Timeline and Benchmarks for the Education Program:

As an entering freshman, you will want to:

1. Develop a four-year plan with your academic advisor (during Freshmen Forum).
2. Become familiar with the Policies and Procedures Manual and the Dakota Wesleyan University Catalog.

A student electing to enter the teacher preparation sequence must

1. Have met the proficiency requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics; must have completed three courses toward the General Education requirements (one of which must be PSY 237 Developmental Psychology)
2. Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.6.

First course taken in the teacher preparation sequence is EDU 201 Foundations of Education

1. Student must show proof of one million dollars of personal liability insurance. Joining DWUFTO and the NEA Student Program will secure this liability
2. Education Department will inform students of statutes that can prevent issuance of a certificate or impact employment in K-12 schools before admission to teacher education

Transfer Students must take EDU 201 Foundations of Education or its equivalent as a necessary part of the Education Department application process. The Chair of the Education Department will audit a transfer students' transcript to plan a course of study. An application form must be completed.

Upon completion of EDU 201 Foundations of Education

1. Teacher Education Program candidates will be evaluated
2. The professor of EDU 201 will make a recommendation of acceptance, acceptance with probation, or non-acceptance. The recommendation process will be completed during the week following the end of the semester.
3. Following review of cumulative GPA (must be a 2.7) and the EDU 201 recommendation form, the Department Chair will then send written documentation of the decision to Teacher Education Program candidates.

Teacher Education Program candidates must satisfy all course work for programs including any endorsements. Any required coursework (including prerequisites) must be completed with a C- or above letter grade. Remember that you must complete at least 125 credit hours in order to graduate.

Pre-Student Teaching

1. Each fall semester the Education Department holds a Pre-Student Teaching Seminar. Any student who will be student teaching during the next academic year must attend.
2. Education Department will inform students of statutes that can prevent issuance of a certificate or impact employment in K-12 schools before admission to student teaching.
3. Those students planning to student teach in the fall semester must turn in their student teaching application by February 1st and complete their student teaching interview by March 15th.
4. Those students planning to student teach in the spring semester must turn in their student teaching application by September 15th and complete their student teaching interview by October 30th.

Student Teaching

1. The student teaching application should include: a letter of introduction to the school administrator; a resume; a list of all courses completed; and a detailed list of all observation hours completed. Some districts have a different set of materials that they will request/require. If you are a secondary education major, you must have the form signed by your major advisor. The application should be submitted to the Chair of the Education Department.
2. Review a copy of the Student Teaching Handbook.
3. Receive Student Teaching placement
4. Education Department informs students of statutes that can prevent issuance of a certificate or impact employment in K-12 schools before admission to student teaching and advise students to disclose convictions before continuing/completing a teacher education program.
5. Complete semester requirements of student teaching, which includes EDU 420 General Methods, EDU 425 The Teaching Profession, and EDU 470 13 Weeks of Student Teaching. While taking EDU 420 and EDU 425 you will complete your placement forms, credential packets, cover letters, resumes, and electronic portfolios.
6. Your exit interview and presentation of your professional electronic portfolio will be scheduled during the last month of your professional semester.

Certification

1. South Dakota requires a minimum GPA for certification of 2.7. Fill out the application for Teacher Certification for the State of South Dakota. The form must be notarized.
2. Attach a $30 money order made out to the Department of Education.
3. Request an unofficial and official transcript from the Registrar to be forwarded to the Certification Officer of DWU.
4. Submit certification forms to Kevin Lein, Certification Officer to be forwarded to Secretary of Education. If necessary, Certification officer will forward disclosure and court records to Secretary of Education with application for certification.