Students seeking secondary (grades 6-12) or K-12 certification as undergraduates or second bachelor degree seeking students in an approved area must be enrolled in a degree program.

o    Initial Bachelors Degree:  Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree must be admitted to the degree program in the academic department for the subject they wish to teach.  All advising or review of transcripts will be handled by the major department.

o   Second Bachelors Degree:  Post-baccalaureate students may also enroll as second degree seeking students in the academic department for the subject they wish to teach.  A second bachelors degree requires completion of at least 30 credits in addition to the initial degree. All advising and review of transcripts will be handled by the major department.  This may be the most appropriate route for students whose initial bachelors degree is not in the area they wish to teach, if they do not meet Graduate College Admission standards or if they are unable to complete courses in the Graduate Certificate in Secondary/K-12 Teaching.

 Approved Certification Areas with Majors and Minors

Programs in Secondary and K-12 Education

Content majors for initial or second bachelor’s degrees are established by the academic departments and candidates must meet all departmental requirements listed in the applicable Boise State University Undergraduate Catalog (available at http://registrar.boisestate.edu/Catalogs.htm).

Secondary Teacher Certification

NOTE: There are three separate applications involved in the secondary teacher certification programs for students seeking an initial or second bachelor’s degree.

Application to the University: Your application for admission to the University for an initial bachelor’s degree or second bachelor’s with certification, admits you to the University. This admission allows you to take courses you are missing in your content area, and other prerequisites that are required for the programs. It does not admit you to the secondary teacher certification programs.

Application to Block I: Admission requires passing the PRAXIS I Writing Examination, ED-CIFS 201 and EDTECH 202, and being within two semesters of completion of your major content area requirements. Students are admitted only twice a year to this program.

Application to the Professional Year: This application is submitted during your Block I semester. It is admission to the Block II courses and internship, as well as Block III, student teaching.  All content area courses in your major and the PRAXIS II examination in the major field, and any minor certification areas or endorsements, must be passed before student teaching.

Preadmission

Prior to admission to secondary education, in the sophomore year or the first post-baccalaureate semester:

You will pass the PRAXIS I Writing Examination prior to admission to the secondary teacher certification program.  Information about this test is available in the Office of Teacher Education, E 722 or at the PRAXIS website, http://ets.org/praxis/.

Admission to the Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Certification

Admission to a secondary teacher certification program is required before you can enroll in Block I courses.  Apply for the Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Certification Program at http://education.boisestate.edu/teachered/appinfo.htm or the Office of Teacher Education, E722.  Admission requirements are:

·         a completed application form

·         approval of the Director the Office of Teacher Education

·         passing ED-CIFS 201 and EDTECH 202 with at least a “C-“,

·         a minimum score of 172 for the PRAXIS I Writing Examination,

·         cumulative GPA and a minimum  GPA of 2.50 in major and minor fields,

·         a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all education courses

·         a minimum grade of C- in all required courses

Block I

The following courses constitute Block I and must be taken together.  Students seeking certification in PE take different Block I courses.  Consult the program description or your advisor.

In some cases your content methods course will be taken during Block I.  Consult your advisor for details. 

Admission to the Professional Year

In order to take Block II and III courses you must be admitted to the Professional Year. Apply for the Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Professional Year at http://education.boisestate.edu/teachered/appinfo.htm or the Office of Teacher Education, E722. Admission requirements for the professional year are:

·         senior  or second degree seeking standing,

·         successful completion of Block I courses, or currently enrolled when applying,

·         approval of the Director of the Office of Teacher Education,

·         minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.50,

·         a minimum GPA 2.75 in your major and minor(s),

·         a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all education courses

·         a grade of C- or better in all required courses

·         some school districts have additional requirements that must be completed if you wish to teach in one of their schools, these include special interviews or a criminal background check.

·         a passing score on the PRAXIS II in your major and minor(s) is necessary to start Block III. 

Block II

Blocks II & III (and IV in Art, Music and PE) constitute your Professional Year.  They are usually taken during your last two semesters.  The following Block II courses must be taken concurrently. 

Block III (& IV for Art, Music and PE)

Student Teaching – 16 weeks of full-time teaching in appropriate setting(s).  In K-12 certification programs this will require placements at two different grades levels (Block IV).

ED-CIFS 481- 485 Professional Year – Teaching Experience III(IV)

Certification

Students from Boise State University are recommended to the State Department of Education after meeting the following requirements:

·         Demonstrate good moral character

·         Complete required content courses in an approved major, and possibly one or more minors

·         Complete secondary teacher education program requirements

·         Obtain the recommendation of the Certification Officer of the College of Education

For additional information contact the academic advisor or department in the area in which you will certify or Dr. Ted J. Singletary in Education 313, (208) 426-3270 or tsingle@boisestate.edu.