Dean of School of Education: Richard Fulton
Email: fulton_r@fortlewis.edu
Requirements for Admission
To gain admission to the Teacher Education Licensure Program, students who meet all requirements listed below:
- Submission of fingerprints for a Colorado Department of Education background investigation.
- Beginning GPA must be a minimum 2.75. The Beginning GPA is based on the grades in undergraduate courses applied to the program.
Qualifying Process
- Prospective students should submit an email request to the Director of Teacher Education. Prospective students should specify the licensure program of interest and should attach in the same email copies of transcripts from all colleges attended. The transcripts may be unofficial. The Director of Teacher Education will then review the transcripts and send in a reply email the list of courses the student needs to complete in the chosen licensure program and other information about the program.
- Following this transcript evaluation process, interested post-baccalaureate students should schedule an appointment with the Director of Teacher Education by calling the Teacher Education Department at 970-247-7291 to address concerns or questions, to establish a GPA for the purpose of admission to the Teacher Education Licensure Program, and to plan a program of studies. Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires at least at 2.75 GPA in the area of certification. Students who do not have at least a 2.75 GPA are eligible to petition the Professional Education Review Committee (PERC) by downloading the PERC petition form and guidelines and return the form and supporting documents to the Administrative Assistant of the Teacher Education Program, in EBH 249, 970-247-7291. The PERC is composed of three Teacher Education faculty members who review the applicant’s petition. The PERC will review each case on its merits and not all PERC requests are granted. The PERC meets once per month during the academic year and accept petitions between mid-September through mid April. They do not meet during the last two weeks of the semester. Petitions are responded to at least four weeks after complete petition is accepted.
- Following this appointment, interested post-baccalaureate students should apply for admission to Fort Lewis College as Unclassified student.
- Post-baccalaureate students admitted to Fort Lewis College are advised by the Director of Teacher Education. Students should meet with their advisor each term prior to registration.
Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching
Post-baccalaureate students who have been admitted to the Teacher Education Licensure Program must apply for student teaching by the third Friday of the first month of the fall or spring semester that precedes their student teaching term. Requirements for admission to student teaching are indicated below. Students will attend a special meeting in the first week of the fall or spring semester prior to their intended student teaching term/third immersion term. Applications for student teaching/third immersion term are distributed at this meeting and must be submitted by the deadline announced at this meeting, typically three weeks after the meeting. For more information, students should contact Will Camp, Coordinator of Field Experiences, EBH 242 or call 970-247-7281.
Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching/Third Immersion Term:
- Senior or post-baccalaureate standing and admission to the program.
- Pass the approved PRAXIS II or PLACE content test.
- Successful completion of 100% of coursework prior to the student teaching term.
- Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 and a minimum 2.75 GPA in courses with an ED designation.
- Earn a minimum grade of C (not C-) in all courses with an ED designation.
- Maintain the support of teacher education faculty members. Such support may be withheld for violations of academic integrity or irresponsible actions in field experiences or course work or criminal behavior.
PERC Petition: Students not meeting the above requirements may petition for a review by the Department’s Professional Education Review Committee (PERC), which may stipulate conditions in order to be allowed to student teach. Not all PERC requests are granted.
Out-of-Area Student Teaching: Reasonable attempts will be made to approve students’ requests to student teach out-of-area (more than 70 miles from Durango). Students approved to teach out-of-area must have demonstrated consistently responsible behaviors in pre-student teaching field study and coursework. Students interested in this option should speak with Will Camp, Coordinator of Field Experiences, EBH 242, well in advance of the student teaching term. Students who student teach out-of-area are charged an additional fee to cover the additional cost of supervision.
Required Content Tests: Students will not be placed into student teaching until they have passed the required content test for their licensure area by the established testing dates. Thus, students should take their content test prior to the date they will apply for admission to student teaching.
- For students planning to student teach in a fall semester, they should have taken their content test by November of the prior year.
- For students planning to student teach in a spring semester, they should have taken their content test by June or July of the prior year.
Students register on-line and can find additional information about the tests and study guides by linking to PRAXIS and PLACE from the Teacher Education website. Information on test dates also can be found on the bulletin board outside EBH 242.
Required Tests by Licensure Area
- Early Childhood Education: PLACE Test 02 or PRAXIS 5024
- Elementary Education: PLACE Test 01 or PRAXIS II 5001
- Secondary English: PLACE Test 07 or PRAXIS II 5038
- Secondary Mathematics: PLACE Test 04 or PRAXIS II 5161
- Secondary Science: PLACE Test 05 or PRAXIS II 5435
- Secondary Social Studies: PLACE Test 06 or PRAXIS II 5081
- K-12 Art: PLACE Test 28 or PRAXIS 5135
- K-12 Music: PLACE Test 29 or PRAXIS 5113
- K-12 Physical Education: PLACE Test 32 or PRAXIS 5091
- K-12 Spanish: PLACE Test 09 or PRAXIS 5195
- K-12 Drama: PLACE Test 30 or PRAXIS 5641
Completion of Student Teaching
To complete the Teacher Education Licensure Program, all students must receive a satisfactory grade in their student teaching course. To earn a satisfactory grade, all students must meet three criteria:
- Satisfactory Performance in the Student Teaching Placement,
- Attend, participate and complete all assignments in ED 493 or 494 and 495, or 495 or 496 and associated Thursday Seminars
- Successful Completion of the Professional Exhibition
Each of the requirements is explained in turn.
- Satisfactory Performance in the Student Teaching Placement: During student teaching students will be evaluated by educational professionals on a number of factors critical to effective teaching. Any student teacher removed from their student teaching placement for any reason will not complete their student teaching course.
- Attend, participate and complete all assignments in ED 493 or 494 and 495, or 495 or 496 and associated Thursday Seminars.
- Successful Completion of the Professional Exhibition: During the final weeks of the student teaching term, all students design and present a Professional Exhibition demonstrating, through various modes, their ability to reflect on their strengths, weaknesses and goals in a number of areas critical to effective teaching. This Professional Exhibition is evaluated by educational professionals as Not Satisfactory or Satisfactory. Students must earn a Satisfactory rating on their design and presentation as one requirement for earning a satisfactory grade in student teaching.
Recommendation for Licensure
Upon successful completion of the Teacher Education Licensure Program, students may apply for a Colorado Teaching License. The Teacher Education Department will recommend students for Colorado licensure if they meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of all content and teaching education licensure course requirements.
- Passing the approved PRAXIS II or PLACE content test.
- Submission of required materials to the Director of Teacher Education.
Students wishing to apply to another state are advised to contact the appropriate State Department of Education for information about specific requirements.
Requirements for Licensure Programs
Students must meet prerequisites for Specific Departmental Requirements courses. Students may enroll in 300-level ED prefix courses prior to admission to the Teacher Education Licensure Program but must be admitted to the program to enroll in 400-level ED prefix courses.