to registration for the courses. It is the student's responsibility to have the grades on these transfer credits reported to the Registrar's Office as soon as possible after the completion of the courses.