Admission to Tri-State University Teacher Education

(usually in the second year)

Two courses, EDU 111, Freshman Practicum, and EDU 211, Sophomore Practicum and most general education course, may be taken prior to official admission to a teacher education program. Other courses with EDU prefixes may be taken only after you have applied and been accepted into a program.

You may apply for admission after you have completed the following:

• earned Indiana passing scores on reading, writing, and mathematics sections of Praxis I;
• completed 12 semester hours of university credit with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher;
• submitted three letters of recommendation supporting your admission to a teacher education program;
• submitted a limited criminal background check and a Zachary’s Law check; and
• submitted appropriate application forms.

Forms are available from the FSOE office or click here to download them online.

Remaining in Teacher Education

Once officially admitted, retention in a teacher education program is contingent upon good academic standing and successful passing of Benchmark requirements. The GPA required for admission to a program is 2.5 overall. You must also pass portfolio reviews and panel interviews at various checkpoints (Benchmark #1, #2, #3, #4) in the program.

Testing Requirements

To be eligible for admission to a teacher education program, state of Indiana passing scores on Praxis I reading, writing, and mathematics tests must be submitted. To be eligible for student teaching, state of Indiana passing score(s) on required Praxis II content specialty test(s) must be submitted. Information about the PRAXIS Series is available in the FSOE office, 202 Library, or online at www.ets.org.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is completed in an area school, generally within 40 miles of the University, as assigned by the dean of the FSOE. The student teacher participates in a classroom with a cooperating teacher for 10-11 full weeks. The GPA requirement for enrollment in student teaching is 2.5 overall, as well as 2.5 in all intended areas of licensure. To be eligible for licensure, you must have earned an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all areas of licensure, and must have successfully completed student teaching with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.