Application for Admission
Before they can be considered candidates for teacher certification, students 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.
Applications for elementary teacher candidates are accepted on a rolling basis after successful completion of Phase I of their program.
Secondary and K-12 teacher candidates apply to enter each of Phases II and III after having completed all transition requirements; the applications are accepted twice a year, January 1-15 for Fall admission and September 1-15 for Winter admission.
Application information is posted on the Center for Educator (CEP) website and bulletin board.
Admission Requirements
- Admission to the University of Michigan-Flint.
- 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 (2.0).
- Completion of all courses in the Phase I cycle of an elementary, secondary or K-12 TCP with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each one. Secondary and K-12 teacher candidates also must complete all requirements for acceptance to Phase II and Phase III.
- Favorable dispositions assessments during Phase I (and Phase II, for admission to secondary and K-12 Phase III).
- Successful completion of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Professional Readiness Exam (PRE) and/or appropriate alternate scoring approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
Requirements for Completion
Candidates must have a 2.7 or better GPA, overall and in education courses, and must maintain grade point averages specified above in order to move into Phase II and III or to be eligible to enter student teaching and apply for certification.
At all points in the teacher certification program candidates 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.
Student Teaching Eligibility
Candidate must successfully complete the MTTC PRE examination and/or appropriate alternate scoring approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to be eligible for student teaching.
In addition, candidates must complete an online application and attend a mandatory first seminar meeting. The application for Fall student teaching is made available in early December; the application for Winter student teaching is made 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 are in August for Fall semester student teaching and in December for Winter student teaching. Failure to attend the first seminar will result in needing to wait until the next application period. Announcement of student teaching seminar meetings will be emailed to applicant’s university email accounts and posted on the Center for Educator (CEP) website and bulletin board.
Elementary teacher candidates must complete on online application to student teach. The application for Fall student teaching is made available in early December; the application for Winter student teaching is made available in late April/early May. Missing the application deadline may and could result in waiting until the next application period.
Secondary and K-12 candidates apply for student teaching as part of application for Phase III of their programs.
All candidates for student teaching must attend a mandatory first seminar meeting. The dates and times for the mandatory first seminar meetings are in August for Fall semester student teaching and in December for Winter student teaching. Failure to attend the first seminar will result in needing to wait until the next application period. Announcement of student teaching seminar meetings is emailed to applicant’s university email accounts and posted on the Center for Educator (CEP) 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:
- Fraud, material misrepresentation, or concealment in the application for certificate.
- Failure or ineligibility of the applicant or certificate holder to meet the criteria for eligibility for the certificate.
- 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 Teaching Certification
To be recommended for a teaching certificate, the candidate must:
- Complete the degree requirements in a prescribed curriculum in education for the state elementary, secondary or K-12 provisional certificate.
- Maintain a minimum 2.7 or better grade point average in professional education courses as well as in the teaching majors or minors, or as specified by the specific TCP program.
- Successfully meet and pass criteria set forth in Phases I-III and earn a satisfactory rating in Student Teaching.
- (Elementary education candidates) Pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification Elementary Education Test prior to certification and take appropriate subject area tests (Language Arts) and (Elementary Education Mathematics) if they seek additional certification in grades 6-8. Candidates for Specialist Endorsement in Early Childhood Education must in addition pass the MTTC Early Childhood Education examination.
- (Secondary teaching certificates) Pass the appropriate MTTC subject area test for each subject area in which they are to be certified prior to certification.
- Submit proof of completion of an advanced and valid course in first aid and adult and child CPR. See the list of approved providers.
- Apply online for a teaching certificate after program completion on the Michigan Department of Education Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). Continued updates and more information are available on the MOECS website.
Certification Requirements in Other States
The teacher’s certificate issued by the State of Michigan is valid only in the state of Michigan. A candidate 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 Office of Admissions and Recruitment for information concerning a coursework evaluation.
University of Michigan-Flint Institutional Report Card on the Quality of Teacher Preparation
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 437 candidates enrolled in the teacher preparation program. Candidates 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 (MDE) and the Council for Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP) to offer programs in elementary education, early childhood education, selected secondary education programs, and selected programs that prepare teachers for teaching in all grades.
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