Traditional Route to Teacher Certification

Saginaw Valley State University is authorized by the State of Michigan to recommend individuals for a standard teaching certificate at the elementary level (K-8) and secondary level (grades 6-12 or K-12) upon successful completion of the College of Education's Teacher Education Program.

To qualify:

Interested candidates must:

attend a certification seminar;
possess a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution;
have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 based on the last 60 credits of coursework taken;
fulfill requirements for admission to SVSU and the Teacher Education Program;
satisfy all requirements of the Teacher Education Program, Michigan Test for Teacher Certification content area testing, and student teaching.

Elementary Academic Program Requirements

Individuals seeking certification at the elementary level can choose from one of the following options:

Option 1: a major in Integrated Science (41 crs.), Language Arts (36 crs.), Mathematics (35 crs), or Social Studies (40-41 crs.) and a planned program that includes other content area courses, including the arts.

Opton 2: This option includes a comprehensive major of select content courses in Integrated Science, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and the arts along with a specialty area chosen from Early Childhood Education (30 crs.), World Languages (English as a Second Language (21 crs), French (23 crs), Spanish (23 crs.), and K-12 Special Education (Autism Spectrum Disorder (42 crs.) or Cognitive Impairment (32 crs.).

In addition to completing course requirements in Option 1 or Option 2, program candidates will also complete a professional studies sequence over a period of three semesters and student teaching during the fourth semester. Individuals seeking Special Education will have an additional semester of student teaching. Courses taken as an undergraduate may be applicable to option 1 and 2 major coursework requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission to the Teacher Education Program

PSYC 100 - General Psychology (4 cr)
TE 100 - Exploring Teaching: K-12 (1 cr)

Pre-Professional Courses

PSYC 313 - Child Development in Education (4 cr)

Professional Studies

Semester 1 (Early Childhood majors are exempt from taking TE 316A & TE 430 and Special Education majors take TE 516 instead of TE 316A and TE 316B)
ENGL 380 - Teaching the Art of Writing (3 cr)
TE 316A - Classroom Management (2 cr)
TE 341 - Methods of Teaching Social Studies K-8 (3 cr)
TE 430 - Introduction to Special Education (3 cr)
TE 491 - Elementary Education Seminar (1-2 cr)

Semester 2 (Special Education majors majors are exempt from taking TE 316B and Special Education majors take TE 516 instead of TE 316A and TE 316B)

TE 316B - Classroom Management (1 cr)
TE 318 - Methods of Teaching Language Arts K-8 (2 cr)
TE 324 - Health Education for Elementary Teachers (1 cr)
TE 325 - Physical Education for the Classroom Teacher (2 cr)
TE 330 - Methods of Teaching Science K-8 (3 cr)
TE 331 - Methods of Teaching Mathematics K-8 (3 cr)
TE 492 - Elementary Education Seminar 2 (1 cr)

Semester 3 (Early Childhood majors are exempt from taking TE 432 and Special Education majors take TE 433 or TE 434 according to their concentration area instead of TE 432

ART 301 - Arts for Elementary Teachers: Art (1 cr)
MUS 301 - Arts for Elementary Teachers: Music (1 cr)
THEA 301 - Arts for Elementary Teachers: Theatre (1 cr)
TE 310 - Methods of Teaching Reading K-8 (6 cr)
TE 432 - Introduction to Learning Disabilities (3 cr)
TE 493 - Elementary Education Seminar 3 (1 cr)

Student Teaching

TE 410 - Student Teaching Seminar K-8 (2 cr)
TE 420 - Student Teaching K-8 (3-12 cr)

Secondary Academic Program Requirements

Individuals interested in obtaining a teaching certificate in secondary education must choose a major and a minor.

Approved Majors: Biology, Chemistry, Communication & Theatre (Speech), English, English as a Second Language (K-12), French (6-12 & K-12), History, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Music (K-12), Physical Education (6-12 & K-12), Physics, Social Studies, Spanish (6-12 & K-12), Special Education, Visual Arts Education (K-12)

Approved Minors: Biology, Chemistry, Communication & Theatre (Speech), Economics, English, English as a Second Language, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Spanish.

In addition to completing course requirements for a major and minor, program candidates will also complete a professional studies sequence over a period of two semesters and student teaching during the third semester. Those seeking certification in Special Education will have an additional semester of student teaching. Coursework successfully completed as an undergraduate may be applicable to major and minor course requirements.

Pre-Professional Studies

PSYC 100 - General Psychology (4 cr)
TE 100 - Exploring Teaching: K-12 (1 cr)

Professional Studies

TEMS 301 - Community Culture & Change (3 cr)
TEMS 302 - General Methods Teaching in Secondary & Middle Schools (3 cr)
TEMS 303 - Technology for Middle/Secondary Student Achievement (3 cr)
TEMS 308 - Curriculum & Instruction in Middle/Secondary Schools (3 cr)
TEMS 310 - Introduction to Classroom Assessment (3 cr)
TEMS 311 - Teaching Science in Middle/Secondary Schools (3)
TEMS 312 - Teaching Reading in the Content Area Secondary/Middle (3 cr)

Support Courses

PSYC 315 - Adolescent Psychology (3 cr)
PSYC 317 - Educational Psychology (3 cr)

Student Teaching

TEMS 412 - Seminar in Secondary Teaching (2 cr)
TEMS 422 - Secondary Student Teaching (3-12 cr)

Apply to SVSU

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 go to www.svsu.edu/graduateprograms and complete the online application for admission. When completing the section "Application Type" please select Graduate for the type of student you are, Teacher Cert, and then select either the Elementary Provisional Certificate or Secondary Provisional Certificate program. Official transcripts from each institution attended must be submitted from each institution to the College of Education to fulfill the requirements for admission to SVSU. A student copy of your transcripts may be uploaded with the online application to begin the processing of your application. Official transcripts forwarded electronically may be directed to coeconnect@svsu.edu.

Apply to Teacher Education Program in Tk20

Students must apply and be accepted in to the Teacher Education Program prior to enrollment in 300-400 level professional studies courses. Applications are accepted online by the College of Education twice a year.

The application for admission to the Teacher Education Program for Fall Semester 2019 will open in Tk20 on Monday, January 14. The application will remain open until Friday, January 18, 2019, 5:00 p.m. Undergraduates who have not attended the mandatory Pre-Education Seminar must do so prior to submitting the application.

Accessing the Application

If you completed an application for TE 100/TE 101 in Tk20, you will use the username Tk20 assigned to you (e.g., msmith0000) and the password you created to complete the new application. When you log into Tk20, locate the Applications tab in the side menu and then click on +Create New Application. Use the drop down menu to locate the Teacher Education Program Application; Elementary & Secondary Education and select Next to begin.

If you do not recall your log in information, do not attempt to use your SVSU username and password used to log into the SVSU network (e.g., Cardinal Direct/mySVSU, SVSU email). Please email us at coeconnect@svsu.edu to request a reset of your Tk20 log in credentials. If you did not take TE 100/TE 101 at SVSU, use these instructions on Tk20 Application Instructions (640KB) . Please read all of the instructions below before completing your application.

1. Log in to Tk20 and complete the TE Program Application; Elementary & Secondary Education in its entirety.

2. Be prepared to upload the following documents into your application (MS Word or PDF are acceptable):

If you are currently enrolled in any prerequisite course(s); e.g., PSYC 313, PSYC 315, PSYC 317 at another institution at the time of application, you must submit evidence of enrollment (class schedule) in the class(es).
A summary documenting your experiences with children and/or youth. Please be sure to include your name and SVSU student ID# at the top of the document.
Provide the name, title, and telephone number of three individuals who have agreed to serve as references for you in your online application. If possible, at least one reference should be from a full-time or part-time faculty member from a two- or four-year college/university. Other acceptable references could be individuals with whom you have had interaction through educational preparation in the last year; e.g., school administrators, teachers, etc.;
Letters of recommendation are not required. However, if you would like to attach any letters with your application, you are welcome to do so.
If you answered yes to any of the criminal conviction questions, a copy of all court documents which show the crime of which you were convicted, dates, and sentence(s) imposed must be provided. (Please see additional information in Step 6).

3. Once your application is complete and all your documents are uploaded, "Submit" your application for processing.

Follow-Up After Completing Application

After you have completed the application, uploaded all required documents, and submitted your application in Tk20, contact the College of Education at areitten@svsu.edu or by phone 989-964-4646 to confirm your application is complete and ready for processing. Please do not make any changes to the application once you have confirmed completion of your application. If you have changes you would like noted, please email us at areitten@svsu.edu with the changes you need us to be aware of.

If you have not taken TE 100 or TE 101 at SVSU or completed one of these courses at SVSU prior to Spring Semester, 2015, you will be required to complete a writing sample as part of your application to the TEP. You will be contacted by an SVSU staff member after your application has been processed to schedule an appointment to come in to complete the writing sample. This process takes approximately 30 minutes in total. The writing sample must be finished before your application can be submitted to the Admission and Transitions Committee for an admission decision.

Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Check

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. Fingerprinting previously completed for employment (e.g., substitute teaching) in any K-12 school is non-transferrable to SVSU.

FINGERPRINTING PROCESS:

Fingerprinting for newly accepted candidates will take place March 12-14, 2019 on campus in Gilbertson Hall's GN 299. Detailed information on scheduling an appointment 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.

For More Information

If you have general questions regarding the Teacher Education Program's prerequisites and/or the application process, please email your questions to us at coeconnect@svsu.edu. If you would like to speak with an advisor, schedule a phone or in-person appointment by calling the College of Education at 989-964-4057 option #1.

Contact Us

coeconnect@svsu.edu
(989) 964-4057(989) 964-4057

Dean

James E. Tarr, Ph.D.

Acting Assistant Dean & Professor

Colleen D'Arcy, Ph.D.

Office

College of Education Dean's Office
Gilbertson Hall, North 275
University Center, MI 48710
989-964-7107
coe-dean@svsu.edu

Hours

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.