Teacher Education Program

All programs leading to initial teaching certification, which includes elementary education, special education, secondary education and all-grades education, are considered pre-professional programs. Students may have declared an education major, but must meet established program entrance and exit requirements to be considered a teacher candidate. Once admitted, teacher candidates must maintain their status.

Transfer Students

Transfer students should meet with the Office of Admission, arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the institution and meet with the Augustana Teacher Education Program's certification officer. Transfer students must complete at least 50% of the major and the last 30 credit hours at Augustana.

Application Requirements

The application to the Augustana Teacher Education Program is completed during enrollment in EDUC 275. Admission to the program occurs upon confirmation of the following:

• Completion of at least 45 semester credit hours including EDUC 110 and EDUC 275 with grades of at least C- or above
• GPA of 2.70 in the subject major, education major and overall cumulative
• All students, including transfer students, must complete at least two semesters of coursework at Augustana inclusive of at least one field experience to demonstrate acceptable academic performance and satisfactory professionalism ratings
• Approval from the academic advisor, the Teacher Education Program and the department of major
• Freedom from disciplinary status
• Satisfactory Ratings on Professionalism and no significant concerns about professionalism have been expressed, including but not limited to the staffing process, internal and external ratings on professionalism, academic honor code violations, etc.

The Augustana Teacher Education Program considers applications to the program once each semester, and with their approval, teacher candidates are granted full admission to the program. There is no provisional admission to the program. Teacher candidates will be notified of their admission status by the field placement coordinator.

Fees

Teacher candidates are responsible for a variety of external fees associated with the Augustana Teacher Education Program, including but not limited to the following: 

• Background Check
• Fingerprinting
• PRAXIS exam fees
• Other fees as required by accrediting agencies, the South Dakota Department of Education and/or cooperating schools and agencies.

The intent to student teach form is due to the field placement coordinator by Dec. 1 of the academic year prior to the one in which a candidate plans to student teach.

Teacher candidates must forward the required materials to the field placement coordinator early during the semester prior to the semester of student teaching, including the application for student teaching, resume and profile. 

The Augustana Teacher Education Program considers applications to student teaching once each semester and with their approval, teacher candidates are granted approval for student teaching.

Teacher candidates will be notified of their approval for student teaching by the field placement coordinator. Approval for student teaching occurs after candidates have been admitted to the teacher education program and upon confirmation of the following:

• GPA of 2.70 in the subject major, education major and overall cumulative
• Completion of all coursework required for major and certification with grades of C- or better for the teacher candidate’s chosen program of study
• Approval from the academic advisor, the Teacher Education Program and the department of major
• Freedom from disciplinary status
• A pattern of internal and external satisfactory professionalism ratings from field experiences and faculty

Candidates whose cumulative GPA in the subject major, education major and overall cumulative drops below 2.70 and/or do not demonstrate a pattern of satisfactory professionalism will not be allowed to move forward into their student teaching until all requirements for approval have been met. This may delay a candidate’s timeline for student teaching and program completion. 

Candidates not approved for student teaching are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Augustana Teacher Education Program administration to discuss their program options. In addition, and at their expense, teacher candidates must complete the background check and fingerprinting, as required by cooperating schools, prior to being allowed to begin their student teaching experience.

Candidates are required to take the PRAXIS Subject/Content Exam(s) for all program areas being completed and PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Exam that best matches their preparation area prior to beginning the student teaching experience. Exams should be taken and scores reported to the Teacher Education Program prior to entering your student teaching placement(s). Qualifying scores must be achieved to meet teacher certification requirements in South Dakota and other PRAXIS testing states.

Teacher candidates are eligible to exit the Augustana Teacher Education Program upon confirmation of the following:

• GPA of 2.70 in the subject major, education major and overall cumulative
• Passing PRAXIS scores on all required exams
• Completion of all coursework required for major and certification with grades of C- or better for the teacher candidate’s chosen program of study 
• A successful student teaching experience(s), assessment project and completion of EDUC 401
• Satisfactory ratings on an assessment of candidate professionalism

Upon program completion and graduation from Augustana, teacher candidates may apply for certification. The program positions teacher candidates to meet the certification requirements outlined by the State of South Dakota. Graduates of the Augustana Teacher Education Program are eligible to pursue certification in other states but may need to take additional coursework or licensure tests to be fully credentialed in other states.