Teacher Exploration Programs Policy

The Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development (TEPD) has developed a process which culminates in granting credit for EDU 107 (Introduction to Teaching – 3 credit hours) to students participating in approved high school teacher exploration programs. We invite you to submit a proposal so that the curricula for your program can be reviewed.

Students who have participated in your teacher exploration program will be eligible for credit for EDU 107 Introduction to Teaching (3 credits), and will be granted the 45 hours of classroom experience if your program is approved by TEPD.  Once a program is approved, an articulation agreement will be signed by both parties. The proposal will be reviewed every three years for continuing eligibility.

The program review will be conducted by a faculty committee consisting of three people holding appointment in the Teacher Education and Professional Development Department.  Any teacher exploration program wishing to participate must meet the following criteria:

• Be organized around Michigan’s Entry Level Standards for Teachers
• Meet CMU’s EDU 107 course objectives
• Have a fully delineated syllabus of the proposed program (goals, objectives, learning activities, curriculum, assessments)
• Be a two-year program (junior and senior high school years)
• Have a component of goal setting and self-assessment which requires students to be self-directed
• Require students to have at least 90 hours of classroom observation/participation in at least two different grade level configurations
• Include an orientation/training for participating students/teachers/mentors
• Require that instructors have a masters degree in an educational field

Your program proposal should include materials that document how the program meets the above criteria.  Once a program is approved, students completing the teacher exploration program will be eligible for the credit as long as they meet the following criteria:

• Accepted and enrolled as a student at Central Michigan University
• Have received a grade of B or better in the teacher exploration program
• Have been involved for two years in the exploration program
• Have submitted a portfolio that may be used by the committee

Credit will be granted during the 2^nd semester of their freshman year.

Students will be expected to meet all other requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

Applications must be submitted in two formats:
1.  Hardcopy applications (click here for further information) should be submitted to:

Teacher Exploration Review Committee
Teacher Education & Professional Development
Central Michigan University
Ronan Hall 208
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859

2.  Electronic applications should be submitted to tepd@cmich.edu with 'Exploration Program' in the subject line

Should you have any questions regarding the application procedure, please contact the department office at 989-774-3976 or via email at tepd@cmich.ed

effective 5/10/06