University of Michigan-Flint

The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions of the Education Department. It is intended primarily as a guide for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences who are interested in being certified as secondary school teachers.

AN EXPLANATION OF SECONDARY CERTIFICATION

What is secondary teacher certification?

Elementary, secondary, and K-12 are the three levels of teacher certification available at the University of Michigan-Flint. The Michigan Secondary Provisional Certificate is valid for six years from the year of issuance and qualifies you to teach grades 6-12 in your teaching certificate major(s) and minor (s). Majors in the fields of Art and Music allow you to teach those subjects in all grades, K-12. The K-12 level is treated as a secondary certification by the State of Michigan.

What are the possible secondary majors and minors? 

Requirements in non-education coursework for Teacher’s Certificate Program majors and minors are stated in the various departmental sections. Programs that are available and their advisors are:

Earth Science: R. Repic (Note:  This program has been placed in moratorium.  This means that for an unspecified length of time the Department is not accepting new students).

English: K. Hiramatsu, S. Knight

French (see Foreign Language): V. Trionfi

History: G. Havrilcsak

Mathematics: K. Hansen, L. McLeman

Music (K-12): K. Salvador

Physics: A. Grafe (CSESP)  (Note: This program has been placed in moratorium.  This means that for an unspecified length of time the Department is not accepting new students).

Psychology (offered as minor only): M. McGrath

Social Studies: V. Morckel (History) Offered as major only

Spanish (see Foreign Language): J. Lawand

Speech (see Theatre): D. DeLaMare

Visual Art (K-12): F. Wagonlander (ART)

Which MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) should I take?

1. Basic Skills Test. All candidates for teacher certification in Michigan must pass a test in basic skills (reading, writing, and mathematics). Candidates MUST pass the MTTC Basic skills examination BEFORE admission into the Education Department will be granted.

2. Subject Area Test. The required subject-area tests are the tests that correspond to your major and minor fields of study in the education program and in which you are planning to seek certification in the state of Michigan. A candidate planning to seek secondary certification MUST take subject-area tests for BOTH the major and minor fields.

How can I study for the secondary MTTC tests?

 There is no study guide for the Basic Skills Test. Therefore, it is suggested that you study the test objectives as listed in the MTTC Registration Bulletin. As is stated in the bulletin, the most appropriate resources for studying may well be basic textbooks. You may also wish to consult your class notes, state core curriculum guidelines, and publications from local, state, and national professional organizations.

Study guides for the major/minor subject-area tests  are on reserve at the reference desk in the Frances Willson Thompson Library.  They may also be ordered online through the National Evaluation Systems, Inc., or using the order form in the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification Registration Bulletin.  In addition, you may wish to consult the Michigan Curriculum Framework and Content Standards (accessible at http://michigan.gov/mde/ for assistance in understanding the content covered by the test(s).

APPLYING TO THE EDUCATION PROGRAM

How do I get admitted to the Secondary Education Program?

You must complete a written application and be admitted formally to a teacher certificate program. The application deadline is January 15 for admission the following fall semester. September 15 is the application deadline for admission the following winter semester. Applications are available in the Education Department. A student must be admitted to a teacher certificate program before registering for EDS 302, EDS 300, and EDS EDS 341 and for any course that has one of these courses as a pre- or co-requisite.

Who is accepted to the Secondary Education Program?

Currently, anyone who meets all admission requirements is admitted. However, admission may be selective. Enrollment will be based upon student qualifications as well as faculty and program resources.

What are the secondary education admission requirements?

Applicants are admitted twice per year, in the fall and winter semesters, and 
students must meet the following requirements at the time of application.

• Admitted to the University of Michigan-Flint
• Completion of at least 55 semester hours of course work
• Completion of PSY 100 with a grade of C or better
• A 2.75 overall G.P.A.
• A 2.75 G.P.A. in each major and minor subject area, with at least 18 hours completed in the major and 12 hours completed in the minor
• Pass the MTTC basic Skills test (This test is administered four times each year at different test sites throughout the state of Michigan for a current fee of $49.00. Registration bulletins are available in the Education Department. Students should request that the test results be sent to the University of  Michigan-Flint.)

To apply to the Secondary Education Program, what must I do?

 Submit the following materials:

1. An application (available in the Education Department in early September and early January)
2. One transcript from each institution you have attended
3. A student autobiography
4. A copy of your MTTC Basic Skills test results

SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIFICS

Who is my advisor?

Secondary education students are advised in the Academic Advising Center, 285 PAV, (810) 762-3085, until they have decided on a teaching certificate major. Once a major has been chosen, secondary students are advised through their major and minor departments in CAS. All education and pre-education students are welcome to seek advising through the Education Department. Cheryl Godmar is the Coordinator of Academic Advising in Education. Students with a bachelor's degree are advised by Rachel Biocchi the Graduate Programs Advisor in the Education Department.

Are there any secondary education courses I may take before I am admitted?

There are a few education courses open, on a space-available basis, to students who have not been admitted to the Education Department, however, most of them are not applicable to secondary certification. You should talk to your advisor concerning the course prerequisites and the recommended education course sequences.

What is EDS 341 for secondary education students?

EDS 341, Education Field Experience/Seminar, is the initial field placement in an elementary or secondary school. It is accompanied by a seminar. Students must commit to at least six hours of fieldwork per week that conform to public school schedules.Your EDS 341instructor will make the placement and notify you--please do not contact the Education Department!  EDS 341 is a pre- or co-requisite for most other education courses.

Explain the field experience placement policy.

The early field experience (EDS 360) will be in a critical need school district. A critical need school district may have one or more of the following characteristics: an urban setting, multicultural population, high level of poverty, low standardized test scores and inadequate funding sources. Student teaching may or may not occur in a critical need district. Although every effort will be made to place students in their student teaching experience (EDS 469) within a half- hour radius of their home, circumstances may necessitate students being placed outside the half- hour target area, including in critical need districts.

What is student teaching in the Secondary Education Program?

Student teaching is the capstone field experience to your professional preparation in the Education Department. Student teaching is a full-time teaching internship in an secondary classroom for 14 weeks under the joint supervision of a University Supervisor and a Cooperating Teacher. During your student teaching semester, you will also enroll in a seminar, EDS 499, in which issues relevant to your teaching and career will be discussed.

When do I student teach in the Secondary Education Program?

Students should complete their student teaching in the fall or winter semester of their last year. All prerequisites must be met to be eligible. Refer to the on-line course description of EDS 469 for further details. Student teaching and the seminar are taken for a total of 12 credits and may NOT be done in the spring or summer semester.

When and how do I apply to student teach?

The application period for students planning to student teach in the following fall semester is in early January. The application period for students planning to student teach in the following winter semester is in late April-early May. Applications are completed on-line via the Michigan Department of Education website . Reminders are sent to students through their UM-F student email accounts.

INFORMATION ON TEACHING IN ANOTHER STATE

May I be a secondary teacher in another state with a Michigan certificate?

A certificate is valid only in the state for which it is issued. If you are interested in teaching in another state, you should contact the teacher certification office in that state. Addresses of state offices are available in the Education Department, 430 French Hall

SECONDARY CERTIFICATION AFTER GRADUATION 

May I get certified for secondary education after I graduate from the University of Michigan-Flint?

Yes. A student who has completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan-Flint or any approved institution may meet state requirements for teacher certification without earning a second degree. Students with bachelor's degrees should contact Rachel Biocchi, Graduate Programs Advisor in the Education Department for information concerning a coursework evaluation

What is a coursework evaluation?

If you already have a bachelor's degree and wish to become certified to teach, you may request an evaluation of the coursework you have completed. Such an evaluation will tell you what additional courses will be required in order to meet state secondary certification requirements. In addition to the professional education courses, prospective secondary teachers must also complete coursework in one teaching major and one minor to be eligible for certification. This coursework must conform to the UM-Flint major/minor programs approved by the Michigan Department of Education. Coursework evaluations are performed by Student Services personnel in the Education Department and may take up to four weeks to complete. Call or visit the Education Department for details. EDS 341 is a pre- or co-requisite for most other education courses.