TEP Student Handbook - The University of Montana Western

• The end of Block 3 for spring student teaching placements
• Summer placements are typically not available
Applications for Student Teaching must be given to the Director of Field Experiences & Student
Teaching (see deadlines above). Refer to the Checklist for the Student Teaching Application
Process (Appendix 17) and materials given to you by the Director of Field Experiences, for
applying to student teaching (also see Appendix 16).
Contact Career Services for information on creating your Professional Information Form,
http://my.umwestern.edu/shares/education/st.html, required prior to student teaching, and
additional information about establishing an Employment Placement File. This form will be
available on Chalk & Wire in fall 2011.
Please note: Assignments are made ONLY by the Office of Field Experiences. DO NOT attempt
to make your own student teaching arrangements.
Licensure
Licensure is the process of obtaining your teaching license. Upon successful completion of Phase
III requirements, candidates initiate the licensure process with forms available from the Director
of Field Experiences/Licensure Officer. Recommendations for licensure come from the
university, and are submitted by the University of Montana Western Licensure Officer to the
state in which the candidate is applying for a teaching position. Also, refer to information above
regarding criminal background checks.
Montana Western offers a degree in Elementary Education leading to Montana licensure valid
for grades K‐8, and bachelor’s degrees and post‐baccalaureate (fifth year) programs in
Secondary Education for teaching grades 5‐12. The university also offers programs in a variety of
areas that lead to K‐12 licensure. For a list of teaching majors and minors available at the
University of Montana Western, refer to the latest university catalog and our website at
http://my.umwestern.edu/shares/education/
The university can only offer licensure programs in subjects for which we offer a major and/or a
minor, and only in subjects authorized by the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Montana Licensure Criteria
The Montana Western Licensure Officer submits recommendations for licensure contingent
upon: 1) successful completion of academic degree requirements, based on the university
catalog the candidate is eligible to use; 2) successful completion of student teaching and
program requirements, based on the Phase III requirements in effect when the candidate
applied for student teaching (refer to the most recent Montana Western Teacher Education
Program (TEP) Student Handbook, available online at
http://my.umwestern.edu/shares/education/tep.html; 3) successfully passing all the TEP
Gateway 3 requirements; and 4) satisfactory scores on PRAXIS II exams, for those subjects
required in Montana (see Appendix 18); satisfactory criminal background check.
Licensure is not guaranteed with university graduation. While Montana Western plans its
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