2023-2024 BSC Catalog Updated_UG ONLY_FINAL[82]

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
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(2) A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500, a minimum BSC grade point
average of 2.500, a minimum professional studies grade point average of 2.500, and a
minimum teaching field grade point average of 2.500. Grades of “C” or higher in all
courses in professional studies (ED, EPY). A grade of “C-” is not acceptable.
(3) Successful interview and ePortfolio review with two or more members of the faculty.
(4) Submission of a writing sample (see certification officer for details).
(5) Evidence of teaching aptitude as demonstrated by successful completion of ED 299,
and ED 201 or EPY 260.
(6) Successful completion of fingerprinting for background review.
Field Experiences and Internship
Students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program participate in three levels of field
experiences. The first level involves primarily observation and working with students in
small groups and is typically done in education courses at the 200 level and/or
exploratory experiences during the Exploration term. The second level involves working
with children and youth in a specified content area such as reading, mathematics, social
studies, or science. These are completed in the methods courses within a major. The third
and most in-depth experience is the internship (student teaching), a series of placements
in two or more schools for a minimum of a full term.
The internship measures a student’s synthesis of all previous coursework. Students
seeking the non-certification option, professional studies in education, must participate in
a full-time internship in educational settings such as not-for-profits, camps, children and
youth ministry organizations, and advocacy organizations. Students seeing certification
through the collaborative education track and the secondary education track must
participate in an internship in a public or private school (see requirements below). For
secondary teacher candidates who are seeking certification in two or more distinct
teaching fields (i.e., mathematics and biology), an additional student teaching term is
required.
Application for Internship for Students Seeking Certification (Tracks I and II)
Teacher candidates must make formal application for internship. The student’s
application is not complete until the student successfully demonstrates readiness in an
interview with faculty prior to the term when teacher candidates expect to begin the
teaching internship. The criteria for approval to student teach are as follows:
(1) A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500, a BSC grade point average of
2.500, a minimum professional studies grade point average of 2.500, and a minimum
teaching field grade point average of 2.500. Grades of “C” or higher in all courses in
professional studies (ED, EPY). A grade of “C-“ is not acceptable.
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2023-2024