What is the role of my teacher education advisor?Your SOE education advisor provides advisement regarding your elementary or secondary certification. Unless you are a Physical Education or Special Education major, you will be choosing from a major from the College of Arts and Sciences. You will also have an academic advisor from the College of Arts and Sciences who advises you on your core and degree. Your teacher education advisor advises you on your certification and program requirements.Is it difficult to graduate in four years as a certification student?It can be difficult if you do not begin the certification program during your freshman year. Elementary certification, in particular, requires additional summer coursework in order for you to be completed in four years.Are there courses that count toward both my core and my certification?Yes! The following courses count towards both:
- A life Science with a lab (Elementary) also counts as core in Laboratory Science
- EDSE 150 - Psych of the Exceptional Child (Elementary & Secondary) also counts as core for Social Science
- HIST 112 - Survey of World Civilizations (Elementary) also counts as core for History
- HIST 201 or 202 - History of the US I or II (Elementary) also counts as core for History
- MATH 121 - Introductory Statistics (Elementary) also counts as core for Mathematics
- MATH 203 - Math for Elementary Teachers or MATH 112, MATH 157 or higher (with the exception of MATH 321) (Elementary) also counts as core for Mathematics or National Science
- POLS 101 - American Politics (Elementary) also counts as core for Social Science
Are there a minimum number of credits that I have to complete from the College of Arts and Science (A & S)?Yes! You are required to complete a minimum of 94 credits from the college of A & S. Any courses from the School of Education, School of Business, School of Engineering, School of Professional Studies do not count toward the 94 credits required in the College of Arts and Science.
Are there any other A & S requirements that I should be aware of as well?Yes, you are required to have at least 3 credits obtained in courses in the following three areas: Social Justice (designated "SJ" in the catalogue), Fine Arts (P), and Foreign Language or Culture (FC).
Are there pre-requisite requirements that I should be aware of related to my certification courses?Yes, most of the coursework in the teacher certification program has prerequisites and co-requisites. Advising sheets that include course prerequisites can be found in the Certification Advisement Handbook or on the Teacher Education homepage (www.gonzaga.edu/soe/teachered).
Am I able to study abroad in Florence?Yes! The Teacher Education Department offers courses in Florence during the Spring semester: EDTE 315, EDTE 331, EDTE 418, EDTE 460E/S, EDTE 331L/440L.
Am I able to study abroad in Zambia?Yes! The Teacher Education Department offers courses in Monze, Zambia during Summer Session 1: EDTE 331, EDTE 331L or EDTE 418, EDTE 440L.
Do I have to maintain certain grades?Yes! Any course that you need for teacher certification you must earn a C (2.0) or above. You are also required to maintain a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in Teacher Education courses.
Are there any courses that are fall and/or spring only?Yes, see the chart below:
Elementary Program
|
|
| Fall Only Courses: |
Spring Only Courses |
| EDTE 315 Elementary |
EDTE 231 Instruct. Methods: Reading, Writing, Comm I |
| EDTE 401/401L Math Methods and Field Experience |
|
| EDTE 460E Elementary Classroom Management |
|
Secondary Program
|
|
| Fall Only Courses: |
Spring Only Courses: |
| EDTE 454 - Secondary Specific Methods |
EDTE 315 Assessment |
| EDTE 454L - Field Experience |
EDTE 418 Discipline Specific Literacy |
| EDTE 460S Secondary Classroom Management |
EDTE 440L Field Experience |
Are there any requirements, outside of specific courses that I must complete prior to beginning my field experiences?Yes! You must complete a Character & Fitness Document (EDTE 101), and be fingerprinted for clearance by the Washington State Patrol and FBI. Fingerprinting clearance lasts for two years and must happen before EDTE 221 class begins. You are also required to fill out a Field Experience Request form so the Field Office can place you in a field placement. These forms are available at: http://www.gonzaga.edu/Academics/Colleges-and-Schools/School-of-Education-Majors-Programs/Teacher-Education/Student-Teaching-and-Field-Experience/Field-Experience/Application-Process.asp.
What are the requirements that I must meet to be formally accepted into the teacher certification program?See Certification Advisement Handbook and Field Placement or the Student Teaching homepage at www.gonzaga.edu/soe/student_teaching.
What are the requirements that I must meet to apply for student teaching?See Certification Advisement Handbook and Field Placement or the Student Teaching homepage at www.gonzaga.edu/soe/student_teaching.
Are there any costs associated with certification?Yes, see the chart below:
| Item |
Timeline |
Cost |
Purpose |
| Character and Fitness Form |
By completion of EDTE 101 |
$0 |
Required by WA State before entering the field |
| Fingerprinting |
Before entry into a P-12 classroom (prior to beginning EDTE 221E/S) |
$68.50 |
Required by WA State and the program before entering the field |
| West B (Basic Skills test) |
Taken prior to completing EDTE 221 - required for formal admittance to program |
$75.00 |
Basic skills exam required by WA State |
| West E (Endorsement test) |
Must be taken prior to student teaching, passing score in order to be certified |
$120.00 |
Endorsement test required by WA State |
| edTPA |
During Student Teaching |
$300.00 |
Required by WA State for Certification |
| Paper-based processing fee |
N/A |
$10.00 |
N/A |
| Computer-based processing fee |
N/A |
$35.00 |
N/A |
| Additional Course Fees |
See Handbook |
|
|
|