Timeline: When to Do What

Exploring Education

You can explore the field of education by taking EDST 180 Psychology of Learning (the only course open to freshmen); EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity and Education; or one of the foundations course listed under Requirements.  Each of these courses includes a 20-hour practicum which will introduce you to teaching as a profession and give you experience in a classroom setting.  Each also meets general education requirements for a Lawrence degree even if you decide not to seek certification as a teacher.

Another way to explore education and gain experience working with children and youth is through the Lawrence Academy of Music, LARY Buddies, VITAL tutoring, or community organizations like the Boys & Girls Club or the YMCA. Look under Community Engagement on this website.

Seeking Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Once you have successfully completed one education course (with a practicum) and passed the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), you may apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program.  College students should stop by the Education Department office (Briggs 117; M-F before 11:30 a.m.) 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 (sample forms can be found on this website).  You should also plan to meet with the chair of the Education Department, Professor Stewart Purkey, to talk about your plans and to confirm the specific requirements for teacher licensure in your subject area(s). Conservatory students should stop by the Music Education Department office in the Conservatory of Music to pick up application materials for the major in music education and should meet with a music education advisor for more information.

Once your petition and recommendations have been received, the Education Department or Music Education Department will schedule you for an interview. Interviews are conducted during the fall and winter terms by members of the department and other Lawrence faculty.  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 be met before you can be granted admission (such as raising your GPA, having ETS report your Praxis I scores, gaining more experience with children/youth, etc.). You must be admitted to the program before you can enroll in a methods course or begin student teaching.

Finishing Teacher Certification

Plan to work the required education courses into your schedule one at a time (due to the practicum requirements) until you are ready to student teach either in your senior year or in a 13th term right after graduation.  The year before student teaching is especially important: you must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program early in the year (if you haven't been already), take the Praxis II: Subject Assessment no later than March, and register for the appropriate methods course (EDUC 560, 563, 565, or 585) in the spring term (Term III).  EDUC 660 Advanced Methods in Teaching is normally taken during the student teaching semester, after successful completion of a previous methods course. As you plan your program of studies, seek advice from a member of the Education Department as well as your major advisor.

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

  1. Succesfully completed EDST 180 Psychology of Learning and a foundations course (EDST 240, 330 or 340);
  2. Petitioned and been admitted to the Teacher Education Program, which includes passing the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST);
  3. Passed the Praxis II: Subject Assessment in your certification area(s);
  4. Successfully completed the appropriate methods course for your subject area (EDUC 560, 563, 565, or 585);
  5. Completed at least 100 hours of practicum with satisfactory evaluations;
  6. Demonstrated professional responsibility in your coursework, practicum experiences, and completion of program requirements (including paperwork);
  7. Submitted your Pre-Student Teaching Portfolio and had it reviewed by a member of the Education faculty;
  8. Had a TB test and submitted the report to the Education Department.

For more information about the tests required for teacher certification, see Praxis Tests on this website. Note that two of the required education courses, EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity and Education and EDUC 430/431 Educating All Learners, may be taken after student teaching if you student teach in the fall of your senior year, but both must be completed before you can apply for a teaching license. If you choose to take one or both of these courses after student teaching, you must nevertheless complete at least 100 hours of practicum experience before you may begin student teaching. To accomplish this, you will need to supplement your hours in earlier courses.

At the end of student teaching you will submit a final teaching portfolio that demonstrates that you meet each of Lawrence’s 13 Teacher Education Program standards.  Once this is done and all course requirements are complete, you may begin the process of obtaining a teaching license.  See Program Standards, Portfolios, and Licensure Q&A on this website for more details.

Planning Your Schedule

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 the year prior to student teaching; and
  • Advanced Methods in Teaching (EDUC 660) should be taken during the student teaching semester.

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. Take the Praxis I test, either the computer- or paper-based version. After successfully completing one education course and passing Praxis I, 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 taken Praxis I, take the computer-based version in the fall, 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 already, apply for program admission no later than fall term. If you want to student teach in Chicago or overseas, submit an application at the start of winter term (due January 10). Take the Praxis II subject area test during winter term (no later than March!). Enroll in the appropriate methods course in spring term. Check 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 the end of the academic year. Go to Student Health Services for a TB test.

Senior Year: Complete any remaining courses required for teacher certification in your subject area.

Although faculty members and administrative assistants will try to guide you, it is ultimately your responsibility to plan your studies, complete practicum hours, take Praxis exams, 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.