Apr 24, 2024  
2019-2020 Academic Bulletin 
    
2019-2020 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Education BSELED


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Students in the Elementary Education program must include the Planned Program minor and one subject content major or two minors. When two minors are chosen, they should be chosen from different groups and at least one should be a subject area commonly taught in elementary schools (indicated with a *).

The required courses for an approved major or minor in Integrated Science, Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies are listed in the chart below. All other approved majors and minors are listed and described under the appropriate department in the College of Arts & Sciences and College of Health & Human Services sections of this bulletin.

Majors and Minors for Elementary Education Certification


  Subject Content Areas BA BS Minor
Group A: Language Arts      
  Language Arts BSELED, Language Arts Minor*   36 24
  Reading Minor     20
Group B: Social Studies      
  Social Studies   44  
Group C: Integrated Science      
  Integrated Science BSELED, Integrated Science Minor   36 29
Group D: Mathematics      
  Mathematics Education BS, Mathematics Minor*   36 20
Group E: Supporting Areas      
  ESL     21
  French Education Minor 36#   24
  Spanish (K-12) BS, Spanish Education Minor 36#   21
Group F: Religion Minor      
  Religion Minor (for Seventh-day Adventist certification only)     20

*Indicates a major/minor commonly taught in the elementary school.
#K-12 Endorsement in major area only.

Note: It is the responsibility of all students seeking teacher certification to verify that they are meeting the current Andrews University requirements that have been submitted to the State of Michigan as well as all current State of Michigan requirements. This includes requirements for General Education, content major, minor, planned program minor, and Professional Education. These requirements may differ from what is listed in the content department.

Planned Program Minor - 20


All courses must be completed - this minor consists of a group of courses related to teaching in the elementary school and is required by the State of Michigan. All courses listed must be completed either in the Planned Program minor or in other areas of the degree requirements. The total credits in the planned program minor must be at least 20.

Elementary Education Andrews Core Experience Requirements - 53+


The School of Education (College of Education & International Services) philosophy of general education is to give the prospective teacher the balance, perspective, and understanding of a well-educated person - to help free him/her from bias, intolerance, and ignorance about humanity’s world environment. Such education should acquaint the student with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for independent and reflective thought so essential for successful living in today’s complex world. The following courses will fulfill the Andrews Core Experience (ACE) requirements.

Admission Requirements


An application for admission to the Teacher Preparation Program and Student Teaching must be completed during the semester EDTE 408  Principles of Teaching and Learning is being taken. This must be completed at least a year before a student plans to do Student Teaching. Applications will be considered at the end of each semester once all requirements have been completed.

To be admitted to the teacher education program, students must meet the criteria listed below:

  • Satisfactorily complete EDTE 165 /630 EDTE 228 /SPED 525 , GDPC GDPC 302 /514 , and EDTE 408 /508  (preferred order).
  • Choose appropriate teaching major and/or minor(s).
  • Satisfactorily complete the MTTC Professional Readiness Examination (PRE), or the ACT, or the SAT exam.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.
  • Obtain a recommendation from three sources: a professor from an education course, and professors from your major and your minor.
  • ​Demonstrate police clearance regarding the potential for any felony and/or misdemeanor convictions as an adult.
  • Submit an acceptable plan for completing all required course work. All prerequisites for student teaching as stated in the University Bulletin must be met prior to the student-teaching semester.
  • Submit a plan for completing the required MTTC Michigan Subject Area Exam(s).
  • Applications will be processed as they are received and completed. It is the student’s responsibility to see that all paperwork is in for the application to be processed in a timely manner.

Professional Readiness Examination (PRE) and Its Alternatives


(Taken from the Michigan Department of Education Website)

The PRE is the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) teacher certification basic skills examination composed of reading, writing, and mathematics subtests. The PRE must be passed before student teaching in a Michigan K-12 school. The PRE is also required for out-of-state applicants seeking Michigan certification. To pass the PRE, a test-taker must pass each of the three subtests mentioned above.

The PRE provider, Evaluation Services Group of Pearson (ES), offers the PRE in a computer- or paper-based format as part of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) program. Those seeking Michigan certification can learn about test schedules, locations, and registration by visiting the MTTC Web site.

In April 2014, the MDE accepted ACT and the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) as alternative examinations for the PRE. In February 2017, the updated SAT was added as an alternative. ACT, MME, and SAT minimum passing scores are below:

PRE Subtest Required ACT Score1 Required MME Score2 Required SAT Score3
Reading 22 1108 4805
Writing 224 1129 4805
Mathematics 22 1116 530
  1. ACT scores are valid for tests taken from January 1989 to September 23, 2017
  2. MME scores are valid for tests taken from January 2007 through January 2015
  3. SAT scores are valid for tests taken on or after March 5, 2016
  4. ACT Writing score is determined from an ACT Combined English/Writing score
  5. SAT Reading and English test results are reported as a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score

SAT test takers are not required to complete the SAT essay test. SAT essay performance is not in the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score.

The MDE also offers the option of passing the PRE with a passing score in two PRE subtests and a third PRE subtest alternative score, which is a score at or above a Statistical Error of Measurement (called-1 SEM). The-1 SEM target score may change with each test administration. An alternative scores table is published on the MTTC Web site.

Test-takers may combine alternative pass measures until October 1, 2025. For example, a test-taker can receive basic skills examination “passed” status with:

  • an ACT Mathematics score of 22, an MME Reading score of 1108, and an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480.
  • an SAT Mathematics score of 530, an MME Reading score of 1108, and a PRE Writing score of 220.

An important caveat to the combination allowances:

The-1 SEM alternative pass measure is not allowed in any combination using an SAT score.

Thus, in the combination examples above, a test-taker may not use a -1 SEM PRE allowance in place of the ACT or the PRE score. Someone could, however, earn basic skills examination “passed” status with:

  • an ACT Mathematics score of 22, an MME Reading score of 1108, and a Writing PRE score at or above a -1 SEM score from the alternative score table.

As of September 23, 2017,

  • the PRE will no longer be offered. PRE score results from on or before September 23, 2017 will still be eligible to establish basic skills examination “passed” status without expiration.
  • the ACT may no longer be taken as a basic skills examination.
  • test-takers needing to pass the MDE basic skills examination must use the updated SAT from on or after March 5, 2016.
  • alternative pass measures completed on or before September 23, 2017, may be used until October 1, 2025. Alternative pass measures include ACT, MME, and -1 SEM PRE score values.

State law requires a passing result in all 3 areas prior to student teaching. Andrews University requires a passing result prior to admission to the Teacher Preparation/Student Teaching program.

Maintaining Academic Standing


Once admitted to the Teacher Education/Student Teaching Program students must:

  • Maintain good and regular status.
  • Maintain at least at least a 2.50 GPA in each of the following areas:
  • Major(s)*,
  • Minor(s)*,
  • Professional education courses*, and
  • Overall course work.
  • A course with a grade less than a C in a major, minor, or professional education class must be repeated. All courses taken at Andrews University or transferred to Andrews University are included in calculating the GPA.
  • Continue working on their professional teaching portfolio (begun in EDTE 165).
  • Demonstrate the professional disposition of an educator.

NOTE: Students cannot be admitted to the Teacher Preparation/Student Teaching Program, or remain in the program once admitted, if they fail two classes in their major, minor, courses for Professional Education, or Planned Program minor.

Graduation & Certification Requirements


CPR & First Aid Training


Michigan Public Act 18 of 2003 requires all teaching interns to be certified in CPR (child and adult) and first aid prior to being recommended for teacher certification. The legislation stipulates that this training must be completed through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Subject Area Tests


A passing score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject area test in major and minor is also required to earn teacher certification through Andrews University and in the state of Michigan.

Official exam results must be sent directly to Andrews University from the testing companies prior to a recommendation for certification.

The subject area tests should not be taken before your final year in the program. We recommend that you wait until you have completed most or all of your major and minor university-based coursework before attempting the subject area tests.

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