Admission to Professional Teacher Preparation Program

A student who is seeking admission into a professional teacher preparation program must make application to the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences and must be accepted before registering for any restricted professional education courses. The process for admission to a professional teacher preparation program in the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences is:

1. Pick up an application form for admission to a professional teacher preparation program at the Office of Field Experiences, J203A.
2. Fill out the application (printed in ink or typed) and return it to the Office of Field Experiences, J203A or mail it to: Black Hills State University, Office of Field Experiences, 1200 University Street Unit 9038, Spearfish, SD 57799-9038; with all necessary paperwork as outlined in the application packet.
3. You may initiate this application upon completion of 48 completed credit hours at or above the 100 level.
4. Requirements for admission to Professional Teacher Preparation include the following components. The student must:
   1. Have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.70, a minimum institutional BHSU GPA of 2.0, and a minimum 2.70 GPA for the combined major content and education courses.
   2. Not be on academic probation or suspension.
   3. Have successfully completed the CAAP Proficiency Exam with passing scores in all areas.
   4. Have a “C” or better in all course work related to the student’s education program and the following prerequisite courses:
      ENGL 101 Composition I
      ENGL 201 Composition II
      SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Speech
      PSYC 101 General Psychology
      EDFN 295 Pre-Admission Teaching Practicum
      EPSY 302 Educational Psychology
      EDFN 338 Foundations of American Education
   5. Submit a signed copy of the Student Academic Program Approval Sheet.
   6. Submit a signed copy of the Mandatory Revocation Sheet.
   7. Submit signature verification of portfolio initiation
   8. Submit three completed Disposition Checklist Forms one of which is the self-evaluation
5. An applicant who has not been accepted for admission into a professional teacher preparation program may have recourse through an appeal. Applicants should contact the Director of Field Experiences (J203A) for information concerning appeals.

Transfer students: Please note that the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences will not accept any methods coursework you are transferring if it is over seven (7) years old.

Field Experiences

Field experiences are conducted in an off-campus setting such as a school or other educational setting. They provide an opportunity for the student to observe and to participate in a teaching environment under the supervision of a university faculty member and a field-based professional practitioner.

Field experience assignments are made through the Office of Field Experiences. In virtually all cases, field experience placements will require that the student have personal transportation because not all students can be accommodated in the immediate area. Students should also be aware that while personal requests will be considered, final placement decisions are based on standards of the professional teacher preparation program, policies and procedures of the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences, and availability of appropriate placement sites.

There are three phases of school-based field experience to help students apply course content to best practice in preparation for their teaching careers. The field assignments include:

1. Pre-Admission Teaching Practicum (EDFN 295). This practicum requires students to spend 40 hours in a K-12 classroom to observe classroom practices and assist teachers with instruction. This practicum in designed to:
   1. Provide prospective teachers with opportunities to observe school classrooms from a teacher’s perspective
   2. Acquaint the prospective teacher with students in a K-12 school environment, and
   3. Enable prospective teachers to determine for themselves whether teaching is the profession they choose to enter.
2. Pre-Student Teaching Practicum (ELED or SEED 495). This practicum is designed to involve prospective teachers with basic teaching duties/responsibilities in a variety of settings with a variety of student ability levels. Prospective teachers will spend 45 or 90 hours in a K-12 classroom. During that time, they observe, aide the classroom teacher, tutor students as assigned by the teacher, and plan to teach at least three lessons as directed by the classroom teacher. This practicum usually occurs during the semester immediately preceding student teaching.
3. Student Teaching Internship. This is the culminating field experience activity. It is designed to provide prospective teachers with opportunity to assume the full responsibilities of a classroom teacher under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor. This experience is generally 16 weeks (600 hours) in duration. During this time, the prospective teacher will gradually assume all duties/responsibilities of the classroom teacher. In accordance with South Dakota state law, all students are required to submit to a criminal background check before they are allowed to student teach.

Students applying for admission to student teaching must present an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher, and a BHSU Institutional GPA of 2.0 or higher.  In addition, a 2.70 minimum GPA is required for the combined major content and education courses.  All professional teacher preparation program coursework must be completed prior to the beginning of student teaching with a grade of C or better. All students must pass a standardized content area teacher certification exam before student teaching. Additionally, candidates must have satisfactorily completed all pre-student teaching field experiences. Student teachers are only placed at approved schools.

The courses listed will meet the requirements for background courses, general education, and professional education for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education. In planning a program, the student, with the assistance of an advisor, should select courses to meet the requirements of general education and the minor if chosen.

Title II Reporting Information
Academic Year: 2014-15

Student Teaching Data - The total number of students fully admitted to the teacher preparation program during the 2014-2015 academic year was 270. During that same academic year, the total number of initial teacher certification preparation program completers was 179. Graduates were required to complete an average of 269 clock hours of clinical experience prior to student teaching and 640 clock hours of student teaching.