Timeline: When to do What

Exploring Education

You can explore the field of education by taking EDST 180 Psychology of Learning or EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity and Education or one of the foundations course listed under Requirements (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 way to explore education and gain experience working with children and youth is to volunteer in one of Lawrence’s tutoring programs or to become an ArtsBridge scholar.  For information about tutoring and ArtsBridge, look under Community Engagement.

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 the specific requirements for teacher licensure in your subject area(s).

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

Finishing Teacher Certification

Plan to work the required teacher certification courses into your schedule— preferably one at a time due to the practicum hours—until you are ready to student teach in your senior year or after graduation (13th term).  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 in March; and register for the appropriate methods course (EDUC 560 or 563 or Art 585) in the spring (Term III).  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);
  5. 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.

Two 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 senior year), but both must be completed before you can apply for a teaching license.

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

Planning Your Schedule

Education courses can be taken in any order with two exceptions: EDST 180 is a prerequisite for EDUC 430 and 431, and Methods (EDUC 560 or 563 or Art 585) must be taken in the spring (Term III) prior to student teaching. Students often prefer to take one education course at a time to keep their practicum hours managable (plan for about 3 hours per week for one course). Be sure to start early if you want to student teach in your senior year; otherwise, you can student teach after graduation (13th term).

Here are some general suggestions for planning:

Sophomore Year: Begin taking a couple of education courses (EDST 180 may be taken in the Freshman year). Take the Praxis I test if you can (either the computer-based or paper-based version).

Junior Year: Continue taking education courses. If you haven't yet taken Praxis I, take the computer-based version in the fall (see Praxis Tests).

Sophomore or Junior Year: After you have completed at least one education course and passed Praxis I, pick up the Teacher Certification Handbook and apply to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.

Junior Year (for Senior Student Teaching): If you haven't already done so, apply to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program in the fall. Take the Praxis II subject area test no later than March. Take the appropriate methods course in the spring. Have a TB test before you leave campus for the summer.

Senior Year (for 13th Term Student Teaching): If you haven't already done so, apply to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program in the fall. Take the Praxis II subject area test no later than March. Take the appropriate methods course in the spring. Have a TB test before you leave campus for the summer.

Senior Year: Complete any remaining courses required for teacher certification.

Contact a member of the Education Department to check your certification requirements and plan your studies to finish all requirements on time.