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Undergraduate Level Teacher Licensure Programs

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM SUMMARY

Elementary Education:

   The teacher program is designed to effectively prepare teacher candidates to work with students across various age and ability levels, and from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

Bachelor's Degree Requirements:

   In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education through the Department of Teaching and Learning, students must complete General Education and Bachelors Degree Requirements in addition to the Elementary Teacher Education Major and Licensure Program requirements.

 

Licensure:

   Teaching licenses are granted by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE). Upon successful completion of the requirements for the Elementary Teacher Education Program, graduates are recommended for the Utah Level 1 Teaching License in Elementary Education to teach grades one (1) through eight (8).

 

 

Advising:

Elementary Education Advisor

Bobbi Davis

(801) 581-6064

bobbi.davis@utah.edu 

www.ed.utah.edu/TandL
1705 E. Campus Center Drive Rm 142
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9256
Phone: (801) 581-7158

Fax: (801) 581-3609

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TEACHING LICENSE

AT THE U OF U

I. General Education Requirements: For more information, please contact the University College at (801) 581-8146;

A. Intellectual Exploration -

Fine Arts (F)

Humanities (H) (Note: Elementary Education Majors may fulfill the Humanities requirements through their coursework in the field of education.)

Physical/Life Science (S)

Social/Behavioral Science (B)

B. Writing (WR)

C. American Institutions (AI)

D. Quantitative Reasoning:

Math (QA)

Statistics/Logic (QB)

 

II. Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements: For more information, please contact the University College at (801) 581-8146

A. Upper-Division Communication/Writing (CW)

B. Diversity (DV)

C. International (IR)

D. Bachelor of Science: 2 Quantitative Intensive courses (QI)

E. Major & College Requirements (see section III)

F. Elementary majors are required to complete a total of 126 semester hours

G. Minimum of 40 Upper-division Semester Hours

H. Minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for retention at the University of Utah.

Elementary majors admitted during their freshman or sophomore year must maintain a cumulative 2.50 in all university course work. until they advance to their junior year. A 3.0 cumulative GPA in elementary education teacher licensure courses is required during the student's junior and senior year of the bachelor's degree and elementary education teacher licensure program.

I. Residency Requirement

J. Apply for Graduation

 

III. Elementary Teacher Education Program Requirements:

A.     Professional Education Lower Division Courses. All courses in the lower division professional education core may be taken prior to or following admission to the elementary education program.

B.     Professional Education Upper Division Courses and Field Experiences. Registration for courses and field experiences in the upper division professional education core requires admission to the elementary education program. See application information on the following pages.

C.     Elementary Education Teaching Specialization Courses and Field Experiences. Registration for courses and field experiences in the elementary education teaching specialization requires admission to the teacher education program. See application information on the following pages.

 

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR

THE TEACHING MAJOR IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

 

Information: The Elementary Teacher Education Program is a sequenced program that includes the lower division professional education core, the upper division professional education core and the elementary education specialization courses and field experiences. Students must apply for admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program. Enrollment may be limited depending upon space available. The Admissions Committee is composed of faculty from the Department of Teaching and Learning. Admission to the program is based on the criteria listed below under the heading 'Admissions Criteria.' Admissions Committee members use their professional judgment to assess a candidate 's potential to succeed in the program as well as in the classroom.

Time Frame: Students at the University of Utah may be admitted as a teaching major in elementary education at any time during their undergraduate program. All completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee once a month. Important note: All students planning to enroll for the elementary education specialization courses and field experiences during fall semester of their senior year must be admitted by March 15^th of the preceding academic year.

Early and Rolling Admission Now Available for All

Prospective Elementary Education Teacher Candidates

What is early and rolling admission?

 

• Early Admission: Students may be admitted at any time during their bachelor's degree program at the University of Utah. The earlier a student is admitted to the elementary teacher education program, the more flexibility he or she has to complete a degree and licensure within four years and benefit from faculty mentoring and advising.
• Financial Benefits: Admission to the Teacher Education Program qualifies the student for state and federal financial assistance available only to teaching majors.

 

U of U Undergraduate Teacher Education

Program Admissions and Retention Criteria

 

Admissions Criteria:

 

• Praxis I Assessment: Applicants must take and successfully pass the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test with a score of 173 or higher (Assistance is available to students seeking to prepare for the Praxis I test. Please see the Elementary Education Advisor in the Department of Teaching and Learning for more information.)
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. For more specific information on the required letters of recommendation, see page 4 of this document under the heading "Application Requirements for the Elementary Education Program--Letters of Recommendation."
• Career Professional Statement: Two-page essay on why the applicant is seeking a career in elementary education (See more information below under the heading "Admission Application Requirements for the Elementary Education Program."
• GPA requirement: Students admitted during their freshman or sophomore year must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 upon admissions. Students admitted during their junior or senior year must have maintained a cumulative GPA of 2.50 during their first two years of study and a 3.0 term by term GPA in all upper division coursework for the elementary education major.
• Background Check. By legislative mandate, a university student who is placed in a public school setting and working directly with children must pass a background check, including fingerprinting. At the time of admission to the elementary teacher education program, each applicant must submit a completed background check, including fingerprinting prior to beginning coursework and field experiences. For further information, contact the College of Education Dean's office, 581-8221 or the Utah State Office of Education, 250 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 (801) 538-7741, Attn: Coordinator, Educator Licensing. To initiate a background check, applicants may ago directly to www.utah.gov/teachers. For more information on how to complete the background check, see the next section "Application Process for Admission to the Elementary Education Program."

 

Application Process for Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program

 

Each applicant must first be admitted as a degree seeking undergraduate student at the University of Utah.

***Complete the Application for Admission to the Elementary Teacher Education Program form. The application form may be obtained from the Department of Teaching and Learning, 1705 East Campus Center Drive, Rm 142 (MBH) Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9256 or online at www.ed.utah.edu/tl. Applications are now available. For questions or more information, please contact the elementary education advisor in the Department of Teaching and Learning

***Career Professional Statement - Compose and submit a two-page essay describing your rationale for seeking a career in elementary education. Describe events in your life that have prompted you to want to become a teacher. Identify personal experiences in which you were able to teach someone and describe the significance to your perceptions of the education profession. Indicate the personal characteristics you possess that would be beneficial in the role of classroom teacher and provide any evidence that these impressions are accurate. Explain the role that you feel a teacher can play in the lives of children as well as the betterment of the wider community and show the ways you believe you can fulfill those roles. The quality of writing, the depth of thought and your commitment to the profession will be important evaluation criteria for the committee.

***Letters of Recommendation - Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. Each letter should attest to the applicant's professional qualifications. The letters should speak to the potential as an educator. It is recommended that letters come directly from individuals who have insights into educational experiences, intellectual abilities, and professional temperament rather than family and friends. Letters should be on letterhead when appropriate.

1.       Teaching & Working with Youth - This letter is to be written by a professional educator who has supervised and/or observed you while you are interacting with children in an educative capacity (i.e., a cooperating teacher in whose room you worked during TL 1010).

2.       Academic Performance - This letter should be by a university or college instructor who can write knowledgeable about your intellectual performance and your abilities as a scholar (University of Utah instructors are preferred but not required).

3.       Professional Attributes - This letter is a character reference that speaks to your reliability, initiative, organization, communication skills, and contributions to a group working situation (this letter might come from an employer or an additional college instructor.

***Request a current and official transcript from the University of Utah. The transcript must be received by the candidate. The transcript must be included in the application packet and must be in a sealed envelope from the Registrar's Office with a stamp over the seal. For more information, call the University Transcript Office, (801) 581-8964.

***Request current and official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended, no matter how long ago or how little credit was earned, including all correspondence and/or foreign credit. The transcript must be received by the candidate. A 'Summary of Transfer Credit 'will not be accepted. The transcripts must be in sealed envelopes with a stamp over the seal and must be included in the application packet.

***Take the PRAXIS I. The PRAXIS I is designed to measure the basic academic skills vital to all teacher candidates in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Below is information for taking the PRAXIS I.

 

PRAXIS I: CBT Assessment - Computer Based Format

-Registration: Contact the Prometeric Testing Center (581-7310, SSB 490)

-Test Dates: There are not determined dates to take the PRAXIS I via Computer Based. Plan on taking the PRAXIS I as soon as possible. Please keep in mind, it takes approximately 6 weeks from the date you take the test for you to receive your scores. Your scores will only be mailed directly to you, not the University of Utah. Please submit your Praxis I scores with your application materials.

- Cost: Total: $135 (to take all three sections: reading, writing, and math of the PRAXIS I).

OR:

PRAXIS I: PPST Assessment - Paper/Pencil Format

-Registration: Online at www.ets.org/praxis/prxreg.html

-Test Dates: Check registration website for actual test dates.

-Cost: Total: $130 (Registration fee and test fees)

 

PRAXIS I Scores: Each section is scored between 150-190 (190 being the highest). Average Performance Range: Reading 178-182, Writing 176-178, Mathematics 178-183. Tests scored below 173 will need to be retaken.

 

For more information and assistance in taking the Praxis I, see "TEST AT A GLANCE": Online, free: www.ets.org/praxis/prxtest.html

 

Complete Background Check, Including Fingerprinting

To ensure timely results, applicants should initiate the process at least one month prior to the review of applications by the Department of Teaching and Learning Admissions Committee.

 

o        Go to www.utah.gov/teachers

 

o        Select "Background Check" application.

 

o        Follow prompts

 

o        Select the "Live Scan" method for fingerprint processing.

 

o        $69 processing fee must be paid by credit card only. Cash and personal checks can not be used as payment.

 

o        Be sure to click on "Generate Form" if you selected the Live Scan method. Print his form because it must be taken to a Live Scan site of your choice to complete the fingerprinting process. Your fingerprints will not be processed until you take this form to a Live Scan site!

 

o       An additional charge of $10-15 must be paid at the Live Scan site to complete your fingerprinting. All applicants must submit a copy of this receipt with his or her name written on the application materials as proof of fingerprint completion.

Overview of the Elementary Education Program