Timeline

Exploring Education

You can explore the field of education by taking EDST 180 Psychology of Learning (the only course open to freshmen) or EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity, and Education. These courses include a 20-hour practicum that will introduce you to teaching as a profession and give you experience in a classroom setting. They also meet the social science GER and count toward a Lawrence degree even if you decide not to get certified to teach.

Interested students should also seek experience working with children and youth. Opportunities include the Lawrence Academy of Music, LARY Buddies, VITAL tutoring, CADY, the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, KidStage, and sports or summer camps. To find out more, click on "Community Engagement" in the navigation menu.

Seeking Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Once you have completed one education course (with a practicum), passed a standardized academic skills test (Praxis I PPST, Praxis Core, ACT, SAT, or GRE), and achieved a major GPA of 2.75 or above, you may apply for admission to the teacher education program (college) or music education major (conservatory). Stop by the Education Department (Briggs 117, M-F 7:30-11:30am) or the Conservatory office to pick up a Teacher Certification Handbook and a Petition for Student Teaching, which includes recommendation forms to be filled out by your advisor and two other faculty members who know you. Plan to meet with the Director of Teacher Education, Stewart Purkey, or the chair of Music Education, Kirk Moss, to talk about your study plans and confirm the requirements for your subject area.

Once your petition and recommendations have been received, the Education or Music Education department will schedule you for an interview during fall or winter term. After the interview, you will receive a letter stating whether you have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program or whether there are requirements that must still be met before you can be granted admission (such as raising your GPA, having your test scores reported to Lawrence, gaining more experience with children/youth, etc.). You may continue to take education studies courses while you seek admission, but you must be admitted before you can enroll in a methods course or begin student teaching.

Completing Teacher Certification

Plan to take the teacher education courses one at a time (due to the practicum requirements) until you are ready to student teach in your senior year or in a 13th term right after graduation. The year before student teaching is especially important: you must have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program no later than fall term, take the subject area test (Praxis II or ACTFL) no later than March, and register for the appropriate methods course (EDUC 560, 563, 565, or 585) in the spring (Term III). EDUC 660 (or MUEP 660) Advanced Methods in Teaching (3 units) is taken during the student teaching semester. As you plan your program of studies, seek advice from a member of the Education Department as well as your major advisor.

Before you may student teach, you must have done the following:

Been admitted to the Teacher Education Program, which includes passing a standardized academic skills test;
Passed the subject area test (Praxis II or ACTFL) in your certification area(s) and had the scores officially reported to Lawrence;
Succesfully completed EDST 180, 350, 440 & EDUC 430/431;
Completed the appropriate methods course for your subject area (EDUC 560, 563, 565, or 585) with a grade of B or higher;
Completed at least 100 hours of practicum with satisfactory evaluations;
Demonstrated professional responsibility in your coursework, practicum experiences, and completion of program requirements (including paperwork);
Submitted your Pre-Student Teaching Portfolio for review by a member of the Education faculty;
Had a TB test and submitted the report to the Education Department.

At the end of student teaching you will submit a Final Teaching Portfolio that provides evidence that you meet all of Lawrence’s 13 Teacher Education Program standards. Once you have met the standards, completed any remaining coursework, and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, you may begin the process of applying for a teaching license.

For details on each part of this process, click on the topics below "Teacher Certification" in the navigation menu.

Planning Your Studies

All of the required teacher education courses must be completed prior to student teaching. Education courses may be taken in any order with the following exceptions:

Psychology of Learning (EDST 180) must be completed before you may take Educating All Learners (EDUC 430/431);
Methods (EDUC 560, 563, 565, or 585, or instrumental or vocal methods) must be taken Term III of the year prior to student teaching; and
Advanced Methods in Teaching (EDUC 660) must be taken while student teaching.

Because most education courses include a 20-hour practicum, students are encouraged to take these one at a time. Plan for about 3 hours of practicum per week, as you would for a science lab. Be sure to start early if you want to student teach during your senior year; otherwise you can choose the 13th term option.

Here are some general suggestions for planning.

Sophomore Year	Begin taking education courses (EDST 180 may be taken in the freshman year). Have your ACT or SAT scores sent to the Education Department or take the Praxis test. Pick up the Teacher Certification Handbook and apply to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.
Junior Year	Continue taking education courses. If you haven't yet done so: Satisfy the academic skills test requirement. Pick up the Teacher Certification Handbook and apply for program admission.
Junior Year (for Senior Student Teaching) or Senior Year (for 13th Term Student Teaching)	If you haven't been admitted, apply for program admission no later than fall term. If you want to student teach in Chicago or internationally, submit an application by mid-January. Take the subject area test (Praxis II or ACTFL) in your certification area(s) no later than March. Enroll in the appropriate methods course in spring term. Confirm that you will have completed at least 100 hours of practicum experience prior to student teaching. Prepare a Pre-Student Teaching Portfolio and submit it by June 30. Go to Student Health Services for a TB test.
Senior Year	Complete any remaining courses required for certification in your subject area.

Although faculty and staff will try to guide you, it is ultimately your responsibility to plan your studies, complete practicum hours, take required tests, turn in paperwork, and submit a Pre-Student Teaching Portfolio so that you can student teach when you want to. Contacting a member of the Education Department to confirm your certification requirements and study plans will help you stay on track for timely completion.