Teacher Education
FAQs
School of Education, Health, and Society
FAQ’s for prospective students:
Can I enroll at Miami, choose a major in teacher education, graduate in four years and go straight to a teaching position without going to graduate school?
Yes. Miami's teacher education program is designed to allow our students to earn a degree in four years and go straight into a classroom position. In fact, many of our students pursuing high school teaching obtain two degrees in four years--one in their subject area (mathematics, history, etc.) and one in adolescent education.
While we offer two highly regarded graduate programs, our focus is preparing undergraduates for teaching careers. Our students appreciate being placed in real-world situations. For students in our early and middle childhood programs this begins as early as their sophomore year; by their junior year, every teacher education major has had a field work placement. These field experiences allow students to observe and assist veteran teachers.
Student teaching assignments begin senior year.
By graduation, teacher education majors have been gradually immersed in their future profession. The process begins with early field experiences, continues with junior methods courses, and then goes to student teaching. There is mentoring and feedback each step of the way, and by the time a student teacher is put in charge of a classroom he or she is well prepared for the challenge.
I thought I had to get my master’s degree or enroll in a five-year program to get a teaching license.
No, when you complete Miami’s undergraduate program you are eligible for a two-year provisional license. That is the first step to becoming a teacher. During that period of time, your school system will assign a veteran teacher to be your mentor and a trained Praxis III assessor (scroll further in the FAQ for an explanation of Praxis and teacher licensing) will visit your classroom to evaluate your work and help you improve. When you pass Praxis III and take additional credit hours, you get your first five-year license. You can renew that five-year license one time before you have to obtain either a master’s degree or 30 additional semester hours.
I think I want to be a teacher, but I’m not sure.
We think teaching is a great career, but we also know it’s not for everyone. Our recommendation is that you visit your favorite former teachers when you are home for holidays and breaks. Ask if you can sit in on their classes or help them with something. Talk with them about their lives as teachers.
What licensure programs do you offer in Miami’s Department of Teacher Education?
We offer the following licensure programs:
- Early childhood education, grades pre-K through 3
- Middle childhood education, grades 4-9 (choose two subjects—language arts, social studies, math, or science)
- Adolescent/young adult education, grades 7-12 (choose one subject—language arts, social studies, math, or one of seven science programs)
- Foreign language education—grades pre-K through 12 (choose one—Chinese, French, German, Latin, or Spanish)
Are there other licensure programs available at Miami?
Other departments offer health education, physical education, art, music, and special education licensure programs.
What sets your programs apart from those of other universities?
In addition to being able to complete a licensure program as an undergraduate, your education coursework will help you learn to apply technology to your teaching.
One of our new programs is called ELL Infusion. ELL stands for “English language learners.” Your professors will help you learn to effectively teach students whose first language is not English and who are learning English at the same time they are learning subject matter.
When I’m admitted to Miami does that mean I am in your program?
You start out as a pre-major in the program you’re interested in and apply for the program during your first year. After taking 12 Miami credit hours (transfer credits, audits, or incompletes cannot be counted in the 12 credits), you apply to the cohort for the program of your choice. Admission to a cohort is competitive. Several factors determine admission to a cohort, but the primary determining factor is a minimum 2.5 grade point average in Miami Plan courses and a minimum standardized test score. If your ACT was below 21 or your SAT (math plus verbal) was below 980, you must take all three parts of Praxis I and earn the following scores:
173 on reading
172 on math
172 on writing.
Other criteria for early and middle childhood may include essays or other writing samples.
Cohort? What is a cohort?
The cohort is simply the group of students who take certain courses together. For example, the students in an early childhood cohort will take what we call (1) early field block, (2) literacy block, and (3) content integration block together. Cohort students often become close personally and professionally, even after graduation.
What is Praxis?
Praxis tests are required for licensure in Ohio. For more information about Praxis, go here.
Cohorts, Praxis, licensure programs—it all seems overwhelming. Will there be advisors to help me understand the process?
Absolutely. That’s an advantage to majoring in teacher education at a university where the department is focused on undergraduates, not graduate students. As a pre-major you are assigned a pre-major advisor and then when you get into your cohort you will be assigned another faculty advisor in your teaching area.
What are career prospects like for graduates of Miami’s teacher education programs?
While it obviously varies by the program you select, our graduates are highly regarded. Miami provides a number of resources to students as they prepare to launch their careers, including a nationally recognized Office of Career Services. You’ll be able to participate in one of the largest collegiate career fairs in the nation, an internship fair, a teacher job fair, and have access to a full range of services, including information aimed specifically at education majors.
What about financial assistance?
The majority of Miami students receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or work/study employment and campus jobs. An important thing to remember when comparing the cost of schools is that more than 65 percent of Miami students graduate in four years or less (compared to 36.4 per cent nationally).
Prospective students should also be aware of Miami’s Access Initiative, which is designed to help make a Miami degree accessible to all academically qualified students. Any Ohio resident entering Miami’s Oxford campus as a first-time, full-time freshman in the fall of 2008 will be considered for the scholarship program. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15, be eligible for federal aid, and have a total family income equal to or less than $35,000.
EDT has a limited number of scholarships for upperclass majors. For complete information about financial assistance visit Miami’s Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Can I graduate in four years?
Yes. Miami’s graduation rate is among the highest in the country for major public institutions.
Each EDT degree is designed to be completed in four years when followed according to the program of study. Academic advisors will assist in your course selection and program planning. Be aware that changing your major, adding a second major or deviating from the planned program could lengthen your time for completion.
A student who begins Miami as a pre-major in a licensure program in teacher education, who applies for and is admitted to a cohort during the first year, and who does not add other majors, minors, or study abroad, should be able to finish an entire licensure program (including student teaching) in four years.
Can I combine a teacher education major with study abroad?
Yes. Miami is among the top 25 schools in the nation in the number of students who study abroad. Some students choose to complete their student teaching requirement by teaching in Europe or Australia. Many students choose Miami’s Luxembourg campus for overseas study, but a variety of additional international opportunities exist, such as a summer capstone in Europe. With early and careful planning many students are able to study abroad for a semester. Many summer options are also available.
Is it possible to complete a licensure program part time on a regional campus?
No. While all of the programs can be started on the regional campuses, all must be completed on the Oxford campus.
Is it possible to complete an alternative licensure program at Miami or take online courses for licensure?
Contact Phyllis Mendenhall, coordinator of advising, at 513-529-6456 or mendenpn@muohio for information.
If I have further questions is there someone I can talk to in the Department of Teacher Education before applying?
Call or email Phyllis Mendenhall, coordinator of advising, at 513-529-6456 or mendenpn@muohio for information.