College of Teacher Education
and Leadership

www.west.asu.edu/ctel
Joseph M. Ryan, PhD, Interim Dean

Elementary Education, Department of

Secondary Education, Department of

Special Education, Department of

Graduate Studies and Professional Development, Department of

PURPOSE

The college prepares tomorrow’s educators to teach in ever-changing settings through commitment to high standards of innovative teaching, broad-based scholarship, and quality service to the university and the community.

The College of Teacher Education and Leadership balances academic concepts with current research and practices, accompanied by prompt exposure to the classroom environment. This integration of theory with practical experience strengthens future teachers’ abilities to refine their instruction skills continually.

Programs in the College of Teacher Education and Leadership offer flexible scheduling and small classes. The college prepares students to be leaders in the field of education.

ORGANIZATION

The college houses the following academic units:

Department of Elementary Education

Department of Graduate Studies and Professional Development

Department of Secondary Education

Department of Special Education

DEGREE PROGRAMS

See the College of Teacher Education and Leadership Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors and the College of Teacher Education and Leadership Graduate Degrees and Majors tables, below.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Education programs are approved by the Arizona Department of Education for the preparation of elementary, secondary, and special education teachers. Other programs of study offered by the faculty of the College of Teacher Education and Leadership include

1. 1. concentrations in bilingual education and English as a second language required for endorsement of teachers specifically responsible for providing bilingual or English as a second language instruction to students in elementary grades;
2. 2. an early childhood concentration that allows students to specialize in teaching kindergarten through grade three;
3. 3. a middle school endorsement for elementary and secondary education students; and
4. 4. at the graduate level, educational administration and supervision courses that meet the state certification requirements for supervision, principalship, and superintendency.

UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL TEACHER PREPARATION

Nature of Program

The College of Teacher Education and Leadership faculty is dedicated to developing and continually improving high quality teacher education programs that support and improve education for all children.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for the teaching profession is promising in Arizona and the nation. Students seeking endorsements in bilingual and English as a second language, as well as those seeking certification in special education, will find that demand is great in these areas. Demand for elementary and early childhood educators will continue to be strong. In secondary education, demand in the sciences and mathematics will be substantial. There will be more competition for teaching positions in English, history, and social studies at the secondary level. Our education graduates are highly sought after by area school districts.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Admission

To be considered for admission as undergraduate education majors, students must

1. 1. be admitted to West campus as a degree-seeking
   student;
2. 2. complete required postsecondary course work as specified for each major with a grade of “C” (2.00) or higher and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher; and
3. 3. submit a completed application form for the desired professional education program to the college Academic Advising Office by the appropriate deadline date.

Students are considered for admission to undergraduate education programs in the spring of each year for the following fall semester and in the fall of each year for the following spring semester. Applicants should contact the college Academic Advising Office for specific deadlines, which are determined annually.

Admission to undergraduate education programs is selective. Meeting minimum requirements does not ensure admission to any program.

Transfer

To be considered for admission to an undergraduate education major, prospective students must meet all admission requirements to ASU as well as those for undergraduate education programs. Students must complete the first two years of specified course work at an accredited community college or four-year institution.

Prospective students are discouraged from taking courses on a pass/fail basis. Pass/fail courses may be transferred to the College of Teacher Education and Leadership for only elective credit. For assistance in planning a program of study for transfer to the Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAE) degree program, call the college Academic Advising Office at 602/543-6354.

Degree Requirements

Students seeking a BAE must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 semester hours and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher. Specific requirements for majors in Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education are provided in this catalog.

Education students must file a Declaration of Graduation during the first semester by consulting a college academic advisor. The four semesters of the program are sequential.

The College of Teacher Education and Leadership grades some courses, field experiences, and student teaching on a satisfactory/fail basis. Students who successfully complete these courses receive a grade of “Y” (satisfactory). Such grades are acceptable for meeting program requirements, but these grades are not included in computing the student’s GPA.

Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by a college academic advisor.

Field-Experience Requirements

In addition to course work, students admitted to all undergraduate education programs are required to participate in structured field experiences during each of the semesters of the program.

The field experiences progress from observation and short-term participation to long-term supervised student teaching. Students should expect these field experiences to be above and beyond the class times listed in the Schedule of Classes for each semester. Such field experiences typically take place in public schools throughout the greater Phoenix area. The Elementary Education degree program includes at least one semester of field experiences at a local public school campus taken concurrently with university course work. Students should plan extra travel time and expect to confer with mentor teachers and student teacher supervisors before or after scheduled field experiences. Regular attendance is required during all field experiences. To meet field experience requirements, students must plan to have their own transportation and be available during regular school hours.

Student Teaching

The major field experience, called student teaching, occurs in the last semester and is a full-day, full-semester obligation. Student teaching is possible during only fall and spring semesters.

Applications for student teaching must be completed early in the semester before the student teaching semester and turned in to the Office of Field Experiences. To be accepted for student teaching, students must

1. 1. have a cumulative ASU GPA of 2.50 or higher;
2. 2. have a GPA of 2.50 or higher in professional teacher preparation course work;
3. 3. complete all required professional teacher preparation course work;
4. 4. successfully complete the CTEL Writing Assessment or, for Special Education majors only, successfully complete writing requirements established in a Professional Improvement Plan;
5. 5. remove all academic deficiencies, such as grades of “D” (1.00), “E” (0.00), or “I” before placement;
6. 6. demonstrate appropriate professional conduct; and
7. 7. complete the application procedure and secure approval to teach from the Offices of Field Experiences and Academic Advising before the deadline.

Student teachers must adhere to the calendar, regulations, and philosophy of the schools in which the student teachers are placed. Beginning and ending dates for student teaching are determined by the Office of Field Experiences in cooperation with the placement schools. Because student teaching is on a full-day schedule, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for 15 consecutive weeks, student teachers are strongly encouraged to avoid extra activities and course work that would interfere with the heavy demands placed upon them while student teaching.

ACADEMIC POLICIES

Students enrolled in undergraduate education programs are expected to maintain academic standards and demonstrate qualifications for the teaching profession, including mental health, interpersonal skills, basic communication skills, a positive attitude, appropriate professional conduct, and satisfactory performance in field experiences.

To be in good standing, students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher with at least a grade of “C” (2.00) in each undergraduate education course. Any undergraduate education student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.50 may be placed on academic probation or suspended from enrollment in professional courses for the next semester. Students on academic probation or suspension from the university and/or the College of Teacher Education and Leadership must seek advising from a college academic advisor before registering for additional course work. Probation and/or suspension status for academic reasons begins on the first day of classes of the semester after the probation or suspension action. Students placed on probation or suspension for any reason are subject to disqualification by the College of Teacher Education and Leadership at the end of the following semester if the conditions imposed for reinstatement are not met. Students placed on probation or suspension for any reason are reviewed at the end of the following semester.

Students demonstrating behaviors or characteristics that make it questionable whether they can succeed in the teaching profession may be disqualified or prescribed specific conditions under which continued participation is permitted, that is, probation or suspension.

Students who wish to appeal decisions of the College of Teacher Education and Leadership’s Student Issues Committee may do so in writing to the dean of the college. Any exceptions to the above retention and disqualification policies and procedures must be approved by the College of Teacher Education and Leadership’s Student Issues Committee and the dean of the college.