• Elementary Education, K-6 with: Early Childhood Emphasis, Birth- 6
  • Communication Arts and Literature, 5-8
  • Mathematics, 5-8
  • Science, 5-8
  • Social Studies, 5-8
• Business Education, 5-12
  • Keyboarding for Computer Applications Endorsement, K-8
• Communication Arts and Literature, 5-8 and 5-12
• Health Education, 5-12
• Mathematics, 5-8 and 5-12
• Music:  Instrumental and Classroom, K-12
• Music:  Vocal and Classroom, K-12
• Physical Education, K-12
  • DAPE endorsement, K-12
• Science: Chemistry, 9-12 + General Science 5-8
• Science: Chemistry, 9-12
• Science: Earth, 9-12 + General Science 5-8
• Science: Life, 9-12 + General Science 5-8
• Science: Life, 9-12
• Science: Physics, 9-12 + 5-8 General Science
• Science: Physics, 9-12
• Social Studies, 5-12
• Special Education: Developmental Adapted Physical Education, Pre-K-12
• Special Education: Developmental Disabilities, K-12
• Special Education: Learning Disabilities, K-12
• Teaching English as a Second Language, K-12
• Visual Arts, K-12
• World Languages French, K-12
• World Languages German, K-12
• World Languages Spanish, K-12
• The following Education Department majors are available at WSU-Rochester:
• K-6 with Middle Level Communication Arts and Literature 5-8 Specialty
• K-6 with Middle Level Social Studies 5-8 Specialty

All other majors are available only on the Winona campus.  See pages XX and XX for the articulation of the 2+2 programs available at the WSU-Rochester campus.

• Attend the Admissions Meeting the semester before you wish to start taking classes.  An Admissions Meeting is scheduled early each semester.  At this mandatory meeting, students review the criteria for admission and complete an application form; students are given an Admissions Folder to begin documenting their attainment of the admission criteria.  (If a student has been accepted previously but did not start the education sequence the following semester, the student must attend a new admissions meeting and be re-accepted under the criteria in effect for that semester.)
• Document attainment of minimum admission criteria by submitting a complete Admissions Folder to the Education Department no later than the designated due date.  The Admissions Folder is complete only if it contains highlighted documents that demonstrate the admission criteria in effect during that semester. 

Current minimum admission criteria, which must be documented, include:

• 30 semester hours of completed credit of which no more than 2 semester hours may be pass/no credit hours.  All transfer credits to be considered for admission must have been accepted by WSU and be designated on the credit evaluation prepared by the WSU Office of Admissions.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better (highlight on transcript). 

Note:  Students who do not meet the 2.75 GPA may check a box (“Alternate Admission Requests”) on the application form, requesting
the Admission Committee to consider an alternate GPA.  The alternate GPA calculation is based upon the last 30 semester credits completed or quarter credit equivalent.  The calculation must include all semester or quarter hour coursework in any given semester needed to meet the 30-semester hour credit requirement.

• Grade of “B” or better in a 3-credit college-level writing course (ENG 111 if taken at WSU).
• Grade of “B” or better in a 3-credit college-level speech course (CMST 191 if taken at WSU).
• Grade of “C” or better in a 3-credit college-level math course (MATH 100 or higher at WSU).
• Official score report on all three sections of the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examination (MTLE) Basic Skills:  Math, Reading, and Writing.  http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/  It is the student’s responsibility to take the test at least one month before the deadline for completing the Admissions Folder. 
• Evidence of having passed the Education Department Writing Proficiency exam.  All applicants for admission to the education program are required to pass this exam, which is given during the Admissions Meeting.  A $20 fee is payable by check at the time of this exam.  Currently enrolled WSU students may have this fee billed to their tuition account.
• Copy of completed DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) form prepared by the WSU Office of Admissions for students who have transferred from another institution.
• Affirmation of a record of good citizenship on the completed admission form.

Notes:

• Admission to teacher education is limited each semester.  Additional criteria are used to determine admission to the program if the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats.
• The University reserves the right to consider as part of the admission and retention policy those dispositions, general health, and scholastic achievement, or other standards as may be appropriate.  Students must adhere to the WSU Student Conduct Policy.

Students identified by teacher education faculty as needing assistance in academic, personal, or professional domains are required to attend a review meeting to be called by the Education Department Chairperson and to include the education faculty member involved, appropriate department chairperson(s), and the student’s advisor to demonstrate corrective action in the identified areas of concern.

Assistance plans will likely draw upon services such as those provided by the Counseling Center, the Writing Center, Student Support Services, and the Advising and Retention Office.  If a student withdraws from the program for any reason, she or he must reapply for admission to continue in the program.

• The successful completion of conditions outlined in the student assistance plan will be required for continuation in teacher education programs under the following circumstances:
  • A grade of less than “C” in any Education Department course.
  • Withdrawal (WD) from the same Education Department course more than once, or withdrawal (WD) from two different Education Department courses in two different semesters.
  • Failure to meet GPA requirements outlined below.
• Teacher education students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA in order to be placed in student teaching.  Teacher education students who do not meet this GPA requirement may not student teach until they meet the 2.75 requirement.
• Student assistance plans and academic warning letters are treated as part of the student’s teacher education record.

Students may be dismissed from the Teacher Education Program for either of the following reasons:

• Failure to document the fulfillment of student assistance plan commitments.
• Breach of ethical responsibilities, as stated in the Minnesota Code of Ethics for Teachers in the WSU Teacher Education Student Handbook.  A student dismissed for an ethical violation will not be allowed to continue in any field experience that semester, will be dropped from the Teacher Education Program at the end of the semester, and will not be readmitted to the major.

Student appeals must follow the process outlined in the WSU Teacher Education Student Handbook.

Student teaching is required for all teacher education programs and is done during the final semester at WSU. One full semester is required in an area public school or early childhood program contracted by the University or elsewhere in Minnesota through the Common Market Program.  All student teachers will complete a full semester in their licensure area.  Student teachers follow the calendars of their respective school districts.  The Student Teaching Director will indicate the beginning and ending dates of placement.

Student teaching at the secondary level is required in all major fields. If a second major is completed, the Director of Student Teaching will indicate the WSU student teaching requirements necessary to meet licensure requirements.

Application for student teaching is made to the Director of Student Teaching two semesters prior to the student teaching semester.  Students apply for a semester when they will not have other commitments, such as coaching, music tours, classes, etc. Applications are available in the Student Teaching Office (Gildemeister Hall).

If the classroom supervisor or the University supervisor has any concern(s) regarding the student teacher’s performance (academic or professional), it is imperative that the concern be addressed immediately.  All three parties—the classroom supervisor, the University supervisor and the student teacher—will meet and discuss all concerns.  It is important that all three parties share a common understanding of the concern(s) and the impact upon the completion of a successful student teaching experience.  A clear warning will be given, and a written plan developed, stating clear expectations and the consequences if those expectations are not met within a specified timeline.  If students do not satisfactorily complete student teaching after remediation, they may apply to graduate with a Professional Studies degree.

The state of Minnesota requires that all teacher education candidates for licensure shall:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university that is accredited by the regional association for the accreditation of colleges and secondary schools.
• Demonstrate the Standards of Effective Practice.
• Verify the completion of an approved teacher preparation program.

Meet the prescribed scores on the Teacher Education tests required by the MN Dept. of Education.

Students interested in becoming certified to teach in states other than Minnesota must contact that state’s Department of Education to obtain licensure requirements.  Most states will issue a temporary license to allow time to complete differences in their requirements.  Students should contact the Licensure Certification Officer (Gildemeister Hall) regarding any changes in licensure requirements for particular states.

Elementary Education with Early Childhood Emphasis (Birth-Grade 6):  A teacher of early childhood education is authorized to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children from birth through grade 6 in a variety of early childhood or public school P-6 settings. The early childhood education/elementary teacher collaborates with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of all young children. Students in this program will be eligible for Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education Licensure.

• K-6 Middle Level with a Content Specialty (K-8):  A teacher with this license is certified to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children in kindergarten through grade 8.  A K-6 teacher with content specialty also designs, implements, and evaluates learning experiences in a specific content area in grades 6 through 8 and collaborates with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of school-aged children and youth.

Add-on Licensure for Candidates with Prior Licensure

• Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 3):  A teacher of early childhood education is authorized to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children from birth through grade 3 in a variety of early childhood or publicschool P-3 settings. The early childhood education teacher collaborates with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of all young children.
• Pre-Primary Specialty (Age 3 to Grade 3):  A teacher with this license is certified to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children from age three through grade 3 in a variety of school settings. Teachers collaborate with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of young children.
• Middle Level Content Specialty (Grades 5-8):  A teacher with this license is certified to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children in grades 5-8.  A K-6 teacher with an add-on content specialty also designs, implements, and evaluates learning experiences in a specific content area in grades 5 through 8 and collaborates with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of school-aged children and youth.

5-12 Majors (Teaching)
B.S. Major - Business Education (BEDT)
B.S. Major - Chemistry (CHET)
B.S. Major - Communication Arts and Literature (CALT)
B.S. Major - Earth Science (ESCT)
B.S. Major - Life Science (BLST)
B.S. Major - Mathematics (MTHT)
B.S. Major - Physics (PHST)
B.S. Major – Health Promotion – School Health (HPST)
B.S. Major - Social Science/History (SSHT)

9-12 Majors (Teaching)
B.S. Major - Chemistry (CHET)
B.S. Major - Life Science (BLST)
B.S. Major - Physical Science (CPST) (Offered by the Chemistry Department.)
B.S. Major - Physical Science (PPST) (Offered by the Physics Department.)

K-12 Majors (Teaching)
B.S. Major - Art (ARTT)
B.S. Major - French (FRNT)
B.S. Major - German (GRMT)
B.S. Major - Music (MUSI or MUSV)
B.S. Major - Physical Education (PET)
B.S. Major - Spanish (SPNT)
B.S. Major - Special Education: Learning Disabilities (SELD)
B.S. Major - Special Education:  Developmental Disabilities (SEDD)
B.S. Major - Teaching English as a Second Language (ESLT)