Teacher Education Program (TEP)

Many items below make reference to the Educator Professional Standards Board (EPSB), which implements and enforces the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) related to the certification of teachers in Kentucky. The EPSB information is located at http://www.epsb.ky.gov/. Likewise, the KAR related to the admittance of candidates into a teacher preparation program can be seen here, https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/016/005/020/. Below you will find requirements and prerequisites that comply with the related KAR(s).

Teacher Preparation Program Requirements: After being accepted into MSU, you will subsequently apply to be a candidate for a teacher preparation program, i.e., the TEP, for which you must meet these prerequisites:

• 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 the date. All transfer courses, as well as MSU credit, are used in calculating GPA. Within those 30 credit hours you must have the following five core courses, with grades of “C” or better:

• ENG 100 Writing I
• Mathematics General Education Requirement (MATH 131, MATH 135, MATH 152, MATH 174, or MATH 175, 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 (MSU-Teach programs)
• EDF 211 Human Growth & Development (IECE candidates may substitute EDEC 253) or UTCH 150 (MSU-Teach programs)

Additionally, You Must Meet These 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.

After fulfilling the prerequisites, you begin the Formal Application Procedure

To apply for the TEP, students must schedule an advising session with the appropriate *College of Education Advisor to review the above stated eligibility requirements. When the candidate has met all eligibility requirements, the candidate may submit the electronic application for official review. The application will be submitted to and reviewed by the TEP Admissions Coordinator to confirm that the student is ready to become a candidate for a Teacher (aka Educator) Preparation Program (TEP/EPP). These

Professional Dispositions

In compliance with the EPSB's standards for admission to educator preparation programs, candidates must demonstrate an understanding of professional dispositions expected of professional educators. To comply with this regulation, the candidate must complete a Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel Assessment and receive a score of 100% to progress forward in the cycle. The TEP Coordinator will facilitate this assessment in an electronic format.

Mandatory TEP Orientation Sessions

To finalize the TEP application process, the candidate must complete a face-to-face or online TEP Orientation Session.

Faculty Advising

Upon completion of the outlined steps, the candidate will be assigned and/or referred to a faculty advisor from the candidate's program. Departments may require the approved candidate to meet with the faculty advisor for program planning.

*Students are assigned a professional advisor as a freshman and work with that person at SOAR. They are taught in their FYS classes how to find their advisor in their online account. Professional advisors reach out to their students each semester, as well. Transfer students and those who didn't attend SOAR are referred to their advisors through the Enrollment Services office. Education students are also added to the TEP Blackboard course prior to admission, where the TEP Advisors' contact information is located.