College of Education and Graduate Studies
All teacher candidates, regardless of their date of admission to the University, must
meet requirements for admission to a degree program based upon the program in place
at the time of admission. Candidates are admitted to the College each semester.
Admissions Requirements
1.0 Admission to the College of Education
1.1 All candidates must complete an application for admission as well as complete
Disposition Inventory #1 and secure a Taskstream Account before final approval is
granted.
1.2 Transfer Students:
1.2.1 Candidate must complete appropriate application form.
1.2.2 Candidate must have a 2.0 GPA on all grades earned.
1.2.3 Candidate must have a total of 24 or more acceptable credit hours (grades of
“C” or higher) as shown on the transcript.
Candidates transferring in with 30 hours or more are not required to take FYE 101
and 102 – First Year Experience I & II or Ed 111 and Ed 112.
2.0 Admission to a Non-Teaching Degree Program
2.1 Candidate must complete appropriate application.
2.2 Candidate must have been granted admission to the College of Education.
2.3 Candidate must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade-point average.
2.4 Candidate must appear before and receive acceptance from a departmental screening
committee.
3.0 Admission to a Teaching Degree Program
3.1 Candidate must have been granted admission to the COE.
3.2 Candidate must complete a degree program application.
3.3 Candidate must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
3.4 Candidate must have taken and passed all applicable components of the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) test (or be exempt).
3.5 Candidate must have earned at least 36 semester hours (including all 100 and 200
level education courses)
3.6 Candidate must submit a completed Professional Conduct Form
3.7 Candidate must complete Disposition Inventory #2
3.8 Candidate must secure a Taskstream Account
3.9 Candidate must have proof of passing a criminal background check
3.10 Candidate must appear before and receive acceptance from a departmental screening
committee (Portal).
3.11 Candidate must provide proof of membership in a Professional Teacher’s Organization
that offers liability insurance.
Note: Special Requirements of Teacher Education Candidates
All secondary teacher education candidates (grades 6-12) must complete a minimum of
31 semester hours in a primary teaching focus area and a minimum of 19 semester hours
in a secondary teaching focus area. Candidates must pass the specialty areas required
PRAXIS Exam in the primary teaching focus area.
All teacher education candidates must pass special requirements associated with specific
courses.
All teacher education candidates must complete three semesters of ED 201 Advisee Report
prior to admission to Advanced Standing.
4.0 Admission to Advanced Methods (Teaching Candidates Only)
4.1 Candidate must have been admitted to Degree Program.
4.2 Candidate must complete appropriate application.
4.3 Candidate must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and meet the 140 OP/Field Experience hours
requirement.
4.4 Candidate must show evidence of satisfactory performance on all required PRAXIS
I Exams or other required examinations.
4.5 Candidate must have at a least a grade of “C” in all English and Mathematics courses,
and professional education and specialized academic courses.
5.0 Admission to Student Teaching/Field Work
5.1 Teaching candidates must have completed all required coursework.
Note: Candidate may enroll in no more than three semester hours concurrently with
student teaching or field work. Exception: In rare circumstances, additional hours
may be allowed (no more than three), if these are the only hours needed for graduation,
if the candidate can justify the need, and if the candidate’s past performance indicates
that he/she can successfully complete a total of two courses along with student teaching.
This must be approved by the Department Head of Curriculum and Instruction and the
Dean of the College of Education (COE).
5.2 Candidate must complete appropriate application.
5.3 Grade Point Average – Teaching candidates must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
5.4 Coursework hours completed (including Advanced Methods) – Teaching candidates
must have completed a minimum of 180 hours of observation/ participation (field experiences).
5.5 Candidate must show evidence of satisfactory performance on all required PRAXIS
I and PRAXIS II examinations.
5.6 Candidate must have earned a grade of “C” or higher in all specialized and professional
education courses and all English and Mathematics courses taken.
5.7 Candidate must provide proof of membership in a Professional Teacher’s Organization
that offers liability insurance.
5.8 Candidate must have evidence of passing a criminal background check.
Note: Final approval for admission to Advanced Methods and Student Teaching must be
granted by the Department Head of Curriculum and Instruction.
Observation-Participation Requirements (Teaching Candidates Only)
The Observation-Participation (field experience) Program is designed to give all teacher
education candidates practical experiences in the field prior to student teaching.
These experiences will:
- afford candidates access to basic understanding about the process of teaching and
learning;
- enhance understanding of the relationships among the theories found in books and University
curricula and actual classroom situations; and
- provide sufficient information to candidates for making appropriate personal career
decisions early during their academic pursuits
Graduation Requirements
Requirements for Graduation (Non-Teaching Candidates)
- Satisfactory completion of an approved program of study with an overall grade point
average of 2.5.
- Completion of the final 30 semester hours in residence at Grambling State University,
including practicum, internship or field work.
- Evidence of proficiency in oral and written communication – Level Test III.
- Demonstration of dispositions, character and personal traits that will reflect credit
upon the chosen profession.
- Satisfactory performance on any required PRAXIS and other exit examinations.
- Students are required to complete at least 160 hours of service-learning activities
prior to graduation. Eighty (80) hours through “pure” service-learning activities
(approved courses) and eighty (80) hours of approved civic engagement activities or
community service projects.
Requirements for Graduation (Teaching Candidates)
- Satisfactory completion of an approved teaching program with an overall grade point
average of 2.5.
- Completion of a primary and secondary teaching focus area.
- Completion of the final 30 semester hours in residence at Grambling State University,
including the advanced methods courses and student teaching, internship or practicum.
- Proficiency in oral and written communication.
- Demonstration of dispositions, character and personal traits that will reflect credit
upon the chosen profession.
- Satisfactory performance on required exit examinations, and a passing score on all
appropriate required parts of the PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II Exams.
Note: Candidates making an application for a teaching certificate must also complete
and sign a professional conduct form and background check, including applicable fees.
