Admission to University does not qualify a student for admission to teacher education. Teacher education majors must be formally admitted to the Professional Teacher Education Program. To apply for admission, each student must complete and submit a word processed application. Application packets are available in the Office of the Dean, Huntington Hall, suite 202. Each application must include the following:

1. A curriculum balance sheet that includes grades earned in all courses completed in the program. The curriculum balance sheet must clearly verify the following and be checked and signed by the advisor, the Department Chair, and the applicant:
   1. Completion of all General Studies courses (approximately 60 semester hours).
   2. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. The highest grade obtained in General Studies courses will be used to calculate the General Studies GPA in accordance with the Replacement Grades and Repetition of Courses policies listed in the Tuskegee University Academic Regulations and Procedures for Undergraduates handbook.
   3. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 will be required prior to filing an application for admission to the Professional Teacher Education Program.
   4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 will be required in the Teaching Field courses.
   5. A minimum grade of “C” for courses listed with a “#” on the first page of the applicant’s approved curriculum balance sheet.
   6. A satisfactory score on each part of the Tuskegee University English Proficiency Examination is required . The applicant must attach a copy of the score results to the application form.
   7. Earn an acceptable rating on an interview conducted by the Professional Teacher Education Committee. Interviews are designed to provide information on the applicant’s dispositions, interests, and aptitudes consistent with the requirements for successful teaching.
   8. A copy of the results of criminal history background check clearance from the Alabama State Superintendent of Education is required.
   9. A passing score on the ETS PRAXIS Core Tests is required.
2. Prior to filing an application for admission to the Professional Teacher Education Program, the applicant must verify that the following documents are on file in the Dean’s office:
   1. Two recommendations requested by the student from faculty members whose classes the student has taken and whose classes are required in the Tuskegee University teacher education program in which the student is currently enrolled. Transfer students may use recommendations from faculty members at their transfer institution provided the faculty members’ courses were accepted for the Tuskegee University teacher education program in which the student is currently enrolled. Completed recommendation forms should be submitted to the Dean’s office in sealed envelopes with the recommender’s signature across the sealed back flap of the envelope.
   2. Health certification completed within the past 12 months, dated and signed by a licensed physician, and mailed by the physician to: Tuskegee University, School of Education, Office of the Dean, Huntington Hall, Suite 202, Tuskegee, AL 36088. To ensure a timely arrival of the Health Certification, applicants should initiate health clearance procedures at least one month prior to the deadline date for the application.

Professional Teacher Education Admission Status

The Professional Teacher Education Committee reviews applications to determine if a student is eligible to enter the Professional Teacher Education Program. After receiving the committee’s recommendation from the Department Chair, the Dean notifies each student by letter of his/her Professional Teacher Education Admission status.

Students who have not been formally admitted to Professional Teacher Education are advised to complete only five (5) Professional Teacher Education courses. These courses are listed on the back of each program’s curriculum balance sheet. Students may repeat any of the five courses in which she or he received a grade of “C” or below in order to achieve a G P A o f 2.75 in the professional studies.

Professional Teacher Education Grade Standards

A student will be removed from the teacher education program or denied admission to the program if:

1. The student has earned during one semester two grades of “F” or “D” when “C” is the minimum passing grade in certain subjects listed as essential for the chosen field of specialization.
2. The student has earned one grade of “F” or “D” when “C” is the minimum passing grade in each of two consecutive semesters in subjects listed as essential for the chosen field of specialization.

Time Limit for Graduation a n d Curriculum Changes: The Dean of the School of Education will notify teacher education students when the state approved curriculum for their teacher education program changes. Students who change their major to teacher education will follow the curriculum in force at the time the major is changed. If a teacher education curriculum is changed as a result of new accreditation/State requirements, or for any other reason, students who have not been admitted to Professional Teacher Education at the time of the change must transfer to the new curriculum. Students already admitted to Professional Teacher Education may choose to transfer to the new curriculum.

Field-Based Experiences

Pre-clinical: Prospective teacher candidates enrolled in teacher education courses that require laboratory assignments are placed in local schools with certified teachers according to their major areas. These candidates complete a minimum of 150 hours of field-based experiences that are directly linked to specific courses. Pre-clinical experiences begin during the freshman year in EDUC 0114 - Freshman Seminar in Teaching II  and continue throughout the sophomore, junior, and senior years. Pre-clinical experiences are directly linked to the curriculum and methods courses. All transportation arrangements and costs associated with pre-clinical experiences are the responsibility of the student. Each student must take a Tuberculin Test (TB) within 1 year prior to being placed for each field-based experience.

Students must be fingerprinted prior to placements in the schools. Fingerprints should be taken and the results submitted to the Field-based Coordinator in the semester students are enrolled in EDUC 0113 . A complete description of the requirements for the field-clinical program is outlined in the Teacher Education Handbook.

Seven-day Pre-internship: Teacher education candidates are required to complete 56 clock hours of field-based experiences over a seven-day period in school settings approved at least one month in advance by t h e Coordinator of Field-based Experiences and the Dean. The Seven-day Preinternship program is designed to maximize prospective interns’ experiences in diverse settings, and in settings that may be similar to where the student will be placed for teaching internship. Candidates must apply for the Seven-day Pre-internship after admission to Professional Teacher Education Program and at least one semester prior to applying for the Internship. Transportation arrangements and all costs associated with the Seven-day Pre-Internship are the responsibility of the candidate. The Seven-day Pre-internship must be in school settings with diverse populations. Candidates’ Seven-day Pre-internship must not conflict with other field assignments or classes in which they are enrolled. Application packets with guidelines for the Seven-day Pre-internship are available in the Office of the Dean, Huntington Hall Suite 202.

Internship: Internship is the culminating field-based experience for teacher candidates. Teacher candidates must concurrently enroll in the appropriate EDUC 0443 - Teaching Internship  and EDUC 0430 - Teaching Internship Seminar.  The internship experience at Tuskegee University is 14 weeks, with one week of examination time. The internship experience is not limited to one classroom or grade level. The internship experience progresses over time to the full responsibility of the classroom teacher by the last 6 weeks of the 14 week internship. Interns, therefore, must satisfy the requirement of spending 20 full days including at least 10 consecutive days of full-time teaching during their internship.

Interns in the Physical Education P-12 program have a split internship to gain experiences at the P-6 level and the 7-12 grade levels. For elementary programs, interns will have a split internship unless it can be verified through assessment documents that substantial field experiences were completed at both upper and lower grade levels during preclinical experiences. Secondary majors have experiences over several grade levels and/or over different subject matter content within their major during their internship placement. It is the intern’s responsibility to make transportation arrangements and pay all of their expenses for their internship. Application packets are available in the Office of the Dean, School of Education, Huntington Hall, Suite 202. Candidates planning for internship in the fall must submit applications on or before March 15 of the preceding semester. Candidates planning to intern in the spring must submit their applications on or before October 15 of the preceding fall semester. Late applications will be returned and must be updated and resubmitted on or before the next application deadline. No candidate may register for the internship semester if the candidate has not been officially admitted to Professional Teacher Education, is on academic probation, and/or has less than the required grade point average in general studies, professional studies, and in the teaching field. To enroll in the internship courses, EDUC 0443  and EDUC 0430 , a candidate must have met the following requirements:

1.  Admission to Professional Teacher Education
2. Completion of all requirements for the Seven-Day Pre-Internship prior to the internship application deadline (Seven-day Pre-Internship documents must be attached to the candidate’s Teaching Internship Application)
3. A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 is required
4. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in professional studies
5. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in the teaching field
6. A passing score on the ETS PRAXIS Core Test
7. A passing score on the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Tests in all major areas

To apply for admission to the internship, candidates must submit:

1. A word processed application in triplicate
2. A word processed autobiography
3. Written reflective responses to questions about their prior teaching experiences (questions are included in the application packet)
4. A Health Certification signed by a licensed physician dated within the past 12 months, and mailed by the physician to: Tuskegee University, School of Education, Office of the Dean, Huntington Hall Suite 202, Tuskegee, AL 36088. To ensure a timely arrival of the Health Certification, applicants should initiate health clearance procedures at least one month prior to the deadline for accepting applications.
5. Three 2 inch X 3 inch professional photographs
6. A curriculum balance sheet signed by the candidate, advisor, Department Chair, and the Dean that clearly shows the applicant’s GPA in general studies, professional studies, and the teaching field.
7. Copies of test results on the (ETS PRAXIS Core Tests and PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Tests)