Teacher Preparation Program

Location(s): Campus

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The School of Education’s Christ-centered mission is to develop and empower dedicated professional educators committed to student learning in a global society. The teacher preparation program is firmly established, guided by, and assessed using the School of Education (SOE) Model for Effective Teaching (see graph). The core and central component of the model is the University’s Concept and the integration of faith in all learning experiences. The six foundational domains and four professional elements ensure that every teacher candidate is knowledgeable, skilled, and effectively prepared for success as a professional educator. Assessment processes are reasonable and consistent and data from those processes informs decisions concerning all aspects of the educator preparation program.

Teacher Education Accreditation

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) recognizes the School of Education at Spring Arbor University as a fully accredited educator preparation program. The next CAEP accreditation visit will occur in spring 2025.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requires that all educator preparation programs receive national accreditation status. Upon successfully completing the chosen program of study, candidates participating in the Spring Arbor University School of Education accredited program are eligible to become recognized “certified teachers” by the MDE.

Teacher Certification

The teacher preparation program at SAU is approved by the MDE for teacher certification in Michigan. Students desiring Michigan teacher certification are responsible for meeting all certification requirements of the MDE, whether or not they are explicitly stated in this catalog. Candidates for certification as an elementary educator must pass the appropriate grade level Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). Candidates for certification as a secondary educator must pass the MTTC in their content major.

Elementary certification covers PK-3, 3-6, or PK-6 all subjects. Secondary certification covers grade 6 through 12 in the candidate’s major and minor disciplines. K-12 endorsements for elementary candidates are English as a Second Language and Special Education: Learning Disabilities. K-12 endorsements for secondary candidates is Special Education: Learning Disabilities.

School of Education Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures for the SOE are located in the Handbook, which is revised annually and provided to students in EDU 140 - Exploring Critical Skills for the Professional Educator . In order to complete the teacher education program, a student must successfully meet the program requirements in effect at the time of the student’s first semester of enrollment at SAU.

Disclaimers:

MDE Administrative Rules, state laws, and changes in requirements of accreditation bodies may supersede any requirements printed in the catalog or SOE handbook.
The state of Michigan is in the process of modifying the structure of teacher certification from elementary or secondary to grade bands. This will affect every teacher education student in Michigan.

Elementary Education Requirements

Three concentrations leading to Michigan teaching certification are available: Grades PK-3 Concentration leads to Lower Elementary Education PK-3 (ZO) endorsement; Grades 3-6 Concentration leads to Upper Elementary Education 3-6 (ZP) endorsement; Grades PK-3 and 3-6 Concentration leads to both Lower Elementary Education (ZO) and Upper Elementary Education (ZP) endorsements. Students in elementary education major will be required to fulfill program requirements listed in the program listing.

Secondary Education Program Requirements

Completion of an MDE approved certifiable major and one minor or one comprehensive major is required.

Comprehensive Majors

Majors

Biology Secondary Education (B.A.) (DA)
Chemistry Secondary Education (B.A.) (DC)
English Secondary Education (B.A.) (BA)
Integrated Science Secondary Education-Group (B.A.) (DI)
History Secondary Education (B.A.) (CC)
Mathematics Secondary Education (B.A.) (EX)
Social Studies Secondary Education-Group (B.A.) (RX)
Special Education-Secondary: Learning Disabilities, (B.A.) (SM)

Minors

Biology Secondary Education Minor (DA)
Chemistry Secondary Education Minor (DC)
English Secondary Education Minor (BA)
History Secondary Education Minor (CC)
Mathematics Secondary Education Minor (EX)
Political Science Secondary Education Minor (DE)
Psychology: Secondary Education Minor (CE)
Teaching English as a Second Language Minor (NS)

Secondary Professional Program Requirements

EDU 140 - Exploring Critical Skills for the Professional Educator Credit Hours: 3
EDU 140L - Professional Skills Lab Credit Hours: 0
EDU 202 - Issues and Trends in Education Credit Hours: 2
EDU 230 - Educational Psychology Credit Hours: 3
EDU 271 - The Diverse Learner Credit Hours: 4
EDU 360 - Integrating Technology in Teaching Credit Hours: 2
EDU 425 - Reading Development in Middle and Secondary Content Areas Credit Hours: 3
EDU 429 - Effective Classroom Management, Assessment, and Instruction Credit Hours: 3
EDU 430S - Seminar in Teaching-Secondary Credit Hours: 3
EDU 450S - Directed Teaching - Secondary Credit Hours: 3-9

Two of the following methods courses

one methods course in the major and one in the minor:

EDU 336 - Teaching at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 2 *
EDU 341 - Teaching English at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 3
EDU 343 - Teaching Science at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 3
EDU 344 - Teaching History and Social Studies at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 2
MAT 342 - Foundations of Sec School Math Credit Hours: 3
MUS 356 - Secondary and Marching Band Methods Credit Hours: 3

Note:

* EDU 336 should be taken as one of the methods courses if the combination of the major and minor would put the student in the same methods course. Example: chemistry major and biology minor should register for EDU 343 and EDU 336 . It is strongly recommended that all secondary candidates take EDU 336 before the student teaching internship.

Post-baccalaureate Education Programs

Initial Teacher Certification

Students with no previous teacher certification who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may take courses to be eligible for initial certification in Michigan. Contact the academic advisor in the School of Education for information.

A Post-Bachelor’s Accelerated Certification to Teach (PACT) non-degree program leading to K-5 elementary certification is available online and consists of the following courses:

EDU 242 - Psychology Applied to Teaching and Learning Credit Hours: 2
EDU 271 - The Diverse Learner Credit Hours: 4
EDU 350 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Elementary School Credit Hours: 5
EDU 352 - Teaching Social Studies Methods in K-8 Schools Credit Hours: 2
EDU 353 - Teaching Science and Math STEM in K-8 Schools Credit Hours: 4
EDU 429 - Effective Classroom Management, Assessment, and Instruction Credit Hours: 3
EDU 450P - Directed Teaching Elementary Credit Hours: 3
EDU 680 - Professional Internship Credit Hours: 3

Speech General Education Requirement Option

Students who successfully complete the interpersonal and presentation portions of EDU 140L upon the recommendation of the School of Education faculty will fulfill the speech requirement for General Education. No credit hours will be earned for fulfillment of this requirement through EDU 140L .

Subsequent Teaching Endorsements

Students with previous teacher certification may add teaching endorsements listed below, which require 50 clinical clock hours under the direction of a teacher who holds the endorsement sought.

Secondary endorsement onto an elementary certificate (grades 6-12 in the major and minor fields appropriate to secondary certification.)
Additional subject area endorsements (see listing of majors and minors on previous pages)