Teacher Education Program

SE Catalog > Academic Information > Teacher Education Program

The teacher education program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University is based on the shared vision that candidates should be trained to be competent, committed, and ethical. The theme statement — Professionals for the 21st Century: Competent, Committed, and Ethical — indicates that graduates will effectively utilize technology in planning and delivering instruction for diverse students while motivating and assessing all students.

Visit Southeastern’s Teacher Education website to view or print a full copy of the undergraduate Handbook for Teacher Education and the Handbook for Student Teaching: se.edu/eil/ — Teacher Education Handbooks.

Southeastern offers thirteen teacher education programs (eight at the undergraduate level; five at the graduate level). Each program area has designated advisors and advisement sheets available from the department offering the program.

Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs

  • Art Education
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education
  • English Education
  • History Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Music Education

Graduate Education Programs

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Educational Leadership
  • Music Education
  • School Counseling
  • Special Education

Teacher Education Admission Requirements

Teacher candidates at Southeastern may be admitted to the teacher education program after they have:

  1. Completed a minimum of fifty semester hours from an accredited institution of higher learning.
  2. Completed a minimum of eight hours at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
  3. A minimum 2.75 grade point average at Southeastern, in the major, and cumulative.
  4. A grade of C or better in ENG 1113, ENG 1213, COMM 2213, and a foreign language.
  5. Completed the “Criminal History Disclosure” form.
  6. Completed the “Proof of Experience Working with Children” form.
  7. Written a commitment to teaching.
  8. Completed Anthology Portfolio Module I.
  9. Submitted an application to the major department for approval and departmental completion of the Dispositions Evaluation and interview.

All candidates for admission to teacher education must have completed and submitted all artifacts and competency reflections on Anthology for any completed courses in professional education to be eligible for admission.

After receiving the completed application from the candidate’s major department, Teacher Education Services (M106) verifies each applicant’s records and reports findings to the Teacher Education Admission/Retention Committee (TEARC), a sub-committee of the Teacher Education Council. The Committee meets prior to each enrollment period (approximately five times yearly). The Committee may admit the candidate, deny admission, or revoke admission. Candidates are notified of the TEARC’s decision via email. Applicants denied admission may request a review by the TEARC and submit new or additional information. If the denial status prevails after the special inquiry, the student may appeal to the Teacher Education Council, which is the last level of appeal at Southeastern.

Note: Admission requirements are subject to change on an annual basis.

Temporary Admission

Teacher candidates who do not meet admission criteria must discuss this with their major department. The department chair then formally requests approval for temporary admission from the Teacher Education Admission/Retention Committee. Temporary admission is valid for one semester only.

Temporary admission in restricted professional education courses may be granted to a candidate who can meet full admission requirements by the end of the semester in which the temporary admission is allowed. To continue enrollment in any restricted professional education courses, full admission requirements must be met. Teacher candidates are responsible for securing the advisement needed to ensure that full admission is obtained.

Retention in Teacher Education

Each semester, the teacher candidate’s advisor and Teacher Education Services audits grade point averages on candidates admitted to teacher education. Those teacher candidates failing to maintain at least a 2.75 GPA at SE, in their major, and cumulatively after admittance will automatically be placed on probation.

Failure to achieve at least the 2.75 GPA during the probationary term may cause the teacher candidate to be withdrawn from the teacher education program.

Any disposition deemed unworthy by the major department will be presented for assessment by the Teacher Education Admission/Retention Committee. Committee action will be final unless the teacher candidate requests an appeal. The appeal process must be initiated by the teacher candidate through the major department.

Student Teaching Admission and Placement

A teacher candidate makes application for admission to student teaching at least two weeks prior to the TEARC meeting held the semester before enrollment in student teaching is anticipated. The TEARC meeting schedule is posted on the Teacher Education webpage.

The teacher candidate will have completed 90 semester hours prior to applying for admission to student teaching. The student teaching application is in Canvas. Students should contact their subject area advisor or faculty for access.

All coursework in general education, major, and professional education must be completed prior to the commencement of student teaching. However, some methods courses and EDUC 4000 Pre-Student Teaching Field Experience III may be taken on an accelerated basis during the first part of the student teaching semester. The teacher candidate then devotes 12 weeks full-time to student teaching during the remainder of the semester.

To be admitted to student teaching, the applicant must have met and maintained all criteria for admission to the teacher education program, including the required grade point averages (SE, overall, and major) and passed the major’s Oklahoma Subject Area Test(s) or the Praxis. The applicant must have the approval of the appropriate department chairperson. Prior to commencing student teaching, the candidate must submit and receive clearance on Portfolio Modules I, II, and III.

General Certification Information

Upon completion of the certificate program, the certification officer certifies that the candidate has fulfilled the requirements of Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s approved program and recommends the credential be issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The candidate is responsible for completing the online certification process.

All first-time credentialed teachers must have on file with the Oklahoma State Board of Education a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) as well as a national fingerprint-based criminal history record provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The OSBI and FBI requirement applies to a person who has never held a license or certificate in Oklahoma.