UNK 2004-2006 Catalog/Teacher Education

Academic Information

TEACHER EDUCATION

Admission to Teacher Education
UNK students who are pursuing a program/degree that leads to initial teacher certification will begin the application process for admission to the Teacher Education Program during the semester that they complete Teacher Education 100 (TE 100). Transfer students who have taken the equivalent of TE 100 elsewhere will apply during their first semester at UNK. The Application for Admission Form is available in the Knowledge and Assistance for Students in Education Office (KASE). The KASE Office is located in the College of Education Building and the phone number is (308) 865-8264.

Students must:

Complete all of the following courses with a grade of "C" (2.0 GPA) or better:
    ENG 101GS
    ENG 102GS
    SPCH 100 GS
    TE 100 *
   TE 204 * OR TE 206
Establish and maintain an overall UNK grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Successfully complete (minimum scores are mandated by the Nebraska Department of Education) all three components of the PRAXIS I Skills Test (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics).
Satisfactorily complete the Community Service Learning Project (verified by the Office for Service Learning).
Obtain approval by the department(s) offering the proposed endorsement(s) (a minimum of one field endorsement or two subject endorsements are required).
Declare a teaching program(s) at the Academic Advising Office.
Provide evidence of the absence of any criminal conviction (misdemeanor or felony) that would prevent a student from qualifying for a teaching certificate.
Provide evidence of sufficient emotional and mental capacity.

*Must meet required common assessments as presented in the class.

Application Procedures:

The student must apply for admission to the Teacher Education program while enrolled in TE 100. Transfer students who have taken the equivalent of TE 100 must apply during their first term at UNK. Applications are available in the KASE Office, College of Education, phone (308) 865-8264.

The student shall be responsible for securing the application form and initiating the procedure for processing this form.

The form shall be routed confidentially throughout the entire procedure and shall be returned for action to the KASE (Knowledge and Assistance for Students in Education) Director, phone (308) 865-8264.

The Director of KASE will determine the procedure and action to be taken on each application and will either (1) approve the applicant for the Teacher Education Program; (2) disapprove the applicant. Decisions of the Director may be appealed to the Teacher Education Appeals Board.

Students will not be allowed to enroll in "blocked" LEVEL THREE education courses until they have been admitted to the Teacher Education program (enrollment in a limited number of "unblocked" LEVEL THREE courses will be permitted in the Early Childhood Unified, Elementary Education, Middle Level, Special Education Mild/Moderate K-6, and Special Education Mild/Moderate 7-12 programs).

Student Teaching:

Plans have been developed with a number of schools in Nebraska to permit UNK students who have met all requirements to participate in student teaching on the secondary or elementary level. Most pre-student teaching and student teaching field experiences take place in schools that are members of UNK Network of Partner Schools. UNK teaching candidates will complete a minimum of 16 weeks (14 credit hours) of all-day student teaching. Teaching candidates who pursue two field endorsements will be required to complete 20 weeks of student teaching (17 credit hours).

Teaching candidates planning to student teach in the fall semester should apply for student teaching by February 1. Teaching candidates planning to student teach in the spring semester should apply by September 15. The first step, participation in a Student Teaching Instructional Session, is mandatory. This session will outline the application and placement process. A number of these sessions will be scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students can contact the KASE Office to request a schedule for the Instructional Sessions.

All UNK student teachers under this program are obligated and pledge themselves to observe local rules and regulations. Any student teacher may be removed at any time upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools or his designated representative.

All student teachers will be required to return to campus for one or more designated full day of training during their student teaching semester. Student teaching is graded credit/no credit. Students must follow the rules and regulations outlined in the College of Education's Student Teaching Handbook.

Teaching candidates must meet all of the following requirements for admission to student teaching:

Admittance to teacher education.
An overall UNK grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
A grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher in TE 204 and TE 206.

Satisfactory performance on the Individual Lesson Plan Case Study Common Assessment and a C or better in the course delivering the Common Assessment. Students whose performance is unsatisfactorily will receive an incomplete in the course that delivers the assessment. The course instructor will provide a remediation plan. The following courses will be responsible for the Individual Lesson Plan Case Study:

Secondary and K-12 Endorsement Programs	TE 319
Middle Level Endorsement Program	TE 472
Early Childhood Unified, Elementary, Special Education	TE 312

Satisfactory performance in all pre-student teaching field experiences. The Pre-student Teaching Field Experiences Assessment Rubric will document performance. The Rubric includes an assessment of teaching dispositions. All education majors will complete a minimum of two credit hours of pre-student teaching field experiences. Students who perform unsatisfactorily will receive an incomplete in the field experience. The supervisor for the field experience will provide a remediation plan. The following field experiences will be reviewed for Admission to Student Teaching:

Early Childhood Unified	TE 317, TE 345
Elementary Education	TE 317, TE 354
Special Education K-6	TE 317, TE 464>
Special Education 7-12	TE 464, TE 464
Secondary 7-12 Programs	TE 320, TE 320
Physical Education Endorsement	TE 471 (2 credit hours)
Music Education	TE 320, MUS 469
Art Education	TE 320, ART 371
Communication Disorders	TE 320, CDIS 312

* In addition to the five criteria noted above, teaching candidates should work closely with their academic advisor(s) to identify and meet any program-specific requirements for admission to student teaching.

Application and Approval Procedures:

Questions about any facet of student teaching should be directed to the Director for Field Experiences. The Director's office is located in the Knowledge and Assistance for Students in Education Office (KASE). The KASE Office is located in the College of Education Building C-125 and the phone number is (308) 865-8264.

The Director for Field Experiences will determine whether a student is approved or denied admission to student teaching (TE 400).

Students denied admission to student teaching (TE 400) may appeal the decision to the Teacher Education Appeals Board.

Advising of students in teacher education

UNK provides academic advising as an integral part of the educational process. Establishing a friendly and honest relationship with an advisor will be an advantage to the student both personally and educationally.
All students are assigned an advisor in their major. Beginning Fall 2004 all undergraduate Education majors must meet with their advisor every semester until their graduation.

The KASE office provides advisory services to students concerning the PRAXIS (PPST) examination, admission to Teacher Education, degree audit reviews, and admission to student teaching. Students are encouraged to stop in at any time.
Although faculty advisors are important for providing information regarding degree requirements, class selections, and career direction, it is necessary for students to realize that the ultimate responsibility is their own. The UNK catalog is the official source of information on these matters.Teaching Endorsements

The following endorsement programs have been established at UNK:

Teaching Subject Endorsements
(2 subject endorsements are required for certification)

Teaching Field Endorsements

Art, K-12
Communication Disorders, preschool-12 (5 1/2 year program)
Business (Vocational Education), 7-12
Early Childhood Unified (Birth-3rd Grade)
Elementary Education, K-6
Health and Phys. Ed., K-12
Language Arts, 7-12
Mathematics, 7-12
Middle Grades, 4-9
Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-6
Mild/Moderate Disabilities, 7-12
Music, K-12
Physical Science, 7-12
Social Science, 7-12

Supplemental Endorsements (Cannot be used as a subject endorsement for the initial certificate.)

Adapted Physical Education
Cooperative Education - Diversified Occupations, 7-12
Driver Education, 7-12 Interscholastic Coaching, 7-12

Graduate Supplemental Endorsements (see Graduate Catalog)
(Cannot be used as a subject endorsement for the initial certificate.)

Behavioral Disorders, P-12 (Graduate Program)
Elementary School Counseling (Graduate Program)
Educational Media, K-12 (Graduate Program)
Gifted, K-12 (Graduate Program)
Reading, K-12 (Graduate Programs)
School Psychologist, K-12 (Graduate Program)
Secondary School Counseling (Graduate Program)
Specific Learning Disabilities, P-12 (Graduate Program)

Administration Endorsements

Superintendent of Schools, K-12 (Graduate Program)
Elementary Principal, K-6 (Graduate Program)
Secondary Principal, 7-12 (Graduate Program)
Supervisor, K-12 (Graduate Program)

Teaching and Administration Certificates.

Applications for all teaching and administrative certificates are filed through the office of KASE. The institutional recommendation for certification and/or endorsement is based on admission to and successful completion of the respective programs.