Teacher Education Admission Procedures
Students seeking admission to the Teacher Education Program must comply with admission requirements as stated in the current catalog. Teacher Education Program requirements may change to comply with accreditation requirements, professional certification requirements, etc. Students may be required to meet college graduation requirements under a different catalog than that used to obtain admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Share Your Intent to Teach
Freshmen students who enter Lewis-Clark State College may note their intention to earn secondary teaching certification when they declare their undergraduate major (a.k.a. completing a PIF form). Secondary teaching candidates do not major in Secondary Education. Rather, they major in one of the academic areas for which LCSC provides an accredited undergraduate sequence of course work that will yield a BA or BS degree in the major and secondary teaching certification. Undergraduate teaching majors include English Literature and Language, Kinesiology and Health, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Meet Your Education Advisor
Secondary candidates are assigned two advisors - one from their major academic area and one from the Division of Education. Because candidates are subject to certification changes made by the State Board of Education, they should visit as early as possible with their education advisor and continue to visit at least once a semester. A variety of Education Division activities are planned for secondary candidates throughout the academic year during which candidates get to know other candidates and education faculty, share experiences, and become familiar with the Teacher Education Program and certification requirements. Secondary candidates are encouraged to become associate members of Chi Kappa chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education.
Course Work Program Plan
Candidates should follow the program plan for their major listing all courses including education courses required for the BA/BS degree and secondary certification. Education courses are divided into three phases. Candidates may enroll in any Phase I course (ED 214 or ED 327) with the approval of their advisor. To enroll in Phase II and III education courses, candidates need to officially apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Education advisors can provide details, but this application process generally takes place after completion of the general education core course work and one semester before the candidate intends to enroll in any Phase II courses.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
The performance-based teacher education program for teacher education is composed of the following three phases:
- Professional Foundations of Education, General Education Core (or a baccalaureate degree), and for secondary candidates, the content major
- Professional Studies in Education, and for secondary candidates, completion of the content major
- Professional Internship in Instructional Design, Facilitation, and Evaluation
After completing the general education core and professional foundations courses, Phase I, students who meet entry requirements may apply for admission into the Teacher Education Program. Application information is available online at http://education.lcsc.edu/ed_app.
It is the responsibility of the student to secure admission to the Teacher Education Program and maintain that status. Students must be formally admitted to the program prior to participation in Phase II professional studies courses. The Division of Education admission procedure addresses four areas:
- scholarship
- a qualifying entrance examination and interview
- professional experience
- references
Adverse factors will also be considered in the admissions decision. Those adverse factors include para-competencies (i.e. personal characteristics/attitudes inconsistent with the teaching profession exhibited by the student such as racism, intolerance, chronic lateness), patterns of course withdrawals, patterns of course incompletes (i.e. grades of I, W or F.), and moral turpitude (conviction of a felony automatically disallows receiving a teaching credential and makes you ineligible for the LCSC teacher education program.)
Students must apply for admission into the Teacher Education Program no later than the first day of the semester prior to the semester in which they plan to begin Phase II course work. Students who plan to begin Phase II course work in the fall should apply no later than the first day of the previous spring semester (mid-January). Students who plan to begin Phase II course work in the spring should apply no later than the first day of the previous fall semester (mid-August). PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the Teacher Education Program will be based on the predetermined number of available, quality internship sites.
The Secondary Teacher Education Program includes two semesters of course work for certification. Students will apply to the teacher education program after successfully completing six credits of Education courses (ED 214 and ED 327). Students will complete phase II education course work as they complete their content area major course work. Phase III of the education course work is taken as a final semester after all Phase I and Phase II course work is completed.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires:
- Course work: Satisfactory completion of all Phase I course work with a grade of "C-" or better in each course. Exception: Must have "C" or better in English 101 to advance to English 102. Note: At the time of application, students should be completing the last of these required courses.
- Entrance Examination: Passing scores in math, reading, and writing on the COMPASS Exam for undergraduates. This exam is not required for students who already have a baccalaureate degree.
- Scholarship: A minimum LCSC cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75; in addition, secondary candidates must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their major teaching field.
- Professional Experience: Evidence of successful work with children or adolescents and a short reflective essay.
- References: Satisfactory, professional recommendations from two confidential references related to communication skills and academic competence. (Forms are printed from the web-based application).
- Interview and Writing Sample: Students compose an extemporaneous essay followed by a formal interview with a panel of professionals.
- Official transcripts: Required from all higher education institutions attended, except LCSC.
Transfer Students, Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires:
- A transfer credit evaluation by the Education Division Program Assistant immediately following admission to LCSC.
- Admission to the Teacher Education Program (see above).
- Completion of a minimum of 32 LCSC credits before graduation (see baccalaureate degree requirements).
Post-Baccalaureate Students, Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires:
- A transfer credit evaluation by the Education Division Program Assistant immediately following admission to LCSC.
- Admission to the Teacher Education program (see above).
Certified Teachers should:
- Consult with the Education Division Program Assistant directly after being admitted to LCSC.
- Complete the Education Division Special Permission Form to take certain upper division course work.