USF TELEPHONE DIRECTORY - University of Sioux Falls

semesters of provisional status will be cause for discontinuation of a
candidate from the program. This candidate may reapply to the
program when admission requirements have again been met.
Candidates who manifest difficulty meeting Education course
instructors’ expectations for responsible behavior, academic
competence and in other areas identified by the Teacher Candidate
Profile will be notified. A meeting with the candidate, a faculty
member, and others, as deemed appropriate, will be called by the
Education Chairperson.
A plan for correction will be designed and placed in the
candidate’s file. Upon successful completion of the program of
remediation and recommendation for teaching certification by the
Teacher Education Committee, the notations of concerns and plans
for correction will be removed from the candidate’s file.
It is understood that the Education Area Chairperson will
consider the candidate’s progress in correcting the identified
weaknesses when determining the student’s Application for
Admission to Student Teaching.
Admission to Student Teaching
Requirements for admission to student teaching must be met. In
a few instances, candidates can be placed in a school district near
Sioux Falls. Candidate requests for such placement should be
submitted in written form to the Education Area Chairperson. An
additional supervision charge of $75 is required. Candidates who
student teach outside of the supervision area (approximately 45
minutes from Sioux Falls) will be assessed a $350 fee for an external
supervisor.
To qualify for student teaching, the candidate must meet the
following conditions: (1) full admission status in Teacher Education
Program; 2) cumulative GPA of 2.5 overall; 3) GPA of 2.5 in the
major area of preparation; 4) no grade below 2.0 in Education
courses; 5) for Elementary majors: completion of EDU 318 and
EDU 319 plus one additional methods course; 6) for K-12 and
Secondary majors: two-thirds of coursework completed, including
the special methods course in the major and EDU 329
Secondary/Middle Level Methods; 7) acceptable ratings on Teacher
Candidate Profiles; 8) satisfactory electronic student teaching
portfolio; and 9) favorable recommendation by academic advisor.
In addition, prospective student teachers may be required to
complete an interview with Education Area faculty in seeking
approval to student teach.
Certification Requirements
Prospective teachers must have earned a bachelor’s degree,
satisfactorily completed the specified courses in the elected
Education program and in the elected major, if secondary or K-12,
and demonstrated competence in student teaching. The Teacher
Education Committee, made up of Teacher Education faculty,
faculty from other areas, USF students and public school
representatives, will review the candidate’s program and
performance. The prospective teacher must receive the approval of
the Teacher Education Committee in order to be recommended by
the University of Sioux Falls for state teacher certification.
General Teacher Certification Requirements for South Dakota:
In addition to satisfying course, credit and degree requirements, an
applicant for certification in South Dakota must be (1) a citizen of
the United States (provision is made for those who have declared
their intention to become a citizen, and limited certificates may be
62 Education
issued from foreign countries); 2) at least 18 years of age; 3) able to
present a satisfactory health certificate signed by a physician; 4)
successful completion Praxis II exams (Content and Principles of
Teaching and Learning); and 5) complete a background conduct
questionnaire. Additional information regarding certification
requirements may be secured from the South Dakota Department of
Education.
All statements of teaching certification requirements in this
catalog are based upon South Dakota laws in effect at the date of
publication. Requirements are subject to change as determined by
the State Department of Education. The student is advised to check
the requirements of the State of South Dakota as well as those of any
other state in which certification is sought.
Assessment Plan
The Education area completes student and program assessment
through the following evaluation instruments: paraprofessional
evaluations, student teaching portfolios, student teaching
observations, and follow-up surveys. Additional assessments will be
completed as information from the Praxis Exam is available.