Teacher Education Pre-Major Information

The College of Education, Health and Human Performance provides new students with numerous opportunities to make early connections to their major field of interest prior to the start of the first semester. To gain knowledge of the complex path to becoming a teacher educator, ALL PRE-ELEMENTARY AND PRE-SECONDARY TEACHER EDUCATION CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO:

1. Select an EDUCATION-SPECIFIC summer orientation date from the list of dates provided by the Fairmont State Recruitment Office. These special dates provide students with an opportunity to meet with and receive course selection advisement from School of Education, Health and Human Performance faculty members and/or administrators.
2. Attend the COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE PRE-FALL ORIENTATION to be held on Friday of Welcome Weekend. The specific date for this event can be located on the Fairmont State homepage under the academic calendar.

*Note: Secondary Education majors have two academic colleges that relate to their major. For example, art education majors have an academic home in the Department of Architecture, Art and Design and the College of Education, Health and Human Performance. In order to keep informed on issues related to becoming a certified teacher educator, Pre-Secondary Education majors should attend the above events hosted by the College of Education, Health and Human Performance NOT their specialization area.

Declaring Teacher Education as a Major

1. Students who plan on pursuing Teacher Education as a major should officially declare Pre-Elementary or Pre-Secondary Education as their major as soon as possible. Students will then be assigned an academic advisor that is familiar with the Teacher Education major.
2.  Major changes must be completed by going to the Student Services Center located in Turley Hall. Students will need to log into the kiosk located at the building entrance closest to Hardway Hall. You must be a Fairmont State student and have a satisfactory GPA (2.0 or higher) to change your major. 

The Declaration of Intent

The pre-admission process into Teacher Education begins with the completion of a Declaration of Intent form. This form is distributed to students in the EDUC 2200: Introduction to Education class. The Declaration of Intent form provides students with a list of requirements into Teacher Education and starts the admissions process with the creation of a student file in the Teacher Certification Office.

Requirements

Listed below are the requirements for consideration into Teacher Education:

Pre-Education Classes

Students must complete two pre-education classes, EDUC 2200: Introduction to Education and EDUC 2201: Instructional Technology as part of the application process. Both classes must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.

Grade Point Average 

Entrance into Teacher Education requires a 2.75 or higher GPA in all three of the following areas:

• Overall GPA
• Pre-Education courses
• Teaching specialization(s)/fields of study

It is strongly recommended that students take advantage of the Fairmont State University D/F Repeat Policy and retake any grades lower than a “C” as soon as possible.

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educator Test

All teacher candidates must pass the Praxis Core (Reading, Writing, and Math sections) or have received a test exemption by providing evidence of an ACT score of Reading = 17, Writing = 17, Math = 21 or SAT (New) combined Reading and Writing = 480 and Math = 530.

Candidates should plan taking the Praxis Core Test during their first semester as a Pre-Education major. 

You can register for the Praxis Core Test online.

Field Experience 1 (formerly Early Field Experience PDS - Public School)

Field Experience 1 provides students with first-hand knowledge of the type of work educators do in a public school setting. Students are required to complete 30-hours in a public-school that includes experience working with diverse populations.

Credit may be awarded to transfer students who have completed similiar field experience at another institution.

1. The Application for Admission to Teacher Education forms are available online or in the Teacher Certification Office located in 340 Education Building.  
   
   Applications are accepted when a teacher candidate has completed the following:
   • Successful completion of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Test. NOTE: Effective immediately, the CORE Test now replaces the former Praxis I: PPST Pre-Professional Skills Tests. Any student who has partially completed the former PPSA or is just beginning this process must now complete all three sections: reading, writing and math  of the CORE for entrance into the Teacher Education major.
   • Overall GPA of 2.75
   • Field GPA of 2.75
   • Education GPA of 2.75
   • Successful completion of EDUC 2200 and EDUC 2201 with a grade of “C” or better
   • Successful completion of Field Experience 1 (formerly Early Field Experience PDS)
2. The deadlines for application into the Teacher Education major are October 1 and March 1. Student must purchase TaskStream to complete the NEW online application materials. Students should plan to contact the Journey Office, located in 307/308 Education Building by calling 304-367-4025 or via email to Carol.Tannous@fairmontstate.edu to request access to the Undergraduate Developmental Portfolio Teacher Admissions packet. This request should occur no sooner than one semester prior to their planned application into the major. 
3. All applications are reviewed by The School of Education, Health and Human Performance Teacher Education Selection Committee.

*Note: During the file review period, a request for information on candidates will be sent  to all School of Education, Health and Human Performance faculty, staff, and administrators. Feedback on a candidate’s “dispositions” is a significant part of this process. According to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) a disposition is defined as those “professional attitudes, values, and beliefs demonstrated through both verbal and non-verbal behaviors as educators interact with students, families, colleagues, and communities". Candidates should be aware of how personal and professional behaviors may reflect on their pursuit of a career in Teacher Education.

1. Candidates will be notified by mail of the Teacher Education Selection Committee decision.  Letters generally are distributed by mid-October for the fall semester and mid-March for the spring semester.
2. For special questions regarding the teacher application process, transfer information, etc., please contact Joyce Rose, Teacher Certification Officer, 340 Education Building.