2006–2007 Academic Catalog - Concordia University Ann Arbor

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SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Deadline for program completion
All requirements for program completion must be completed within two years (24 months)
of withdrawal from the university. Following that deadline, a candidate desiring to return
and complete certification requirements will be required to meet any new or changed program
requirements.
Procedure for securing a state teaching certificate
Once all program requirements are completed, the candidate may submit a Request for
Initial Teacher Certification to the SOE Dean, who serves as the university’s certification
officer. When program completion and fulfillment of all requirements have been verified,
the certification officer will submit the university’s recommendation to the State
Department of Education electronically. At the same time, the candidate will be provided a
letter noting that the recommendation has been submitted. As per Michigan regulations,
this letter serves as a 90-day teaching certificate while the recommendation is processed by
the Department of Education.
Rule 101.1 Exception: In keeping with Michigan’s Rule 101.1 regulations, if a candidate
reports conviction for certain misdemeanors or felonies (specified in Michigan’s Public Act
97 of the Public Acts of 1995,) details must be noted in the submitted recommendation for
certification. In such cases, a 90-day certificate letter may not be provided to the candidate
by the certification officer. Receipt of certification will be put on hold, pending the State
Department’s investigation of the case and final decision regarding certification. Failure to
accurately or honestly report convictions or current charges while requesting a teaching certificate
may serve as the basis for a denial of certification.
Deadline for requesting certification
The State of Michigan stipulates a five-year window for submitting a program completer’s
recommendation for certification. Following that deadline, Concordia requires evidence of a
minimum of ten additional credits of coursework directly related to the requested area(s) of
certification. Ten or more years after program completion, a minimum of eighteen additional
credits and evidence of 50 hours of appropriate clinical experiences are required.
Becoming certified in other states
Certification processes and requirements differ slightly from state to state. Concordia
strongly encourages all graduates to begin by securing a Michigan certificate, even if they do
not intend to find a teaching job within the state. A description of requirements in all 50
states is available at www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html.
Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education
Completion of the elementary teacher education program (with a passing grade on the
“Elementary Education” test of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)) leads
to certification by the State of Michigan to teach all subjects in grades kindergarten to 5
and all subjects in grades 6 to 8 in self-contained classrooms. Passing the appropriate
MTTC content area test also qualifies you to teach in a departmentalized program (grades
6 to 8) in the area(s) of your specialization (major or minors.)
The elementary education program consists of three components - General Studies,
Professional Education Studies and Specialty Studies (a major or two minors.) Completion
of a fourth component, the Lutheran Teacher Diploma requirements, certifies the candidate
to serve in the teaching ministry of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The following
chart outlines these components.