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¹ Composite teaching majors, teaching majors and teaching minors are offered through various departments at the University of Utah; see page two for a complete listing. Composite majors are special combination programs, authorized by the state, most of which do not require the student to take a minor.

Program information is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please contact the Department of Teaching and Learning.

 

Department of Teaching and Learning
1705 Campus Center Drive Room 142
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-9256
http://tl.ed.utah.edu/tl-license.html
(801) 581-7158 • Fax: (801)581-3609

updated 12/12/07

TEACHING MAJORS AND MINORS¹

Teaching & Learning Index of Criticality

* Utah State Office of Education Index of Criticality (11/05):

4.0-4.0 = Critical Shortage

3.0-3.9 = Moderate Shortage

2.0-2.9 = Minimal Shortage

1.0-1.9 = Oversupply

Note: Criticality may change from year to year AND state to state. For regional information, visit www.aaee.org.

 

1 Utah state licensure guidelines specify that secondary teachers may teach only in the areas for which they are licensed

2 Kindergarten through twelfth grade program

3 Composite majors are offered only in Art, Biology, Earth Science, Choral Music, Instrumental Music, and the Social Sciences

Program (not individual areas in Social and Behavioral Sciences)

4 ESS & Music programs are now offered through their specific departments only

^ Available at the University of Utah, but limited student teaching placements and jobs.

** Grade level column represents typical job placement in Utah schools in the given academic subject area.

 

DEPARTMENTAL ADVISOR CONTACT INFORMATION

 

SECONDARY TEACHER LICENSURE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

In addition to University General Education and teaching major or composite departmental requirements, the Secondary Teacher Licensure Program includes 51 semester hours of required course work (some courses may be double counted toward General Education or departmental requirements). Education courses are taken in two categories: Pre-admission courses (which may be taken by any University of Utah student) and Post-Admission courses (which require acceptance to the licensure program to register).

 

____ STEP I. General Education & Bachelor Degree Requirements:

All degree-seeking students at the University of Utah are required to complete a series of General Education & Bachelor Degree courses. First Baccalaureate students should work closely with University College and Departmental Advisors to be sure that all general education and bachelor's degree requirements will be met.

-- Contact a University College Advisor for more information: 581-8146.

____ STEP II. Teaching Major and Teaching Minor Course Requirements:

The subjects that students plan to teach in the secondary schools are called their teaching major and teaching minor, or composite. Students should work closely with the advisors in their teaching major and teaching minor, or composite departments to be sure that all requirements for graduation with a bachelor's degree will be met.

-- Please see departmental advisor for more information about your teaching major and teaching minor.

____ STEP III. Licensure Program Course Requirements:

Students admitted to the University of Utah beginning Spring 2008 should follow the licensure classes listed on page 5. Please meet with the Secondary Education Advisor to review the licensure coursework in detail.
Students admitted to the University of Utah prior to Spring 2008 must meet with the Secondary Education Advisor to obtain a listing of licensure program coursework. Please note that all coursework previously completed will be accepted toward licensure and no additional hours will be required.
Students must meet with the Secondary Education Advisor to review and approve their pre-cohort program requirements.

____ STEP IV. Exit Examinations:

All teacher candidates are required by law to successfully complete exit examinations. More information will be given about exit examinations upon acceptance into the cohort year of the licensure program. Exit examinations are required in the following areas:

-- Teaching Major & Teaching Minor

-- Teaching/Pedagogy

-- Foreign language teaching students must also complete an oral proficiency test in addition to the written language exam. See language department for more information.

--Math and Social Science teaching students must meet their respective department's required test score in order to obtain licensure. Social Science students will not be permitted to student teach until this score has been met.

Secondary Licensure Program Core Course Sequence

Pre-Admission Courses (Open Registration)	Courses	Notes
	T&L 1010 Introduction to Teaching (3)	Choose Math/Science OR Arts/Humanities section
	SPED 5012 Inclusive classrooms in secondary education (3)
	ECS 3150 - Multicultural Education (3)	Pre-req: Ethnic Studies 2550, 2560, 2570, 2580, OR 2590 (choose one); ECS 3150 = DV General Education Requirement
	ED PS 3030 Research and Inquiry in Education (3)
	ELP 2410 Education, Law, and Policy for Classroom Teachers (3)
	Adolescent Psychology (3) (choose one) PSYCH 1230, PSYCH 3220, FCS 5230, OR EDPS 5050	PSYCH 1230 = BF General Education Requirement
	SP ED 5021 Principles of Assessment and Data Based Decision Making (3)
	SP ED 5022 Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support (3)
	ECS 5709 Bridging Family-School Partnerships for Youth Success (3)
	ED PS 5151 - Ed Apps of Tech Grades 6-12 (3)
	LING 5812 Content-Based Language Teaching (3)
Post-Admission Courses (Admission Required)	First Semester (two additional courses allowed during this semester)
	ECS 5715 - Urban Education (3) Semester 1	Admission Required
	TL 5490 Field Seminar (3) Semester 1	Admission Required
	Second Semester (no additional courses allowed during this semester)
	TL 5491/6491 Seminar (3) Semester 2	Admission Required
	TL5495/6495 Student Teaching (9) Semester 2	Admission Required
Total Hours	51

UTAH LICENSURE & LEGAL POLICIES

In addition to the professional requirements for licensure, the state requires:

 

A. Background Check for Initial Licensure:

By legislative mandate, applicants for teaching licenses in Utah are required to have completed and passed a background check, including fingerprinting.

B. Criminal Conviction:

Teacher Licensure may be denied by the state of Utah because of a previous criminal conviction. You MUST contact the Associate Dean for Professional Education of the College of Education before proceeding with your program in teacher licensure if you have any questions about your status. The Utah Professional Practices Advisory Committee, c/o Executive Secretary, State Office of Education, 250 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, reviews all such cases.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES

 

• Fall Semester Post-Admission Classes Time Commitment: During the fall semester of the licensure program's post-admission year, students can expect to be in education classes or in the public schools from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (plus travel time to and from the schools) Monday through Friday. Students may take a maximum of 2 additional classes in the afternoon/evening. Due to travel from local public schools we advise NOT taking classes prior to 12:00 p.m.
  

• Spring Semester Post-Admission Classes Time Commitment: During the spring semester students will assume the responsibilities of a regular classroom teacher. The time commitments during this phase of the program are extensive (i.e., 12 weeks of student teaching). Students should plan to be in the schools for a full school day (7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) as well as attend a weekly seminar held in the evening. The last three weeks of the spring semester will be spent in full-time closing cohort activities and assignments. Working outside of school and/or taking additional classes will present extreme hardship. Additional coursework is not permitted during this semester.
  

Student Teaching Placements: During the fall and spring semesters of the licensure program's Post-Admission year, teacher candidates teach under the guidance of a classroom teacher and a supervisor employed by the Department of Teaching and Learning. Student teaching assignments are located in a group of specially selected schools in which teacher candidates observe and practice teaching methods. The University of Utah does not offer a Teaching Internship. Student teaching placements are arranged by the supervisor in consultation with the teacher candidate and school personnel. Due to the volume of student teaching placements and the variety of major/minor emphasis areas, personal circumstances (e.g., commute, etc.) are not criteria for placement. Working outside of school and/or taking additional classes will present excessive time demands.

• Student Code: Letters indicating possible violations of the student code, and appropriate student responses will be placed in the student's file. (www.sa.utah.edu/code)

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: Once admitted, a teacher candidate must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in licensure coursework. If a teacher candidate fails to maintain the 3.0 GPA, he/she will be placed on scholastic probation and may not register for any cohort courses.

• Grade Requirements: Major and Minor methods courses must be completed with the grade of 'C' or better, and all pre-cohort courses must be completed with a 'C' or better, prior to being allowed to advance to student teaching. All education courses required for licensure in the Licensure Program must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Furthermore, Teacher Candidates will be placed on scholastic probation when they receive a grade less than a 'C' in any professional core class in the Licensure Program (cohort year) and will not be allowed to student teach.
  
  
• GPA Requirements: Teacher education candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 during their first two years (68 credit hours) of study OR a GPA of 3.0 during their second year of study (34 credit hours) at the University of Utah. After completion of 68 credit hours, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in licensure courses.
  

• Pre-Admission Course Offerings: Pre-Admission courses are not guaranteed to be offered every semester. Students are advised to meet with an advisor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and in his/her major and minor departments to receive the most current course scheduling information.


• Time Limit on Courses: Due to changes in the research on teaching and learning, classroom practices, and Utah State Office of Education Standards for teacher licensure, courses over five (5) years old at the time of application may not be accepted toward licensure program credit.


• Transfer/Equivalent Courses: A formal request must be made by students for course equivalencies for the Secondary Teacher Licensure Program by submitting course descriptions of the courses and unofficial transcripts. Approval of course equivalencies are required from the Chair of Department or Coordinator of Teaching & Learning.

• Licensure Program Prerequisites: All prerequisite course work in the Secondary Licensure Program (General Education, Bachelor's degree requirements, Teaching Major and Teaching Minor courses, and Pre-Admission coursework) must be completed prior to starting the spring semester of the Professional Core (full time student teaching).

• Course Substitutions: If a course that is required for the major and minor is not available, that department reserves the right to substitute another course to fulfill that requirement.
  
  

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE PROGRAMS

 

• Minimum Standards for Application: Due to the competitive nature of our programs, meeting minimum admissions standards does not guarantee acceptance into the teacher licensure programs.

• Rolling Admissions: Candidates for the Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program are admitted on a rolling admissions basis. Admission is contingent upon meeting the admissions criteria and availability of space.

• Incomplete Applications: The Department of Teaching and Learning is not responsible for any materials missing from files. Complete files submitted will be sent by the Department of Teaching and Learning to the Admissions Committee. There is no guarantee that incomplete files will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

• Notification of Acceptance: The Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program Admissions Committee meets monthly to review licensure program applications. Applicants will be notified by mail of acceptance or denial approximately six weeks after the application file has been reviewed.
  
• Time Limit on Licensure Program Completion: The student teaching placement will be reserved for only six semesters (not including summers) after acceptance into the program.
  
• Graduate Credit and Applications: Students interested in receiving graduate credit toward a Master's degree in the Department of Teaching and Learning must make a separate application to the Graduate Program.

• Admissions Files: Admissions files become the property of the Department of Teaching and Learning and will not be returned to the applicant, nor will Letters of Recommendation be forwarded for Scholarship application purposes.

• Nondiscrimination Policy: The University of Utah is fully committed to policies of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity, and vigorously pursues affirmative action in all programs, activities, and employment with regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, and status as a person with a disability. Religion, sexual orientation, and status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era also are protected under nondiscrimination and equal opportunity employment policies. The University seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. Reasonable prior notice is needed to arrange accommodations. Evidence of practices not consistent with these policies should be reported to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, (801) 581-8365 (voice or TDD). Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats, such as cassette, Braille, or large print.

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