Admission Requirements for Teacher Education


  • Overall Requirements
  • Additional Requirements for Elementary Ed, Elementary Ed Unified, and Early Childhood Unified
  • Additional Requirements for Secondary and PK-12
  1. Complete the admission application.
  2. Be recommended for teacher education by your assigned advisor, Explorations in Education or Transfer Module instructor, and two college instructors.
  3. All teacher education candidates must meet a basic skills requirement prior to being admitted to teacher education. The requirement at PSU is an ACT composite score of 22. If your ACT score does not meet this minimum requirement and you have taken the exam at least one time since completing high school, you may meet the basic skills requirement using one of the following options:  
    Required Scores
    Exam   Required Score   
    ACT Subscores Reading: 16
    Writing: 6
    Mathematics: 16
    SAT Minimum combined score of 1120
    (for tests taken after March 2016) 
    CORE Reading: 156
    Writing: 162
    Mathematics: 142
      Accuplacer Next Generation   Reading: 255
    Writing: 255
    Mathematics*: 263
    *Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics 
  4. Complete EDUC 261 Explorations in Education with a minimum grade of "C."
  5. Complete EDUC 345 Transfer Student Module (for students transferring credit for EDUC 261 only).
  6. Complete a statement of disclosure and background check.
  7. Complete electronic portfolio components as required in EDUC 261 (or EDUC 345).
  8. Complete the teacher candidate interview.
  9. Complete the critical learning experience essay.

Forms are available in the Office of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall.

Special Note: These requirements are subject to change. 

Early/Late Childhood K-6 and Early Childhood Unified

  1. Complete the General Education Core Curriculum (see Teacher Education handbook for specific information) with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.80.
  2. Cumulative GPA of 2.80
  1. Earn a "C" or better in ENGL 101, ENGL 299, COMM 207, and 3 hours of MATH (College Algebra or above).
  2. Cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Transfer Students


  • Transfer Student Information

Students who have completed an Introduction to Education course at another institution of higher education MAY be eligible to have the course transferred to Pittsburg State University. An additional field experience at PSU may be required (EDUC 307 and/or EDUC 308). An evaluation of any field experience completed at another institution will be required to receive credit for the experience. This evaluation should be completed by the cooperating school-based teacher. For those students eligible for transfer of credit, completion of a non-credit module is required for admission to teacher education. This module will be completed in EDUC 345 Transfer Student Module. Completion of this course is required for all students transferring credit for EDUC 261 Explorations in Education. Transfer students required to take the course will apply for teacher education in the first weeks of the course. 

 

For further information concerning these requirements, contact the Office of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall or phone (620) 235-4489.

Professional Semester Admission Requirements


  • Elementary and Elementary Education Unified Majors
  • Early Childhood Unified Majors
  • Secondary/PK-12 Majors
  1. Admission to Teacher Education
  2. Successful completion of the following Academic Standards:
    a. Cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher
    b. In-major GPA of 3.00 or higher with no grade lower than a "C"
    c. Completion of all courses listed under Education, Psychology & Lab Experiences
    d. Completion of a minimum of 100 cumulative credit hours
    e. GPA of 2.00 in each field of concentration: English & Literature; History & Social Science and
       Math & Science
    f. A grade of "C" or higher in:
       1. PSYCH 263 Developmental Psychology
       2. PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology
    g. Successful completion of EDUC 307 Clinical Experience
    h. Completion of MATH 304 Math for Education II
    i. At least six hours of resident credit at PSU
  3. Successful completion of:
    a. Multicultural Requirement in PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology
    b. Diversity Project in SPED 510/511 Overview of Special Education
  4. Satisfactory completion of the reflection essay (Electronic Portfolio Checkpoint 2)
  5. Successful completion of Praxis Subject Assessment exams:
    a. Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6
    b. Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching
  6. Completion of Background Check
  7. Approval from the Major Academic Department

Special Note: These requirements are subject to change.

  1. Admission to Teacher Education
  2. Successful completion of the following Academic Standards:
    a. Cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher
    b. In-major GPA of 3.00 or higher with no grade below "C"
    c. Completion of ALL courses listed under the Education, Psychology and Lab Experiences
    d. Completion of a minimum of 100 cumulative credit hours
    e. A grade of "C" or higher in:
       1. PSYCH 263 Developmental Psychology
       2. PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology
    f. Completion of MATH 304 Mathematics for Education II
    g. At least six hours of resident credit at PSU
  3. Successful completion of:
    a. Multicultural Requirement in PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology
    b. Diversity Project in SPED 510/511 Overview of Special Education
  4. Satisfactory completion of the reflection essay (Electronic Portfolio Checkpoint 2)
  5. Completion of Background Check
  6. Approval from the Major Academic Department

Special Note: These requirements are subject to change.

  1. Admission to Teacher Education
  2. Successful completion of the following Academic Standards:
    a. Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher
    b. In-major GPA: 2.75 or higher
    c. A Grade of "C" or higher in PSYCH 263 - Developmental Psychology
    d. A minimum grade of "B" in PSYCH 357 - Educational Psychology
    e. GPA of 3.00 in 15 hours of Professional Education courses with no grade lower than "C".
       1. EDUC 261 Explorations in Education (along with successful completion of field experience)
       2. SPED 510 Overview of Special Education
       3. PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology (minimum grade of "B")
       4. EDUC 520 Methods and Materials for Academic Literacy
       5. Techniques 479
    f. Completion of a minimum of:
       1. 95 cumulative credit hours
       2. 30 in-major credit hours
    g. At least six hours of resident credit at PSU
  3. Successful completion of:
    a. Multicultural Requirement in PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology
    b. Diversity Project in SPED 510/511 Overview of Special Education
  4. Satisfactory completion of the reflection essay (Electronic Portfolio Checkpoint 2)
  5. Completion of Background Check
  6. Approval from the Major Academic Department

Special Note: These requirements are subject to change.

Professional Dress Guidelines


  • Dress Code for Teacher Candidates

As a teacher candidate at Pittsburg State University, you will be visiting, interacting, and teaching in several different school classrooms. Dressing professionally is important because you are making your first impression at a school and do not know who will notice and/or remember you and your appearance. You will be representing PSU, the department, and yourself as a teacher. Dressing professionally can make a positive difference.

The definition of professionalism is described as being "distinguished from an amateur". As a teacher candidate, you are more than a student, you are representing the teaching profession. As such, your manner of dress needs to reflect professionalism. You will be provided with guidelines that will assist your success in the classroom.

PSU issued name tags are required to be worn in all school visits.