A description of MSUTeach and specific coursework for the Geosciences MSU Teach Track can be found in the MSUTeach Program section of the College of Science.
TEP Admission Requirements
Students seeking teacher certification must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Additionally, to enroll in the clinical practice and meet state certification requirements, students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 overall (in all course work), as well as in professional education courses, with no grade lower than a "C" in professional education courses.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) require admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Program Requirements
- Admission to MSU with an assigned academic advisor.
- Pursuance of program completion leading to teacher certification.
- Completion of at least 30 credit hours.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) credit hours. All college courses attempted must be a part of the applicant's MSU transcript. Transcripts must reflect all transfer coursework completed to date. All transfer courses, as well as MSU credit, are used in calculating the GPA.
- Completion of the following five core courses with grades of “C” or better:
- ENG 100 – Writing I
- Mathematics General Education Requirement, as required by program
- COMS 108 – Fundamentals of Speech Communication
- EDF 207 – Foundations of Education (CTE and Agriculture Teaching candidates may substitute CTE 207) or UTCH 100 (MSUTeach programs)
- EDF 211 – Human Growth and Development (IECE candidates may substitute EDEC 253) or UTCH 150 (MSUTeach programs)
Testing Requirements
TEP candidates must obtain the following scores on the ACT exam:
- Composite score of 22 or the corresponding minimum scores: Reading (20), English (18), and Mathematics (19),
OR, the following scores on the Praxis I Core Skills for Educators exam:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined 5752 Computer OR
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics 5733 Computer (Minimum score 150) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading 5713 Computer (Minimum score 156) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing 5723 Computer (Minimum score 162)
An applicant may use a combination of ACT and Praxis I minimum scores to meet testing requirements. If an applicant is within five points of one or more of the corresponding minimum scores of the Praxis I assessments, the candidate may be admitted if the candidate has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For information about the Praxis exams and to register for the test, please visit the Praxis website at https://praxis.ets.org/.
Program Competencies
The student will be able to:
- Identify Earth materials (minerals, rocks, fossils, sediments, soils, etc.).
- Articulate the physical processes that shape Earth's surface and interior.
- Apply knowledge of modern geologic processes to interpret the geologic record.
- Recognize existing or potential geologic hazards.
- Describe the details of the inter-relationships between components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere) of the Earth System.
- Develop learning techniques to adapt to new vocational and educational situations, i.e. be able to self-educate in new applied areas and keep up with progress in the field.
- Develop enough self-confidence, personal independence and understanding of scientific methods to carry out a technical project on one's own with only consultant-style help.
- Read technical literature with good comprehension.
- Write technical reports in a clear and logical way.
- Present oral reports on technical material in a clear and logical way.
- Be able to retrieve any needed information from scientific literature.
- Analyze laboratory data for its correctness and locate probable sources of error, including an understanding of standard statistical tests and the concepts of error and uncertainty, and an understanding of the advantages and limitations of current instrumental and other laboratory techniques.
Assessment
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Graduating seniors will be given discipline-specific exit exam(s).
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Alumni will be surveyed regarding employment, acceptance to graduate school, or for other employment outcomes.
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Student results in the capstone (either ESS 499C or ESS 499D) will be tracked to verify that integration of discipline skills is attained.
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Individual measures from classes will be recorded and tracked via WEAVE.
Program Requirements
General Education
Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University. Program requirements that are also general education requirements will count in both places (as applicable).
Area Requirements
Core Requirements
MSUTeach Track
| ASTR 125 | Astronomical and Physics Methods to Explore the Universe | 3 |
| ASTR 130 | Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology | 3 |
| ESS 303 | Planetary Geology | 3 |
| ESS 340 | Oceans and Atmospheres | 3 |
| UTCH 100 | Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching | 1 |
| UTCH 150 | Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design | 1 |
| UTCH 200 | Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science | 3 |
| UTCH 250 | Perspectives on Science and Mathematics | 3 |
| UTCH 300 | Classroom Interactions* | 3 |
| UTCH 360 | Research Methods | 3 |
| UTCH 410 | Project-Based Instruction* | 3 |
| UTCH 450 | Apprentice Teaching | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 41 |