TEP Admission Requirements
Students seeking teacher certification must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Additionally, to enroll in the clinical practice and meet state certification requirements, students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 overall (in all course work), as well as in professional education courses, with no grade lower than a "C" in professional education courses.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) require admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Program Requirements
- Admission to MSU with an assigned academic advisor.
- Pursuance of program completion leading to teacher certification.
- Completion of at least 30 credit hours.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) credit hours. All college courses attempted must be a part of the applicant's MSU transcript. Transcripts must reflect all transfer coursework completed to date. All transfer courses, as well as MSU credit, are used in calculating the GPA.
- Completion of the following five core courses with grades of “C” or better:
- ENG 100 – Writing I
- Mathematics General Education Requirement, as required by program
- COMS 108 – Fundamentals of Speech Communication
- EDF 207 – Foundations of Education (CTE and Agriculture Teaching candidates may substitute CTE 207) or UTCH 100 (MSUTeach programs)
- EDF 211 – Human Growth and Development (IECE candidates may substitute EDEC 253) or UTCH 150 (MSUTeach programs)
Testing Requirements
TEP candidates must obtain the following scores on the ACT exam:
- Composite score of 22 or the corresponding minimum scores: Reading (20), English (18), and Mathematics (19),
OR, the following scores on the Praxis I Core Skills for Educators exam:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined 5752 Computer OR
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics 5733 Computer (Minimum score 150) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading 5713 Computer (Minimum score 156) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing 5723 Computer (Minimum score 162)
An applicant may use a combination of ACT and Praxis I minimum scores to meet testing requirements. If an applicant is within five points of one or more of the corresponding minimum scores of the Praxis I assessments, the candidate may be admitted if the candidate has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For information about the Praxis exams and to register for the test, please visit the Praxis website at https://praxis.ets.org/.
Program Competencies
- Students will create learning environments based on understanding of typical and atypical child development.
- Students will articulate strategies to build relationships with and empower families and collaborate with community agencies.
- Students will explain the rationale for assessing children, explain how to conduct developmentally appropriate assessment, and use assessment data to inform teaching and program planning.
- Students will use their knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and academic subjects to design instruction and learning environments for children with and without disabilities.
- Students will design/implement instruction and design learning environments for children with and without disabilities to demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and academic subject.
- Students will examine legislation and public policy regarding children and families and will serve as advocates for children and families.
- Students will design an early childhood program following state child care regulations and articulate management strategies.
Assessment
- Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75.
- Candidates develop a series of critical performances, which are submitted and evaluated throughout the program. Prior to clinical practice, two disposition evaluations must be filed with the Office of Quality Assurance and Accreditation. IECE New teacher Standards are used to evaluate candidate performance during field experiences and clinical practice. Performance is evaluated by Teacher Education Candidate Record of Performance.
- IECE candidates will be required to take the IECE PRAXIS exam. A passing score will be required by EPSB for IECE teacher certification.
- Assessment is an ongoing activity in the teacher preparation program. As noted, teacher education courses contain program assessments which are conducted each semester. Each cohort of student teachers is observed in the field and submits the teacher performance assessment. Dispositions are reviewed each semester, and the PRAXIS exam must be taken by all our candidates prior to program completion. A synthesis of these key indicators is reviewed by the teacher education faculty on an annual basis and specific program improvement goals are identified based on these data.
Program Requirements
General Education
Area Requirements
To successfully complete the program, a student must obtain an overall GPA of 2.75 with education methods course grades of "C" or better.
Core Requirements
| EDF 207 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| ART 121 | School Art I | 3 |
| BIOL 110 | Inquiry Biology for Teachers | 3 |
| MUSE 222 | Music for the Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| EDEC 253 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDEC 254 | Preschool Administration | 3 |
| IECE 301 | At-Risk Infants and Toddlers* | 3 |
| IECE 311 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| IECE 345 | Preschoolers with Special Needs* | 3 |
| IECE 360 | Families in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| IECE 361 | Positive Child Guidance | 3 |
| IECE 416 | Infant/Toddler Program Planning* | 3 |
| IECE 418 | Preschool Program Planning* | 3 |
| IECE 425 | Clinical Practice: Infants and Toddlers and Preschool for 3-5 year olds* | 12 |
| EDEE 305 | Learning Theories and Practices in Early Elementary | 3 |
| EDEE 327 | Literature and Materials for Young Readers | 3 |
| EDEC 255 | Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| EDSP 230 | Education of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| EDSP 320 | Language Development and Intervention for Young Children | 3 |
| EDSP 350 | Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 363 | Assistive Technology | 3 |
| HLTH 301 | Health, Safety and Nutrition for Early Elementary | 3 |
| EDSP 370 | Transdisciplinary Assessment of Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 371 | Field Experiences in Transdisciplinary Assessment and Services for Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities | 1 |
| EDEC 412 | Kindergarten Curriculum | 3 |
| EDEM 499C | Seminar in Effective Teaching* | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 85 |
Other Program Requirements
| ART 121 | School Art I | 3 |
| BIOL 110 | Inquiry Biology for Teachers | 3 |
| HLTH 301 | Health, Safety and Nutrition for Early Elementary | 3 |
| MUSE 222 | Music for the Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| SWK 315 | Child Welfare Services | 3 |
| | or | |
| SWK 358 | Child Abuse and Neglect | 3 |
| | and | |
| SCI 111 | Inquiry Physical Science for Teachers | 3 |
| | or | |
| ESS 112 | Inquiry Earth Systems Science for Teachers | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Free Electives