Admission - School of Education

Requirements for Teacher Education Majors

University College Core Curriculum

The successful completion of the University College Core Curriculum requirements is the initial step in the teacher education admission process. A demonstrated proficiency in reading and a GPA of 2.5 or higher are also required. Transfer students must meet the same standards as first-time freshmen in completing the University College Core Curriculum requirements.

Declaration of Major and Pre-Major Requirements for School of Education

A student who enters the university as a full-time, first-time freshman is required to declare a major in the second semester of his/her freshman year if s/he meets the admission requirements detailed below. Transfer students must declare a major in their first semester of enrollment. Once a student has been accepted into a degree program, s/he will be assigned an advisor in the major.

A student wishing to declare a major in any teacher education program must demonstrate the following:

Completion of EDUC 210 with at a grade of “C” (if applicable to program)
Minimum of 30 credit hours earned with a minimum grade point average of 2.5
Completion of Voluntary Disclosure Form

If a student does not meet the requirements to declare a major in a teacher education program housed in the School of Education, s/he may apply for a pre-education major status at the end of the freshman year. The pre-major status provides an opportunity for the education faculty and the pre-education student to work towards achieving the requirements to declare the major (and ultimately be admitted to teacher education) and allows the student to determine whether or not a degree in teacher education is an appropriate fit for his/her career goals. Admission as a pre-major does not guarantee admission to the major.

A student declaring a pre-education major must meet the following requirements:

Completion of EDUC 210 with at last a grade of C
Minimum of 30 credit hours and a maximum of 45 hours earned with a minimum grade point average of 2.3.

Once a student has been accepted as a pre-education major, a pre-education major advisor will be assigned. The pre-education major advisor will work with the student to verify satisfactory progress towards the declaration of major. The pre-major student and the pre-education major advisor must participate in at least two advisement meetings each semester. The pre-education major must declare a major as soon as s/he is eligible. A student will be in a pre-education major status for two consecutive semesters. The student must then declare a major if eligible or request an additional semester in the pre-education major status, or change his/her major.

Moving from a pre-education major status to major status requires completion of the online Declaration of Major form to request admission to the teacher education program.

Admission as a pre-major and major do not guarantee admission to teacher education.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Admission to teacher education is a procedural step for students interested in teacher education programs. After successfully completing the requirements listed below, a student is eligible to apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. An Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program form must be filed with the department head by the second semester of the sophomore year. The criteria for admission are as follows:

Completion of the University College Core Curriculum and EDUC 211. (A completed Voluntary Disclosure Form is required by each student after registering in EDUC 211/SPED 480 and prior to beginning the field experience requirement in EDUC 211/SPED 480.)
A GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Acceptable scores on the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Tests of the PRAXIS I Series. All PRAXIS scores must be current with state mandated score requirements for admission and licensure purposes. (Specific ACT or SAT scores are also considered.)
Verification by the university physician of the applicant’s health status and level of physical fitness.
Verification by the Director of Residence Life of the applicant’s acceptable deportment.
Personal fitness and the interest suitable to the profession of teaching, verified by the Center for Personal Development.
Criminal background check.
Satisfactory completion of an Admission to Teacher Education interview with the faculty in the major program of study.
Application for Admission to Teacher Education Form
Program of Study/CAPP.
Final acceptance for admission to the Teacher Education Program by the Teacher Education Committee, based upon documented recommendations from the major area concerned.

Note: Formal admission to Teacher Education is required prior to enrollment in methods courses and student teaching. A Criminal Background Check is required by each student after registering in methods courses and before completing the field experience requirement of methods courses. See each individual program for course listing.

Retention in Teacher Education

Following admission to teacher education, each student is required to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and acceptable standards on all other admission criteria. A student must earn a grade of C or higher in all education, concentration, or subject area major courses. Students failing to maintain acceptable standards will be automatically suspended from the Teacher Education Program and counseled toward alternative career options.

Admission to Student Teaching

An Application for Student Teaching form must be filed the semester prior to the semester in which the student plans to student teach. To be eligible for the Student Teaching Internship, the student must have:

Been admitted formally to teacher education and have senior classification.
Completed to the satisfaction of the major area the teaching specialty component requirements that will lead to licensure by the Department of Public Instruction.
Achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and a grade of C or higher in all education, concentration, or subject area major courses.
Completed all methods courses before being admitted to student teaching. (Students enrolled in methods courses will be considered for admission to student teaching pending the satisfactory completion of all methods courses prior to student teaching.)
An audit (CAPP or Program of Study) verifying that no course remains to be taken toward the degree.
A Criminal Background Check report.
Satisfactory completion of an Admission to Student Teaching interview with the faculty in the major program of study.
Satisfactory completion of an Admission to Student Teaching essay.
Been recommended to the Teacher Education Committee by the department chair of the area in which licensure is sought. The Teacher Education Committee must give approval for the student teaching internship.

Note: A student who has been approved for admission to student teaching, but who has not maintained the standards for the internship, will be subject to review by the Teacher Education Committee before s/he is allowed to re-enter the program. Likewise a student who has been admitted to student teaching must

earn a grade of C or higher in student teaching for full licensure as a teacher
be enrolled in only the student teaching block courses during the student teaching semester. (See Student Teaching Handbook).
complete all six licensure evidences at the proficient/met level for each section in the rubrics/evaluation instrument.

Teacher Licensure

A student successfully completing all requirements for graduation and passing PRAXIS I, and the Specialty Area Test of the PRAXIS II Series, as applicable, is eligible to be recommended for North Carolina licensure. To apply for licensure, a student should adhere to the following procedures:

File for graduation in the Registrar’s Office (B.S., M.A.T., and M.Ed. candidates only).
File placement folder with the Career Services Office, if applicable.
Request an official transcript after grades are posted.
Contact the Office of Teacher Education at (910) 672-1587 or 1266.

Alternative Routes for Teacher Education

Requirements for Students Seeking Licensure Only

Licensure Only

Applicants possessing earned baccalaureate and/or master’s degrees and seeking licensure in a teaching area must proceed through the alternative route process. The process is described below:

Students must be admitted to the university through the regular admission process.
Licensure-only applicants will be admitted as graduate students. (See Graduate Catalog for pursuing licensure and graduate degree.)
After notification of acceptance by the Office of Graduate Admissions, a student must officially contact the chair of the department through which licensure is sought. Together, assigned advisor and student will develop a program of courses needed for licensure. The program agreed upon must be reviewed and approved by the department in which licensure is being sought. All courses specified on the program of study must be completed at Fayetteville State University if the license is to be applied for through Fayetteville State University.
Upon completion of program requirements for entrance to teacher education (EDUC 211, a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and a Voluntary Disclosure Form), students must apply for admission to teacher education. (Note: Licensure-only students are eligible for financial aid only after official admission to teacher education.)
Upon completion of all required coursework at Fayetteville State University and maintenance of a 2.5 cumulative GPA, students must apply for admission to student teaching.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements and Specialty Area Tests of the PRAXIS II Series, students can apply for teacher licensure in the Office of Teacher Education.

Lateral Entry Requirements

To be eligible for lateral entry, an individual must be employed by a North Carolina school system as a classroom teacher and hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Individuals licensed via lateral entry are required to have their credentials evaluated by the Office of Teacher Education. Students must complete all six licensure evidences at the proficient/met level for each section in the rubrics/instrument, obtain satisfactory scores on required PRAXIS Specialty Area Tests, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be recommended for teacher licensure.