Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Application for admission into the Teacher Education Program should be made just prior to, or upon completion of, 60 semester hours. Pre-candidates should apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program during the first semester of their junior year. Prospective candidates for education degree programs will be allowed to complete only 13 semester hours of professional studies (ED prefix) courses prior to admission into the Teacher Education Program. The courses which pre-candidates are allowed to complete prior to admission are Introduction to Education (ED 2120), Foundations of Education (Ed 2322), Technology in the Classroom (ED 2325), and The Exceptional Learner (ED 3340).
Applicants for the Teacher Education Program must post passing scores on all three sections of the Alabama Prospective Teacher Test (APTT). The Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program consists of basic skills assessments from the ACT Work Keys System in Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Writing. The State Board of Education adopted the Reading for Information assessment and the Applied Mathematics assessment on October 10, 2002, and the Writing assessment on May 8, 2003. The assessments are criterion-referenced and measure an examinee's foundational skills that are necessary for effectively performing the critical tasks required of prospective teachers. A Study Guide for the assessments provides additional information and may be downloaded at the time of online registration. Online registration may be completed at www.act.org/alabamapttp. Individuals who do not register online or who do not download the Study Guide at the time of registration may contact the APTTP Application Department at 800-294-2105 or 319-341-2500 to obtain the Study Guide. Faulkner University has been selected as a site where this test may be taken.
Application forms for admission into the Teacher Education Program can be secured from the Department of Education Office, Room 506, Johnson Hall, and upon completion should be returned to that office.
To be eligible for admission into the teacher education program, a pre-candidate must meet the following requirements:
- Regular admission to the university.
- A minimum score of 18 on the ACT.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on all work attempted.
- A passing score on all sections of the Alabama Prospective Teacher Test (APTT).
- Completion of at least 60 hours of work, no more than 13 of which may be in professional studies. Courses completed must include:
- ED 2120 Introduction to Education (1 hour).
- ED 2322 Foundations of Education (3 hours).
- ED 2325 Technology in the Classroom (3 hours).
- Satisfactory completion of Faulkner University's English Language Proficiency requirement. (English Composition I and II).
- Satisfactory ratings on approved clinical experiences in a variety of school settings totaling a minimum of 200 hours.
- Submission of a satisfactory Developmental Portfolio through LiveText™, to include a one page essay on "Why I Believe I Will Be an Effective Teacher of Children and Youth."
Recommendations from three faculty members or other persons who have worked with the applicant. - Interview with Department Chair and one instructor from the content area of the applicant's degree plan to view and approve the Developmental Portfolio. At this meeting, the pre-candidate will explain his/her goals and aspirations in becoming a certified teacher.
Approval from the Teacher Education Committee.
Holders of degrees who wish to complete a program that will make them eligible for a professional certificate in the public schools or who may need to complete a teacher education program to establish eligibility to enter certain graduate programs must complete the procedures and meet the standards outlined above for official acceptance into the teacher education program.