Admission to Education
Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a two-stage admission process. First, students meet requirements in their program of study up to the time of application. Second, students must meet the following criteria:
- Sophomore standing with a GPA of at least 3.00.
- Submission of formal application to the Teacher Education Committee.
- Successful completion of Peer Jury or Initial Teacher Interview.
Curricular requirements
- A grade of “C” or better in PSYC 112 General Psychology, EDUC 150 Introduction to Education OR EDUC 212 Education Entrance Seminar, EDUC 215 Foundations of Education, and EDUC 218 Child Psychology.
- A 2.50 cumulative G.P.A. in the following three general education courses: ENG 110 College Writing 1, ENG 120 College Writing, and COMM 102 Elements of Oral Communication.
- Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) scores at or above: Reading (PPST 173), Math (PPST 172), and Writing (PPST 172) sections OR Core Assessment Skills for Educators (CORE) with scores at or above: Reading (CORE 156), Math (CORE 150), and Writing (CORE 162).
- All transfer credits applied to the major must be a “C” or better.
For additional information concerning teacher education, refer to the Teacher Education Handbook.
Licensure Requirements
In addition to successfully completing a program of study, Southwestern College will be able to recommend the successful candidate for an initial teaching license or area of endorsement (consult with the education department for exam details) after:
- passing the Kansas Performance Teaching Portfolio, pass one or more KSDE identified licensure exam(s) at or above the level of performance specified by KSDE.
- passing the Principles of Learning and Teaching test (PLT). Candidates are responsible for arranging to be tested before applying for state licensure.
If you live in a different state, you will need to contact your state's Department of Education to determine it's license transfer requirements. Each state has its own licensure requirements. The programs we offer prepare you for licensure in Kansas. For further information about licensure requirements in other states and reciprocity, please see Licensure.
Transfer Students
Transfer students seeking admission should complete the following requirements:
- Transfer credit that meets the requirements and standards above, including GPA requirements.
- Successful completion of Praxis with scores that meet or exceed the state requirements in the Reading, Math, and Writing sections.
- Articulation of additional pre-professional credit as determined by the Dean of Education and the Registrar.
- Submission of formal application to the Education Committee.
