Students in early childhood education and elementary education must major in education. Students pursuing any secondary education focus must be accepted as a major in a content area such as biology, English, history, mathematics, or physical education. Each of these programs includes coursework in psychology, human development, teaching methods, curriculum, and a supervised field practicum experience (student teaching) in nearby school settings.

Students wishing to obtain a B.A. or B.S. degree in the teacher education program must meet the following Undergraduate Education requirements :

Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education*

Admission to teacher education is conditional upon acceptance by an Admissions Committee of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Admissions Committee.

Application for admission to teacher education is to be made upon satisfactory completion of or while enrolled in the EDU 250 - Introduction to Education course. (Students are encouraged to apply no later than the second semester of their sophomore year in order to complete the program in two years.). Students wishing to major in secondary education or K-12 Physical Education, must first be accepted in their content area major such as biology, English, history, mathematics, or physical education).

Criteria considered for admission to the teacher education program include:

1. Completed Undergraduate Teacher Education Program application.
2. Praxis 1 scores. (Students must score 167 or higher on 2 of the 3 Praxis 1 tests.)
3. Submission of a minimum of three disposition evaluations by current and former professors.
4. A 2.75 or higher cumulative grade point average.
5. Submission of portfolio including a resume, educational philosophy and lesson plan.
6. A personal interview with member(s) of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Admissions Committee.

Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching

Admission to student teaching is conditional upon approval by the Student Teaching Committee of the Department of Education.**

Application for admission to student teaching is to be made after satisfactory completion of 90 semester hours.

Criteria considered for admission to student teaching would include:

1. A 2.75 cumulative grade point average with grades of B or higher in education courses and a C+ or better in all pre-professional and pre-major courses.
2. For those students in secondary education, a grade point average of 2.75 or higher in the (teaching field) content area.
3. Satisfactory completion of all but 6 hours of preprofessional courses and professional education courses.
4. Completion of all remaining required courses before or during the student teaching semester.
5. Submission of application and portfolio which includes passing scores on the Praxis 1 exams and taking the Praxis 2 exams required for the major and satisfactory evaluations of performance assessments.
6. Review and approval of the Department of Education Student Teaching Committee.

*Exceptions to the above may be made on the merits of each individual case.

**Total maximum course load for this semester would be nine hours, including six hours of teaching that would be undertaken during the last full semester in residence.

Praxis Requirements for all Education Majors

For admission:

1. Students must take the Praxis 1 (Pre-Professional Skills test: Reading, Writing and Mathematics) prior to admission to the undergraduate program. Students with scores will be considered for an interview with the Undergraduate Education Admission Committee. (To get information about the Praxis or to send scores to Gallaudet, go to www.ets.org/praxis or see Helen Thumann.)
2. Students who take the Praxis and score 167 or higher on all tests (and meet the other admission requirements) will be interviewed for admission. (Exceptions will be made in the case of strong candidates.)
3. Students admitted to the program who score 167 or higher but do not pass the Praxis 1 tests will be required to attend Praxis study groups or provide evidence of participation in a Praxis workshop.

After admission:

1. Students admitted to the program will be asked to take practice exams in their content area.
2. Students who do not pass their content area practice exam may be required to take additional coursework, attend study groups or otherwise demonstrate content area proficiency prior to admission to practicum.

For entrance to Practicum (EDU 493):

1. Students must pass all Praxis 1 exams prior to beginning practicum.
2. Students must demonstrate content area proficiency prior to admission to practicum

For entrance to Student Teaching:

1. Students must pass all Praxis 1 exams and have taken all praxis 2 exams prior to student teaching.

For Program completion and recommendation for Licensure:

1. Students must pass all required praxis exams (1 & 2) prior to program completion and recommendation for licensure.