General Requirements for Teacher Certification

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Before they can be considered candidates for teacher certification, student must complete a written application and be admitted formally to a teacher certificate program (TCP). If a teacher education student has been away from the University for one calendar year or more, the student must reapply for admission to the teacher certificate program and must satisfy the admission and degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

There are two admission periods each year, in January and September.
January 1-15 - applications reviewed for Fall semester entry into EDU
September 1-15 - applications reviewed for Winter semester entry into EDU
During the admission application periods, application information will be posted on the Education Department homepage: http://www.umflint.edu/education

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION-ELEMENTARY

A. Admission to the University of Michigan-Flint
B. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher. The GPA will be computed using all courses which are earned at
the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as courses potentially transferrable to the University of Michigan-Flint, including
courses for which the student received a grade below “C.”
C. Completion of all courses in Phase 1 Cycle with minimum grade of C.
E. Favorable dispositions assessments during Phase 1 Cycle
F. Mastery of Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION-SECONDARY

A. Admission to the University of Michigan-Flint
B. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. The GPA will be computed using all courses which are earned at
the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as courses potentially transferrable to the University of Michigan-Flint, including
courses for which the student received a grade below “C.”
C. Completion of PSY 100 with a grade of “C” or higher
D. A grade point average of 2.75 or better in each major and minor teaching area; at least 18 credit hours completed in the
major and at least 12 credit hours completed in the minor.
E. Mastery of Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills
F. ENG 112 or EHS 120

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

Students must have a 2.75 or better overall GPA, and in education courses and must maintain grade point averages specified above in order to move into Phase 2 and 3 (Elementary) or to be eligible to enter student teaching and apply for certification. At all points in the teacher certification program students must exhibit dispositions appropriate to the teaching profession and must remain in compliance with student responsibilities detailed in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” section of this Catalog.

Any student who elects a required education course more than five years before enrolling in student teaching must take the course again OR satisfy a competency evaluation given by the instructor. This policy includes all professional education courses taken as part of the student’s certification program. Students who have been away from the University for one calendar year or more must follow the readmission guidelines noted earlier in this section.

To be eligible for student teaching, students must complete an online application and attend a mandatory first seminar meeting. The application for Fall student teaching will be available in early December. The application for Winter student teaching will be available in late April/early May. Missing the application deadline may and could result in waiting until the next application period. The dates and time for the mandatory first seminar meetings will be in August for Fall semester student teaching and in December for Winter student teaching. Failure to attend the first seminar will result in waiting until the next application period. Announcement of student teaching seminar meetings will be emailed to applicant’s university email accounts and posted on the Education Department website and bulletin board.

Prospective teachers must be of good moral character, have suitable personality traits, dispositions, and aptitude for teaching, as well as possess good physical and mental health. The Administrative Rules Governing the Certification of Michigan Teachers impose the following conditions on teacher certification:

Rule 101. “The state board may refuse to grant or renew, or may revoke or suspend for a fixed term, or may impose reasonable conditions on, a teaching certificate pursuant to these rules for the following reasons:

a) Fraud, material misrepresentation, or concealment in the application for certificate.
b) Failure or ineligibility of the applicant or certificate holder to meet the criteria for eligibility for the certificate.
c) Conviction, as an adult, of an act of immoral conduct contributing to the delinquency of a child, or of a felony involving moral turpitude.

Certificate applicants are required to sign a statement declaring that the conditions stated in Rule 101 do not apply to them and must also take the oath of allegiance as prescribed by the laws of Michigan.

RECOMMENDATION FOR A TEACHING CERTIFICATE

To be recommended for a teaching certificate, the student must:

Completed the degree requirements in a prescribed curriculum in education for the state elementary or secondary provisional certificate.
Maintain a minimum 2.70 or better grade point average in professional education courses as well as in the teaching majors or minors, 2.75 for secondary education students.
Elementary education students must successfully meet and pass criteria set forth in Phases 1-3 and earn satisfactory rating in Student Teaching.
Secondary education students must achieve a grade of “Pass” in EDS 360 and earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each of the following: EDS 300 , EDS 302 , ENG 410 /EDR 445 . Satisfactory rating in Student Teaching EDS 469 .
Candidates for an elementary teaching certificate must pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification Elementary Education Test prior to certification and may take appropriate subject area tests (Language Arts) and (Elementary Education Mathematics) if they seek additional certification in grades 6-8. Candidates for secondary teaching certificates must pass the appropriate MTTC subject area test for each subject area in which they are to be certified prior to certification. Candidates for Specialist Endorsement in Early Childhood Education must complete the program in Elementary Education and the Specialization in Early Childhood Education and passing the MTTC Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education examinations meets the requirements for Michigan elementary teaching certification with Early Childhood Specialist Endorsement.
Submit proof of completion of an advance and valid course in first aid and adult and child CPR. See list of approved providers: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_5683_14795-118868–,00.html
Applying for your teaching certificate after program completion is done online. The Michigan Department of Education has transitioned to the new Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) database. The old system was retired effective December 1, 2010. This means that teacher certification candidates who will currently complete their programs from Michigan institutions must use the new system to obtain and maintain their teaching certificate. Visit the Michigan Online Educator Certification System site for continued updates and more information on MOECS: www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530 5683 57223–,00.html.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER STATES

The teacher’s certificate issued by the State of Michigan is valid only in the state of Michigan. A student who plans to teach in a state other than Michigan should become fully acquainted with the certification requirements of that state.

Many states now require that the applicant pass a test before a teaching certificate is issued. For information and addresses of state departments please consult the following link:
http://education.uky.edu/AcadServ/content/50-states-certification-requirements

CERTIFICATION FOR STUDENTS HOLDING BACHELOR’S DEGREES

A student who has completed a bachelor’s degree at an approved accredited institution may meet state requirements for teacher certification without earning a second degree. Students should contact the Education Department for information concerning a coursework evaluation.

INSTITUTIONAL REPORT CARD ON THE QUALITY OF TEACHER PREPARATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-FLINT

In response to the Title II – Higher Education Act, Section 207, Accountability for Programs that Prepare Teachers, the University of Michigan-Flint provides the following Institutional Report Card on the Quality of the Teacher Preparation Program.

PASS RATE

The pass rate on the State of Michigan’s Teacher Certification assessments for students who are recommended for teacher certification upon completion of a teacher education program at the University of Michigan-Flint is 100% for all certification programs. The pass rate is equal to or exceeds the pass rate for all other Michigan colleges and universities that prepare teachers.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

There are 446 students enrolled in the teacher preparation program. Students are required to complete a minimum of fourteen (14) weeks of supervised student teaching as part of the culminating program requirement. The total number of hours required is four hundred and ninety (490). The faculty-student ratio in the supervised student teacher experience is 1-10 (one full-time faculty member is responsible for supervising a maximum of 10 student teachers in supervised practice teaching).

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

The teacher education program at the University of Michigan-Flint is approved by the Michigan Department of Education to offer programs in elementary education, early childhood education, selected secondary education programs, and selected programs that prepare teachers for teaching in all grades. The Professional Education Unit is in the process of seeking initial accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone (202) 466-7496, Fax (202) 296-6620.