Timeline: When to Do What

Exploring Education

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

Another great way to explore education and to gain experience working with children and youth is to volunteer in one of Lawrence’s tutoring programs or to teach in the schools as an ArtsBridge scholar.  More information about tutoring and ArtsBridge can be found under Community Engagement on this website.

Seeking Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Once you have successfully completed one education course and passed the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), you may apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program.  Stop by the Education Department office (Briggs 117) 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.  You should also plan to meet with the chair of the Education Department, Professor Stewart Purkey, to talk about your plans and to confirm your specific requirements for teacher licensure.

Once your petition and all three recommendations have been received, the Education Department will schedule you for an interview with the Committee on Teacher Education.  After the interview, the Committee will recommend you for admission or stipulate additional requirements which must be met (such as improving your GPA or gaining more experience with children/youth) before you can be admitted to the program.

Finishing Teacher Certification

You should integrate the required teacher certification courses into your schedule—preferably one at a time for courses with a practicum—until you are ready to student teach in the fall of your senior year or in a 13th term after graduation.  The year before student teaching is especially important: plan to take the Praxis II: Subject Assessment in March and register for the appropriate methods course (EDUC 560 or 563 or Art 585) in the spring (Term III).  Also make sure you apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program well in advance of your planned semester of student teaching.  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. 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. Taken the appropriate methods course (EDUC 560 or 563 or Art 585).

Two other education courses— EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity and Education, and EDUC 430 Educating All Learners—may be taken before or after student teaching if you student teach in the fall of your senior year, but they must be completed before you can apply for a teaching license.

At the end of student teaching you will submit a portfolio demonstrating that you have met 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, Portfolio, and Licensure Q&A on this website for more details.

Planning Your Schedule

Most students begin taking education courses by the sophomore year.  The courses can be taken in any order with two exceptions: EDST 180 should be taken before EDUC 430/431, and methods (EDUC 560 or 563 or Art 585) must be taken in the spring (Term III) prior to student teaching.

Students can apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program as early as the sophomore year, after taking one education course and passing the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test.  Praxis I is offered on campus in November; the registration deadline is in mid-October.  Admitted students must also pass the Praxis II: Subject Assessment in each certification area before they can student teach.  Praxis II is offered on campus in March and should be taken in the year prior to student teaching; the registration deadline is in mid-February.  More information can be found under Praxis Tests on this website.