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College of Education

Department of Teacher Education

Teacher Certification

Requirements for Teacher Certification

Teacher Certification at Michigan State University is housed in the College of Education. In order to be certified as a teacher at Michigan State University, candidates must have an acceptable subject matter teaching major and also complete all relevant teacher education course work. Candidates will also have to pass state certification tests and meet other state and program requirements. Interested candidates should schedule a meeting with the College of Education Student Affairs Office for more details.

Course Requirements for Birth to Kindergarten Certification
a. All of the following courses (53 credits):
1. CEP 240 Introduction to Exceptional Learners (3)
2. CEP 351 Special Education Law and Policies (3)
3. HDFS 211 Child Growth and Development (3)
4. HDFS 320 Interaction with Children in Groups (3)
5. HDFS 320L Interaction with Children – Laboratory (1)
6. HDFS 321 Curriculum for Children (W) (3)
7. HDFS 321L Curriculum for Children – Laboratory (1)
8. HDFS 322 Infant Development and Program Planning (3)
9. HDFS 322L Interaction and Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers - Laboratory (2)
10. HDFS 421 Assessment of the Young Child (3)
11. HDFS 424 Student Teaching in an Early Childhood Program (6)
12. HDFS 449 Special Needs Children and Their Families (3)
13. HDFS 449L Children with Special Needs and Their Families Laboratory (1)
14. HDFS 473 Administration of Early Childhood Programs (3)
15. TE 301 Children’s Literacy Development (W) (3)
16. TE 330 Science Curriculum for Young Learners (PK-3) (3)
17. TE 341 Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners (3)
18. TE 405A Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners (PK-3) (3)
19. TE 406A Teaching Mathematics to Diverse Learners I (PK-3) (3)

Course Requirements for Elementary Teacher Certification
GPA Standards: All elementary teacher candidates must pass all TE courses as well as CEP 240 with a grade of 2.0 or above. All elementary candidates must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above.
a. Professional Education Courses (15 credits):
1. CEP 240 Introduction to Exceptional Learners (3)
2. TE 101 Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
3. TE 102 Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
4. TE 341 Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners (3)
5. TE 371 Justice and Equity Seminar I (1)
6. TE 471 Justice and Equity Seminar III (1)
7. TE 472 Justice and Equity Seminar IV (1)
b. Elementary Education Courses (12 credits):
1. (1) Both of the following courses (6 credits):
  1. TE 202 Engaging Elementary Learners with Mathematics (3)
  2. TE 348 Reading and Responding to Children's Literature (3)
2. (2) Literacy
  1. TE 301 Children's Literacy Development (W) (3)
3. (3) Mathematics (3 credits):
  1. MTH 201 Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I (3)
c. One of the following concentrations (41 or 42 credits):
1. Prekindergarten through Grade Three (41 credits):
2. All of the following courses:
3. HDFS 320 Interaction with Children in Groups (3)
4. HDFS 320L Interaction with Children-Laboratory (1)
5. HDFS 321 Curriculum for Children (W) (3)
6. HDFS 321L Curriculum for Children-Laboratory (1)
7. TE 330 Science Curriculum for Young Learners (PK-3) (3)
8. TE 331 Social Studies for Young Learners (PK-3) (3)
9. TE 403A Teaching of Science to Diverse Learners (PK-3) (3)
10. TE 404A Teaching of Social Studies to Diverse Learners (PK-3) (W) (3)
11. TE 405A Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners (PK-3) (3)
12. TE 405B Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners II (PK-3) (3)
13. TE 406A Teaching Mathematics to Diverse Learners I (PK-3) (3)
14. TE 406B Teaching Mathematics to Diverse Learners II (PK-3) (3)
15. TE 481 PK-3 Internship I (3)
16. TE 482 PK-3 Internship II (6)
17. Grade Three through Grade Six (42 credits):
18. (1) One of the following United States history courses (3 credits):
  1. HST 301 Indigenous-European Encounters in North America (3)
  2. HST 302 Revolutionary America (3)
19. (2) One of the following arts integration courses (3 credits):
  1. TE 430 Introduction to Arts in the Classroom (3)
  2. TE 431 Learning Through Drama (3)
  3. TE 432 Learning Through Movement (3)
20. (3) All of the following courses (36 credits):
  1. TE 204 Engaging Elementary Learners in Science: Culture and Equity (3)
  2. TE 332 Science Curriculum for Upper Elementary Learners (3-6) (3)
  3. TE 333 Social Studies for Upper Elementary Learners (3-6) (3)
  4. TE 403B Teaching of Science to Diverse Learners (3-6) (3)
  5. TE 404B Teaching of Social Studies to Diverse Learners (3-6) (W) (3)
  6. TE 405 Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners I (3-6) (3)
  7. TE 405C Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners II (3-6) (3)
  8. TE 406 Teaching Mathematics to Diverse Learners I (3-6) (3)
  9. TE 406C Teaching Mathematics to Diverse Learners II (3-6) (3)
  10. TE 484 3-6 Internship I (3)
  11. TE 485 3-6 Internship II (6)
d. English as a Second Language (25 to 29 credits):
1. Completion of this requirement satisfies the course requirements for the additional endorsement in English as a Second Language. ESL can be waived by completion of Birth-Kindergarten endorsement for Prekindergarten through Grade 3 students.
2. (1) All of the following courses (19 credits):
  1. LLT 307 Methods of Second and Foreign Language Teaching (3)
  2. LLT 346 Pedagogical English Grammar for English Teachers (3)
  3. TE 101 Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
  4. TE 301 Children's Literacy Development (W) (3)
  5. TE 341 Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners (3)
  6. TE 342 Teaching Methods for (Bi)multilingual Learners (3)
  7. TE 503 Internship in Teaching Diverse Learners in Additional Endorsement Areas (1)
3. (2) One of the following courses (3 credits):
  1. LLT 361 Second and Foreign Language Learning (3)
  2. LLT 362 Child Second Language Learning (3)
4. (3) Complete either (a) or (b) and (c) (3 to 7 credits):
  1. (a) LLT 322 English as a Second Language Perspectives in Context (3)
  2. (b) LIN 200 Introduction to Language (3)
    1. or
    2. LIN 401 Introduction to Linguistics (4)
    3. and
  3. (c) ANP 420 Language and Culture (3)
5. (4) Proof of proficiency in an additional language equivalent to two semesters of study.
e. Optional Additional Teaching Endorsements
1. Students may elect to complete one or more optional disciplinary teaching minor(s), in addition to the required grade band concentration and English as a Second Language requirements. The following disciplinary teaching minors are available for prospective elementary school teachers.
2. Arabic
3. Chinese
4. French
5. German
6. Japanese
7. Spanish

Course Requirements for Secondary Teacher Certification
GPA Standards: All secondary teacher candidates must pass all TE courses as well as CEP 240 with a grade of 2.0 or above. All secondary candidates must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above.
a. Professional Education Courses (18 credits):
1. CEP 240 Introduction to Exceptional Learners (3)
2. TE 101 Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
3. TE 102 Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
4. TE 150 Reflections on Learning (3)
5. TE 302 Literacy and Adolescent Learners in School and Community Contexts (3)
6. TE 341 Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners (3)
b. Subject-Matter Teaching Methodology Courses (18 credits):
1. (1) English (18 credits)
  1. TE 310 Clinical Experience in English Education I (3)
  2. TE 410 Clinical Experience in English Education II (3)
  3. TE 411 Seminar in English Education I (3)
  4. TE 412 Seminar in English Education II (3)
  5. TE 413 Student Teaching Internship in English Education (6)
2. (2) Mathematics (18 credits):
  1. TE 314 Clinical Experiences in Mathematics Education I (3)
  2. TE 414 Clinical Experiences in Mathematics Education II (3)
  3. TE 415 Seminar in Mathematics Education I (3)
  4. TE 416 Seminar in Mathematics Education II (3)
  5. TE 417 Student Teaching Internship in Mathematics Education (6)
3. (3) Science (18 credits):
  1. TE 321 Clinical Experience in Science Education I (3)
  2. TE 421 Clinical Experience in Science Education II (3)
  3. TE 422 Seminar in Science Education I (3)
  4. TE 423 Seminar in Science Education II (3)
  5. TE 424 Student Teaching Internship in Science Education (6)
4. (4) Social Studies (18 credits):
  1. TE 325 Clinical Experience in Social Studies Education I (3)
  2. TE 425 Clinical Experience in Social Studies Education II (3)
  3. TE 426 Seminar in Social Studies Education I (3)
  4. TE 427 Seminar in Social Studies Education II (3)
  5. TE 428 Student Teaching Internship in Social Studies Education (6)
5. (5) Agriscience and Natural Resources
  1. Students seeking teacher licensure in Agriscience and Natural Resources complete all of their teacher education course work in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students should contact the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education Advisor for more details.
c. Optional Teaching Endorsements
1. Students may elect to complete one or more optional disciplinary teaching minor(s). The following disciplinary teaching minors are available for prospective secondary teachers. Students wishing to complete one or more of the following optional disciplinary teaching minors should schedule an appointment with the College of Education Advising Office.
2. Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education
3. Arabic
4. Chinese
5. English
6. French
7. German
8. Japanese
9. Mathematics
10. Psychology
11. Spanish
12. English as a Second Language

Course Requirements for PK-12 Teacher Certification
GPA Standards: All secondary teacher candidates must pass all TE courses as well as CEP 240 with a grade of 2.0 or above. All secondary candidates must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above.
a. Professional Education Courses (18 credits):
1. CEP 240 Introduction to Exceptional Learners (3)
2. TE 101 Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
3. TE 102 Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education (3)
4. TE 150 Reflections on Learning (3)
5. TE 302 Literacy and Adolescent Learners in School and Community Contexts (3)
6. TE 341 Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners (3)
b. Subject-Matter Teaching Methodology Courses (18 credits):
1. (1) World Languages (18 credits)
  1. TE 334 Clinical Experiences in World Language Education I (3)
  2. TE 434 Clinical Experiences in World Language Education II (3)
  3. TE 435 Seminar in World Language Education I (3)
  4. TE 436 Seminar in World Language Education II (3)
  5. TE 437 Student Teaching Internship in World Language Education (6)
2. (2) Visual Arts (19 credits)
  1. STA 310 Clinical Experience in Visual Arts Education I (4)
  2. STA 410 Clinical Experience in Visual Arts Education II (3)
  3. STA 411 Seminar in Visual Arts Education I (W) (3)
  4. STA 412 Seminar in Visual Arts Education II (W) (3)
  5. STA 413 Student Teaching Internship in Visual Arts Education (6)
3. (3) Music Education
  1. Students seeking teacher licensure in Music Education complete TE 101, TE 150, and TE 302. The remainder of their teacher education course work takes place in the College of Music. Students should contact the advising office in the College of Music for more details.
c. Optional Teaching Endorsements
1. Students may elect to complete one or more optional disciplinary teaching minor(s). The following disciplinary teaching minors are available for prospective PK-12 teachers in World Languages. Students wishing to complete one or more of the following optional disciplinary teaching minors should schedule an appointment with the College of Education Advising Office.
2. Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education
3. Arabic
4. Chinese
5. English
6. French
7. German
8. Japanese
9. Mathematics
10. Psychology
11. Spanish
12. English as a Second Language