Requirements for Student Teaching
To be eligible for student teaching, students must complete an online application and attend a mandatory orientation meeting. Application period for Fall student teaching will be January 2-16. Application period for Winter student teaching will be April 25-May 10. Missing the application deadline will result in waiting until the next application period. Dates and times for mandatory orientation meetings will be announced in August for Fall semester student teaching and in December for Winter student teaching. Failing to attend an orientation meeting will result in waiting until the next application period. Announcements for the application periods and orientation meetings will be posted outside the Education Department, and an email will be sent to UM-Flint email student accounts. Students should regularly check their UM-Flint email accounts and Education bulletin boards or call the Department of Education at 762-3260 for specific dates and times.
Prospective teachers must be of good moral character, have suitable personality traits and aptitude for teaching, and possess good physical and mental health. The Michigan Teacher Certification Administrative Rules 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 a 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. They must also take the following oath of allegiance prescribed by the laws of Michigan:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Constitution of the State of Michigan, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of teacher according to the best of my ability."
To be recommended for a teaching certificate, the student must: Complete degree requirements in a prescribed curriculum in education for the state elementary or secondary provisional certificate.
Maintain a 2.75 or better overall grade point average; a 2.75 or better grade point average in education courses and a 2.75 or better grade point average in each major and minor teaching area.
Elementary education students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each of the following education courses: EDE 300, EDE/EDS 302, EDR 344, EDR 343, and EDM 341 and achieve a grade of "Pass" in EDE 360.
Secondary education students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each of the following education courses: EDE/EDS 302, EDS 300, EDR 445, and the required secondary methods course(s). They must also achieve a grade of "Pass" in EDS 360.