Graduate
Academic Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About
Transition to Teaching Programs
Who should apply to the Transition to Teaching Program?
The Transition to Teaching Programs are designed for people who:
- Hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 3.0 or better GPA overall and in their major, or a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of teaching experience as a lead teacher in a public or private school. Individuals who have earned a master’s degree in the area in which the wish to teach from an accredited institution are eligible regardless of their bachelor’s GPA. Math and science majors only can be considered for the T2T program with an undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Are committed to helping urban youth. At IUPUI, students learn
first hand how problems like poverty, racism, violence, and lack
of resources complicate the job of teaching. They also learn
to appreciate the richness of diversity and community resources
available to the schools.
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How Do
I get an elementary teaching license?
The Elementary T2T Program prepares individuals to get an elementary
teacher license that allows them to teach Kindergarten through
Sixth Grade. The Elementary T2T Program is a 15-month program
comprised of 24 graduate credit hours plus fees. The first two
semesters of the program involve courses and fieldwork in schools
two days a week. These semesters are followed by two intensive
graduate courses during a Summer I semester. Student teaching is
done in the following fall semester, requiring a commitment of
five days a week.
The best candidates for the elementary program are generalists
who have the knowledge needed to teach language arts, mathematics,
science, social studies, and fine arts, as well as experience
working with children.
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How
do I get a secondary teaching license?
The Secondary T2T Program prepares individuals to get a combined middle school high
school license that allows them to teach a specific content in fifth grade
through twelfth grade. The Secondary T2T Program is a 12-month program comprised
of 18 graduate credit hours plus fees. This program requires a full time commitment
during the fall and spring semesters.
Candidates start their coursework in Summer II with an evening
graduate course. In that fall semester, they work full time in
middle schools during the days and attend class 1-2 nights a
week. Candidates
participate in a high school full time in the spring with class
1-2 nights a week. Candidates complete their program with
an evening seminar in Summer 1 in which they prepare final documentation
for their licensing recommendation.
The Secondary T2T Program only includes the specific content
areas listed below:
- English
- Foreign Language: German, Spanish, or French
- Mathematics
- Social Studies: With specific content expertise in three areas
including History, Economics, Geography, Government/Civics, Psychology,
or Sociology
- Science: With specific content expertise in at least one area including
Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, Physics, or Chemistry
Applicants interested in science or math should check with the T2T advisor
regarding scholarship possibilities.
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What
licenses are not available through the T2T program?
IUPUI does not license teachers in the area of b usiness.
The teaching licenses for physical education and fine arts teachers
are called All-Grade (K-12) licenses and require specialized preparation
not available through the T2T programs. Individuals interested in these content areas should contact the School of Physical Education or the Herron School of Art for specific information.
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What
are the admission requirements for the T2T programs?
Applicants to the Elementary T2T Program must have:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- One of the following:
- GPA in an undergraduate baccalaureate program of 3.0 on
a 4-point scale, both overall and in the major
OR
- An earned graduate degree in an education-related field
- Passing scores on Praxis I
- Remediation of any content deficiencies identified in a content
standards transcript review. Courses must be completed with a
grade of C or better. An overall 3.0 GPA is required for any courses
taken as part of prerequisite work.
Applicants for the Secondary T2T Program must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution with
a major in the field where the license is being sought.
- One of the following:
- 1. A GPA in the baccalaureate program of 3.0 on a 4-point scale, both overall and in the major (math and science majors only may be considered with a GPA of 2.8) OR
- An earned graduate degree in the field in which the person seeks licensure
- Passing scores on Praxis I and the state-required Praxis II
tests. PRAXIS II tests must be taken by May 1st.
Remediation of any content deficiencies identified in content standards
review. Students must complete coursework equal to an undergraduate major in the area in which they wish to teach. Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. An overall
3.0 GPA is required for4 all prerequisite course work.
Elementary Program applicants who have worked in elementary schools for 5 years or more as aides or
substitutes may be admitted with a GPA falling between 2.5 and 3.0. Eligibility is determined by the
Coordinator of Transition to Teaching Programs.
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What are the testing requirements for the
PRAXIS I and II?
What is the PRAXIS I and the PRAXIS II Test?
The PRAXIS I is a standardized test of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. It can be taken as a paper
and pencil test or on the computer. The PRAXIS II test is a test of content knowledge.
The tests are given by Educational Testing Services.
Who Must Take the Tests?
Any student who wants to become a teacher must take the PRAXIS I and required PRAXIS II tests for
licensing in Indiana. Therefore, the IUPUI School of Education requires all students seeking admission to a Transition
to Teaching Program to pass all three parts of the PRAXIS I test before entering the program.
When Should I Take the Tests?
Potential T2T candidates must take the PRAXIS I early enough to submit scores with the application. The T2T application is due
February 7. No application is accepted without the PRAXIS I scores. PRAXIS II scores must be
submitted before a candidate will be allowed to enter the program in Summer II.
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What are the steps
for getting into the T2T program?
STEP 1. Request a transcript evaluation.
All students interested in the T2T program must have a transcript evaluation.
In this review of your academic work, advisors will determine whether you have
the content background needed for a specific teaching license. Complete a Transcript
Evaluation Request. The Request for Evaluation is available
here.
Please fill it out and print it.
Gather all the necessary original transcripts
for your university or college work. These must be official transcripts.
- Include a cashier’s check or money order made
out to IUPUI for $42.00.
- Send the Request for Evaluation, the
transcripts, and the check/money order to:
Certification Programs
IUPUI School of Education
902 W. New York St
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5155
STEP 2. Review the Transition to Teaching Information
Packet and your completed transcript evaluation.
Your transcript evaluation will be returned to you by email along with a
detailed PDF packet of information on either the elementary or secondary
Transition to Teach program. If you have questions after reviewing these materials you should call 317-274- 0928 to speak with Ms. Breland (Transition Programs Advisor) or email her at sbreland@iupui.edu.
STEP 3. Apply to take prerequisite courses (if required)
Information about this will be covered in the PDF information packet that you
will receive with your completed transcript evaluation. If you have further
questions please contact the Transition advisor mentioned above.
STEP 4. Take and pass Praxis I.
You should register for this standardized test as soon as
you decide you want to become a teacher. PRAXIS I is
required by the licensing agency. You can call Prometric Technology Center at 257-7546 (8450 Westfield Blvd) or 486-4541 (77 S Girls School Rd) to schedule an appointment to take the computer-based Praxis I. Or you may register online at http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=48c05ee3d74f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD for
the Praxis I paper based test.
Those seeking elementary licensing do not need to submit
any PRAXIS II scores at the point of application,
Those seeking middle school and high school licensing must
successfully complete the PRAXIS II tests in their content
areas. Passing scores for this test must be submitted before
candidates begin their programs . Information about these tests
is specific to each teacher’s
content area and license and will be discussed at the T2T meeting.
STEP 6. Turn in a formal application packet for the
Transition to Teaching Programs.
Be sure all previous steps are completed before proceeding.
To be considered for admission into one of the Transition to
Teaching Pr ograms, you must submit a completed application
by February 7 for the program beginning in the following
summer or fall. No admission decisions will be made prior
to March.
Admission to the T2T Program is competitive because more students
apply than our programs can accommodate. Students must meet minimum
requirements in order to apply; however, meeting these requirements
does not guarantee admission. In March, some applicants may be
asked to interview with admissions committee members
A Completed Application Includes the Following:
- A copy of IUPUI Transition to Teaching Contact
Information Sheet
The sheet is available online here.
- The
1-2 page personal statement
Using 12-point font write a personal statement as a Word
document. In the first paragraph, please state the program
you wish to apply to, your subject area, if secondary,
and how you think you will contribute to the teaching profession.
Address why you wish to become a teacher and why you should
be selected for one of the T2T programs. Also address your
commitment to learning about issues of cultural diversity. P
rint this and include it with your application packet.
- Two letters of recommendation
These should be professional recommendations from people
who can attest to your abilities as a student and/ or teacher.
- Your
transcript evaluation r eport
Include a copy of the Evaluation Report (which listed courses
or prerequisites needed to complete the major). This is
the evaluation that you paid for when you started this
process.
- The licensure program page marked appropriately
Click on this
link to access the form and print.
- Your original
PPST/Praxis I (and if needed PRAXIS II) score sheet from
ETS
Original Praxis I and II score reports must be copied by
staff in ES 3131. Individuals applying to the elementary
T2T should submit Praxis I scores but do not submit Praxis
II at this point. You will not be prepared to take this until
you finish the T2T program. Middle school and high school
applicants should prepare to take the PRAXIS II exams in
the spring or summer before beginning the program. It
is imperative that applicants spend time preparing for the
tests.
- Your resume
The resume should list your educational and job experiences.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
- Once you have collected all of the documents, paper
clip them together in the order listed above and submit
them to:
T2T Admissions Committee
Elementary/Secondary Program )
Student Services Office, Room ES 3131
School of Education
902 W. New York St
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5155
Hours:
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday -
Thursday; 9 to 5 p.m. Friday
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What is
the general structure of the T2T program coursework?
Cohort Groups
At IUPUI, students who are learning to teach are called “interns,” because
they do so much more than academics. Interns learn to collaborate
and function as part of a team. From day one, each group of
interns learns to be flexible--to coordinate schedules, manage
complex tasks, and handle multiple demands simultaneously.
At IUPUI, interns go through programs in cohort groups because
it takes time for people to develop the personal interaction
skills needed as a professional educator. Cohort groups also
come to share a common history of experiences and make good
use of the strengths they have as a group.
Mentorship Support
T2T candidates work with practicing teachers in their classrooms.
The mentor teachers often host two or more IUPUI interns at
a time and serve as coaches to interns as they learn to use
their content knowledge and understandings of pedagogy to support
student learning. Throughout the program, the mentor teachers
and interns function as a team planning lessons, observing
each other’s
teaching, co-teaching, providing critiques, and assessing students’ learning.
Mentoring is also available to interns through on-line channels
provided by the School of Education.
Field Based Experiences
The T2T program is designed to immerse interns in school
contexts where they can learn first-hand how to manage the
demands of the teaching profession. In the secondary program,
the interns work in teachers’ classrooms for 6-8
weeks before they take over responsibility for teaching lessons
on their own. They spend a semester with a middle school mentor
and a semester with a high school mentor. The elementary interns
work in a variety grade levels and schools, getting to know
children and the curriculum, practicing classroom management
and assessment strategies. In their final semester, they spend
eight weeks student teaching in a primary classroom and eight
weeks in an intermediate.
Performance-based Assessments
Interns are expected to demonstrate their learning and mastery
of the standards for teaching. They must pass benchmark assessments
at three different points in the program. Benchmark I is a rubric
that addresses the interns’ dispositions and basic skills.
Benchmark II requires interns to assess a student’s knowledge
through an informal interview. Benchmark III requires interns
to provide lesson plans and videotapes of their teaching. All
of these benchmark assessments, along PRAXIS test scores, grades,
and a work sample portfolio , are used to determine if an intern
will be recommended for an Indiana license .
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What time commitments
are required for the program?
T2T requires a full-time commitment. Students cannot take T2T on a part-time
basis. The program is designed for students who have adjusted their work and
life schedules to make time for classes, fieldwork, and studying.
Elementary
Cohorts start in the f all semester. During the following fall
and spring semesters, courses will generally run two full days
including fieldwork. Students will take two courses in Summer Session
I. Then the program concludes with a full semester of student teaching
in the second fall semester. Students will teach 5 days a week
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this semester.
Secondary
Cohorts start in Summer Session II with one evening class. During
the following fall and spring semesters, students will attend evening
classes 1-2 nights a week . They will also work during the day
with mentor teachers in a middle school during the fall semester
and in a high school in the spring semester. Their involvement
in the classrooms of these teachers will gradually build across
each semester, allowing them to assume full-time teaching responsibilities
for 6-8 weeks in each setting. Students will finish their program
with a three-credit seminar in Summer Session I in which they complete
their portfolio and address issues continuing professional development.
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How much does
the program cost?
The Elementary program is 24 credit hours plus fees and will cost about $11,000 in-state tuition. (2008-2009 costs) - This year’s costs need to be subbed.
The Secondary program is 18 credit hours plus fees and will cost about $9,000 in-state tuition. (2008-2009 costs) - This year’s costs need to be subbed.
This cost estimate does not include mandatory student fees such
as technology and health services nor the application and transcript
analysis fees. Financial aid is available to qualified candidates
through the Office of Financial Aid (317-274-4162) or Finaid5@iupui.edu or http://www.iupui.edu/~finaid/.
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Can I complete
a Master’s Degree?
Individuals who complete the T2T program with a GPA of 3.3
or higher, may complete the related master’s degree program
in Elementary or Secondary Education. Elementary and Secondary
students will be able to transfer 18 credit hours into the masters.
Course work remains active for seven years.
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Who can
I contact with questions about T2T?
For questions about the Transition to Teaching program, contact advisor
Sharice Breland at sbreland@iupui.edu, or
contact her by phone at 317-274-0928.
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Evaluation Request Form
You must fill out a Evaluation
Request Form in order to have areas evaluated. Allow 6-8
weeks for processing. The form is to be filled out online, so
when you have finished entering all the information on the form,
go to the File menu of your browser and select "Print." Send
this form and all enclosures to:
Certification Programs
Indiana University School of Education at Indianapolis (IUPUI)
902 W. New York St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5155
NOTE: We do not offer Business Education majors or minors. For
Art Education, please contact the Herron School of Art.
Application to the program may be made after the evaluation is complete
and the applicant has attended a information meeting.
