Requirements & Courses

The Secondary Education Major may only be completed with another valid Alma College Teaching Major. Some certification endorsement areas require an additional Teaching Major or Teaching Minor. All teacher candidates are strongly encouraged to complete at least one additional subject area for certification.

The Secondary Education Major consists of at least 36 credits of a required Professional Sequence of Education courses:

1. EDC-130 (2 cr) concurrent with EDC-103 (1 cr).
2. EDC-230 (3 cr) concurrent with EDC-203 (1 cr); EDC-240 (4 cr).
3. EDC-311 (1 cr); EDC-312 (1 cr); EDC-303 (1 cr); EDC-346 (4cr); 370 (2 cr); 373 (3 cr) (except for Special Education major). Prerequisites include Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
4. EDC-430S (3 cr) with EDC-490S (5 cr) and 491S (5 cr). Prerequisites include successful completion of all other courses of Secondary Education Major and Admission to Student Teaching.
5. Candidates are required to take a teaching methods course for each endorsement.
6. A minimum of thirty student contact hours in a classroom setting, within the content area of each endorsement, are required. 

This certificate allows teaching in grades 6-12 in subjects in which the candidate has an endorsement. To be recommended for certification, the candidate must complete the following:

1. The Secondary Education Major, requirements listed above, with a 2.5 GPA and no Education course may be taken Pass/Fail, except for 1 credit placement classes, or be graded below a 2.0 (C).
2. A Teaching Major with a 2.75 GPA. Additional endorsement areas for certification must also be met with a 2.75 GPA.
3. An overall cumulative GPA of 2.75.
4. Students must also pass the appropriate MTTC subject area test. To be recommended for certification in an additional endorsement area, candidates must also pass the appropriate MTTC subject area test in that subject. For initial certification, MTTC subject-area passing scores will remain valid for five years.
5. Students must provide proof of valid CPR and First Aid cards as required by the Michigan Department of Education.

All Secondary Teaching students who wish to add a Social Studies Endorsement must also complete a Teaching Major in History. 

Forty-eight credits which must include:

1. ECN-111 (4 cr) and 112 (4 cr)
2. GGR-101 (2 cr), 102 (2 cr), and 201 (4 cr)
3. POL-101 (4 cr) and 121 (4 cr)
4. HST-100 (4 cr), 101 (4 cr), 104 (4 cr), 105 (4 cr), and 206 (4 cr)
5. EDC-445S (4 cr)
6. For certification, take and pass the MTTC Social Studies test. No course graded below 2.0 (C) may count toward a Social Studies Group Major; a 2.75 GPA is required.

Thirty-six credits, which must include:

1. EDC-151, 152, 250, 255, 205, 316, 374, 375, 376, 504, 505, 506;
2. For certification, take and pass the MTTC Special Education - Learning Disabilities test.
3. For Secondary Education majors, a candidate must complete the Secondary Education Program, a content endorsement area, and the Special Education Program to become endorsed in learning disabilities.
4. No course graded below 2.0 (C) may count toward a Special Education Major; 2.75 GPA is required. Mathematics and English are recommended as the content endorsements for Special Education Majors.

The Michigan State Board of Education certifies all teachers.

Alma College is authorized to recommend to the State Board those students who have completed a bachelor’s degree, passed state required Subject Tests in endorsement areas, and successfully fulfilled all requirements of the Teacher Education Program. The Education Department offers majors and minors leading to teacher certification. The Department also offers a non-certification Educational Studies Major and Minor and Special Education Minor. Certification requirements are subject to change by action of the State Board of Education and may not be reflected in this catalog.

Teaching Major and Minor Requirements: Requirements for Teaching Majors and Minors are in the subject area department listings; requirements for group majors or minors are listed in the Education Department listing. Student should consult with the Education Department about requirements. 

Graduation Requirements: Students who are in the Teacher Education Certification Program shall only be deemed as satisfying graduation requirements when all required courses for certification are complete.

Students may achieve honors in Education by:

1. An approved application to pursue honors in education
2. Earning a 3.5 GPA in an Education major (elementary education, secondary education, or educational studies) and a 3.3 overall cumulative GPA.
3. Performing at a superior level in the culminating departmental experience of student teaching (EDC 490 / 491) or an educational studies internship (EDC-470).
4. Preparing a senior thesis of honors caliber and presenting it at an appropriate public forum.
5. Earning a minimum grade of AB in EDC-500

Michigan school districts require anyone who has contact with children in their school buildings, including staff or volunteers, to provide the district with documentation of central registry clearance. All students who have an Education course with a classroom placement must have a background check completed at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) prior to beginning in their assigned classroom. This is free of charge, and DHHS records must be current. See the Education Department for more details. School Districts may require additional screenings.

The Education Department requires fingerprinting of student teachers. All student teachers must have the Criminal Background Check Livescan fingerprinting procedure completed by August 1 or prior to beginning student teaching in their assigned district. Livescan must be completed at a Michigan Department of Education-approved site and is a statewide procedure. A fee is charged for this service, and fingerprint records must remain valid throughout your student teaching period. See the Education Department for more details.

The Education Department reviews all applicants and judges their suitability for entrance to the program during the student’s sophomore year; students who decide to seek teacher certification after the sophomore year can be admitted late but may require extra time to complete the program. For full approval students must have the following:

1. A completed application (on Tk20) for admission to the TEP submitted by the deadline.
2. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in writing and mathematics as determined by Alma College.
4. Provide scores in reading, math, and writing on a nationally normed assessment.
5. Evidence that the applicant has dispositions conducive to success in the teaching profession (as indicated by disposition assessment forms, Student Life reports, the recommendation of the Education Department, and a Felony Conviction Statement confirming that the student has not been convicted of any act contributing to the delinquency of a minor or involving moral turpitude).
6. Good standing - student life. 
7. All majors(s) and minor(s) must be declared through the Registrar’s Office at the time of TEP application.

Be aware that these requirements are subject to change in accordance with state or national accreditation mandates. 

The Education Department reviews a student for admission to Student Teaching. For full approval, students must have the following:

1. Admission to the Teacher Education Program
2. A formal application for student teaching submitted by November 15 of the academic year prior to student teaching.
3. A 2.75 overall cumulative
4. For Secondary Education: a GPA in the Teaching Major(s) of 2.75; if applicable, a C or above in all classes in the Social Studies and Special Education endorsements.
5. For PK-6 Education: a GPA in the Teaching Major(s) of 2.5 with C or above in all courses (2.75 required for K-12 Special Education - Learning Disabilities major)
6. A 2.5 GPA in Education courses and a grade of C or above in all
7. A passing grade in two clinical experience courses in the secondary or PK-6 major
8. Evidence that the applicant has dispositions conducive to success in the teaching profession (as indicated by disposition assessment forms, the recommendation of the Education Department, and a Felony Conviction Statement confirming that the student has not been convicted of any act contributing to the delinquency of a minor or involving moral turpitude).

1. Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a prerequisite for all classes at the 300 level and above for certification candidates.
2. Note on scheduling: it is expected that students attempt no more than 45 hours in placement class/es in any semester.
3. Once approved for the student teaching internship, the requirements must be retained in order to begin the student teaching term.
4. Student teachers may not participate in significant non-teaching activities such as arts or sports without securing prior written approval from the Education Department.