Teacher Education Program
1033 School of Education Building
764-7563
Not a concentration program
Students who plan to teach in the public schools in Michigan can obtain
the Michigan State Provisional Certificate by completing all of the requirements
for graduation from one of the schools or colleges of the University of
Michigan while at the same time satisfying the requirements for an elementary-
or secondary-level teaching certificate.
Students enrolled in LS&A have three options for completing the teacher
education requirements: (a) students may earn the A.B., B.S., or B.G.S.
degree and certification while remaining enrolled in LS&A; (b) students may
transfer to the School of Education to earn the A.B.Ed. or B.S.Ed. degree
and certification through that unit; and (c) students may enroll as special
students in the School of Education after completing an undergraduate degree.
(Exceptions: students interested in teaching certification in environmental
education, music, or physical education usually transfer out of LS&A and
into the appropriate unit). A maximum of 94 credits may be transferred to
a School of Education program. Students preparing for elementary-level teacher
certification usually enroll in the School of Education. All students are
encouraged to discuss their degree and certification interests with advisors
in both the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and in the School
of Education early in their degree program to ensure that they have a thorough
understanding of both degree and teaching certificate requirements. Current
teacher education information on requirements and procedures is available
from the School of Education Office of Student Services, 1033 SEB. The guidelines
and requirements are subject to change.
Application. Students in all schools and colleges desiring teacher certification
must apply to the teacher education program. Students must have junior standing
(a minimum of 54 credits) at the time of enrollment in the certification
program. Admission is once a year for fall term only. The application deadline
for fall term is in February 1. Applications received after the deadline
are considered on a space available basis. All students must obtain the
application to the certification program from the School of Education Office
of Student Services, 1033 SEB.
Admission Guidelines. Admission decisions are made on an individual
basis and all available information is considered. The criteria are:
a. a minimum 2.5 overall grade point average with particular
attention given to required courses* for teacher certification.
*Prior to application students should have the following: a course in English
composition and in introduction to psychology (111 or 112); course work
toward the humanities, natural science, and social science distribution
requirement as well as toward the teaching major and minor. In addition,
elementary education program applicants should have completed a course in
U.S. history.
b. preferred experience with children, e.g., tutor, camp counselor, teacher
aide, participation in University of Michigan Project Community or Project
Outreach.
c. three recommendations: one from faculty or TA in major, the other two
required from persons capable of addressing the student's potential to succeed
as a teacher.
d. a personal goal statement to include information on the commitment to
education as a career.
e. Please note: Act 267 of the Public Acts of 1986 requires that persons
preparing to be teachers in Michigan pass a basic skills examination, an
examination in each appropriate subject area in which they are to be certified,
and, for elementary certification a test that covers elementary education.
Students should plan to take the basic skills examination before they will
be eligible to enroll in directed teaching. Further information and registration
booklets may be obtained from the Office of Student Services, 1033 SEB.
Requirements for Teacher Certification
Grade Point Averages and Total Credit Hours.
- An overall GPA of 2.0 based on University of Michigan course work.
- A GPA of 2.0 in the teaching major and minor based on University of
Michigan course work.
- A minimum of 130 credits. Given the minimum number of LS&A credits
required for an LS&A degree, LS&A students can expect to complete more than
130 credits. LS&A students who are candidates for the A.B./B.S. degree with
a teaching certificate are required to complete 104 LS&A credits; B.G.S.
candidates with a teaching certificate are required to complete 100 LS&A
credits. Of the 130 credits required for a secondary teaching certificate,
28 are required in professional education (elected through the School of
Education; non-LS&A credits). Therefore, the minimum number of credits possible
in order to complete an A.B. or B.S. degree with secondary certification
is 132. The minimum number of credits possible in order to complete a B.G.S.
degree with secondary certification is 130. For an elementary teaching
certificate, 46 credits are required in professional education, plus four
to five credits are required in art education, music education, and/or physical
education methods (which are not LS&A credits). Therefore, the minimum number
of credits possible in order to complete an A.B. or B.S. degree with elementary
certification is 155. The minimum number of credits possible in order to
complete a B.G.S. degree with elementary certification is 151. The minimum
number of LS&A credits required for an LS&A degree is a practical barrier
to students who plan programs leading to an LS&A degree with an elementary
teaching certificate.
General/Liberal Studies Coursework: A minimum of 40 credits in general/liberal
studies as defined in the School of Education Bulletin.
A. If secondary education:
1. At least 8 credits from each of the areas of humanities (including
Engl. 124 or 125), natural science, and social science (including
Psych. 111) as defined in the School of Education Bulletin. Courses
in this Bulletin count as designated (e.g., HU, NS, SS). This number
changes to 12 credits in each area if the student transfers into the School
of Education.
Note: This is the School of Education certification distribution requirement,
which is different from the LS&A distribution policy. The same courses
may be used for each, but the distribution requirement for each school must
be satisfied.
B. If elementary education:
1. Creative Arts. 9 credits including two of the following 3 courses:
Ed 427 (2) Art Methods, Ed D408 (2) Music Method, PE 336 (3) Children's
Rhythms (or PE 354) and sufficient electives to meet the requirement.
2. Humanities. 9 credits including English Composition, Philosophy,
and one elective.
3. Mathematics. 9 credits including Math 385, math 489 and one elective.
4. Natural Sciences. 9 credits including a minimum of 3 credits in
each of the following: Biological Science, physical science, and earth science.
5. Social Sciences. 9 credits including one course in US history,
introductory psychology (111 or 112), and one elective selected from economics,
geography, history or political science.
Major and Minor Options: Students may begin at any time to fulfill
the requirements of their specific major and minor. Courses elected to satisfy
LS&A degree requirements (distribution and concentration) may be used to
meet the requirements for the teaching major and minor. Please refer to
the School of Education Bulletin for specific major/minor requirements.
A. Elementary Education: Consult the School of Education Bulletin
for major-minor-patterns.
B. Secondary Education: LS&A students who are candidates for a secondary
teaching certificate must select a teaching major and minor. The
teaching major is usually the same as the concentration for the A.B./B.S.
degree. A minor is associated with the teaching certificate and not the
LS&A degree requirements. The requirements for the various teaching majors
and minors are in the School of Education Bulletin.
The required professional education methods course(s) must be completed
in the major or minor. Methods courses must be elected under the
education department number. Methods courses are usually offered once a
year. Methods courses are not available for a few of the majors and minors.
Either the teaching major or minor must be in an area in which directed
teaching is available.
Departmental Secondary-Level Majors and Minors
Anthropology (minor only)
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science (minor
only)
Economics
English
Environmental Studies
French
German
Geography (minor only)
Greek (minor only)
History
Latin
Library Science
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Political Science
Russian (minor only)
Sociology
Spanish
Interdepartmental Secondary-Level Majors and Minors
General Science*
Earth Science
Social Science
Physical Science
*A student completing a general science minor must complete a science
major (i.e., biology, chemistry, earth science, physics) selected in consultation
with his/her faculty advisor.
Professional Requirements: Since the teacher certification program
is fairly structured, students will have to plan their course schedules
very carefully prior to completion of the sophomore year. The professional
education course sequence has been designed to incorporate cultural background
on racial/ethnic groups that are protected by federal affirmative action
guidelines. Students with education courses completed at another institution
must consult the School of Education Office of Student Services regarding
the professional requirements. Education courses may not be elected on a
pass/fail basis.
The sequence described below is recommended for first-term juniors. Students
beginning the program as second-term juniors or as seniors must consult
their certification advisors about the professional sequence. Such students
may be advised to elect the required education courses different terms.
1. Courses Elected Fall Term in First Year in Program:
Elementary Education:
a. Ed 307 Practicum in Teaching Methods*
b. Ed 391 Educational Psychology and Human Development*
c. Ed 401 Developmental Reading and Writing Instruction in Elementary School*
d. Ed 406 Teaching in the Elementary School*
* These courses must be elected concurrently.
Secondary Education:
No professional courses unless completing an English major. English majors
should consult their advisor.
2. Courses Elected Winter Term in First Year in Program:
Elementary Education:
a. Ed 392 Education in a Multicultural Society*
b. Ed 403 Individualizing Reading and Writing Instruction in the Elementary
Classroom*
c. Ed 431 Elementary Social Studies Methods*
d. Ed 307 Practicum in Teaching Methods*
* These courses must be elected concurrently.
Seoncdary Education:
a. Ed 392 Education in a Multicultural Society
3. Courses Elected Fall Term in Second Year in Program:
Elementary Education:
a. Ed 421 Teaching of Science in Elem School*
b. Ed 411 Teaching Elem School Math*
Ed 307 Practicum in Teaching Methods*
* These courses must be elected concurrently.
Secondary Education:
a. Ed 307 Practicum in Teaching Methods*
b. Ed 391 Educational Psychology and Human Development
c. Ed 402 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
d. Methods course(s) in teaching major or minor *
* These courses must be elected concurrently.
4. Courses Elected Winter Term in Second Year in Program:
Elementary Education:
a. Ed 301 Directed Teaching in the Elementary Grades**
b. Ed 303 Seminar: Problems and Principles of Elementary Education
c. Advanced Teaching Methods Course
Secondary Education:
a. Ed 302 Directed Teaching in the Secondary Grades**
b. Ed 304 Seminar: Problems and Principles of Secondary Education
**For information on the prerequisites to directed teaching students should
consult the School of Education Bulletin. Full-time directed teaching
is required.
5. Courses Elected Any Term (refer to University Time Schedule
and faculty advisor):
Elementary Education:
Two methods courses in art education, music education, and/or physical education.
Final Term in Residence. All candidates for teacher certification must review
completion of all requirements and certification forms with the School of
Education Office of Student Services no later than the term before certification
completion.
The State of Michigan has passed House Bill number 5718 Act 339 which requires
payment of a $125 fee for the provisional teaching certificate. This fee
must be paid before the certificate will be granted by the State Board of
Education.