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Admission Process for applying to the Teacher Education Program

COMMON QUESTION:

What about my official transcripts?

• Official Winona State transcripts for all current students will be obtained by the Education Department.
• Copies of transcripts from transfer coursework that has been submitted to the WSU Admissions Office will also be obtained by the Education Department.
  

Minimum Admission Criteria
An application folder/portfolio with necessary forms is distributed at the Application Meeting. The folder containing the following evidence must be submitted to the education office within four weeks after the application meeting:

1. Completion of at least 30 semester hours (2 sem hrs may be pass/no credit)
2. Score report for ALL SECTIONS of the Praxis I: PPST Exam (Math, Reading, Writing)  (Takes up to 8 wks from time of testing to get score report, so take it early).
3. Passing report from the Education Department Writing Clearance Exam. (Exam taken during final hour of admission meeting. $20 fee).
4. Minimum Cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or better
5. Minimum B or better in a 3 sem hour college-level writing course (ENG111 at WSU)
6. Minimum B or better in a 3 sem hour college-level speech course (CMST191 at WSU)
7. Minimum C or better in a 3 sem hour college-level math course (MATH 100 or higher or Stats at WSU)
   •  Note: Elementary Majors may apply with a minimum C in math course work.
   • An extra point will be calculated for students completing advanced math course work.
8. Background Experience Essay - a word-processed essay of 2-3 pages:
   • Experience working with people from ethnic groups other than my own
   • Background experiences which indicate unique assets I bring to the profession
9. Transfer students need a copy of a current Credit Evaluation from the Admissions Office
10. Transfer students need a copy of a transcript from each higher education institution attended. (Students can visit the Registrar's Office to request that these transcripts be sent to the Education Department).

Admission Timeline:

As First Years (freshmen), students are encouraged to declare an education major as soon as possible during their freshman year. Once students are declared education majors, they will be assigned a faculty advisor for the most efficient program scheduling. Students can complete most teacher licensure programs within four years, but only if they utilize required education courses as part of the general education/university studies requirements which are typically taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Before the sophomore year, students should take the sections of Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) which deal with Math, Reading, and Writing. MN, IA, and WI require that students eventually pass the PPST at set benchmark scores before the state will grant initial licensure. Students seeking admission to education are required to have taken the PPST, but are not required to have passed it before admission to the education program.

Note: In addition to the PPST, MN will be instituting two additional teacher licensing tests in the fall of 2001. One test for major content knowledge and one test for pedagogy (teaching) knowledge. Beginning fall of 2002, formal benchmark scores on these two tests will be required for licensing.

During the first semester of the sophomore year, students must attend an Admission Meeting. Students who desire the university's recommendation for a MN teaching license can apply for admission to the teacher education program after they have completed 30 semesters hours of college credit. (Up to two sem. hrs of pass/no credit class work can be counted in the 30 total hours needed for admission).

Students cannot proceed into the professional education course sequence until they have been formally admitted into the teacher education program. After taking the PPST exam, the first step in being formally admitted to the teacher education program is to attend an admission meeting. These meetings are scheduled once at the beginning of each semester during fall and spring semesters.

During the first hour of the meeting, students will begin an application folder/portfolio which must be completed and returned to the education office within the next four weeks. Students will also be given an Effective Educator handbook and will be provided information on field experience expectations within the program.

During the second hour of the meeting, students will complete the required Education Department Writing Exam. The exam presents students with a list of 3-4 possible topics, and ask students to compose an extemporaneous writing around the topic of their choice. The writing sample is then scored for coherence and adherence to written English editing standards. A $20 fee for the exam is payable by check at the meeting.

Any other things I should know about the admission process?

• Expected Timely Response from the time of the application meeting to deadline for completed folders: 4 weeks
• Expected return from the deadline for completed folders to mailing of disposition letters: 2 weeks
• Affirm a record of good citizenship As part of the application form, students will be asked to indicate if they have ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic violation.
• Additional Proviso: The University reserves the right to consider as part of the Education Department's admission and retention policy those dispositions, general health, and scholastic achievement, or such other standards as may be appropriate. Students must adhere to the WSU Student Conduct Policy.
• Alternate Admissions Students who do not meet the G.P.A. requirement for admission to the Effective Educator Program may request consideration under alternate admissions standards.