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Requirements for Admission to Teacher Preparation and Licensure Programs
Admission to the School of Education is a separate and independent process from admission to the university. Candidates need to purchase a Chalk and Wire license through the university bookstore. All applications for admission into the School of Education are only accepted through Chalk and Wire. Candidates must complete all requirements listed in Gateway Alpha before they are admitted. If a candidate is deficient in any one of the Gateway Alpha requirements, admission will be denied, until all requirements are met. Students should contact the School of Education early in their freshman year to receive guidance in the process. Early advisement is essential to avoid delays in meeting all requirements. Consultation with an education adviser is essential to establish a program of courses. An overall grade point average of at least 2.5 is required
- Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:
- GNED201 Introduction to Teaching (3)
- GNED251 Field-Base 1 Teacher Prep Experience (1)
- SPED214 Introduction to Special Education (3)
- ECME300 Professionalism (2) (ECME students only)
- Complete and submit an application through Chalk and Wire for admission into the School of Education.
Complete the appropriate freshman and sophomore courses in the university’s core curriculum together with additional extended core courses required for education majors and minors by the New Mexico Public Education Department. The choices to be made will reflect the requirements for licensing that have been set by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and SB329 as of July 1, 2016. These courses include:
9 hours in communication
8 hours in science
12 hours in history
9 hours in humanities and fine arts
9 hours in social/behavioral science
6 -9 hours in mathematics*
Extended Core/ NMHU requirements
2 hours PE
8 hours modern language
3 hours computer science
54-57 hours of core requirements
* ECME and elementary education majors need nine hours; special education majors and secondary education minors need six hours.
- Take the New Mexico Teacher Assessment (NMTA) exams to be eligible for student teaching.
Students must have passed the Basic Skills and Content Knowledge exams of the NMTA to be approved for student teaching. Students must pass the Assessment of Teacher Competency Exam of the NMTA in the areas of early childhood, elementary, or secondary education to receive NMPED licensure. Students have no more than two opportunities to complete successfully any of the field-based experiences. With the submission of the School of Education application, the candidate must have established an electronic portfolio, completed the disclosure form via Chalk and Wire, submitted disposition assessments from designated classes and field-based experiences, and appropriate artifacts from GNED 201 and ECME 300. Students will also be asked to submit other artifacts from other education classes. Details of this process and the required minimum scores are available from the School of Education.
Students seeking a bilingual endorsement are required to pass the Prueba de Español para la Certifición Bilingües exam. Students must maintain close communication with Academic Support Services and the School of Education regarding these important examinations.
Requirements for Admission to Clinical Practice and for Placement in Student Teaching (Field-Base III Teacher Preparation or Internship in Teaching)
Students must submit, through their adviser, a formal application for admission to the Office of Field Experiences. The application form is available on Chalk and Wire. Adverse decisions concerning admittance can be appealed first to the program’s admission committee and then to the school dean.
For admission to clinical practice, a 2.75 overall grade point average is required. Students must complete a degree audit with the Office of the Registrar and meet periodically with their education advisers for a check on their advancement through the Gateways, academic progress, and verification of successful completion of the appropriate sections of the NMTA exam. Prospective candidates should discuss this requirement with their education advisers.
Candidates for placement in student teaching will file a formal application on Chalk and Wire prior to midterm of the preceding semester before they can be considered to begin student teaching.
Prerequisites for advancement to student teaching (Field-Based III) are:
A 2.75 overall grade point average;
Required major courses, up to those for the final semester (SB329, effective July 1, 2016);
Secondary education minors: 24 credits in the academic major and 20 credits in the academic minor (if applicable), with an overall minimum GPA of 2.75;
A passing score on all required National Evaluation Systems Assessment of Academic Skills; and
The application for Student Teaching on Chalk and Wire, with these additional requirements:
A degree audit signed by the program advisers; and
Appropriate reference letters with documented dispositions.
Each teaching discipline’s program committee and the director of student teaching will review the applications for approval, and those students whose applications are denied may appeal to the Office of the Dean.
Student teaching is a full-time assignment during the period of the placement and requires the candidate to participate fully in the life and work of the school. The student teacher follows the daily schedule of the school, assumes regular faculty and out-of-classroom duties, and participates in faculty meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, school plays, and other school-related activities as appropriate. Because this constitutes a full-time commitment, no additional coursework may be taken without special permission from the field-base coordinator. In all cases, the school’s cooperating teacher and principal, in consultation with the university supervisor, make the determination of the student teacher’s involvement, duties, and course loads.
Final placement of a student teacher in a school is decided by the School of Education and is contingent upon the student being accepted by the school.
To receive a degree in education, the student must submit summative supervisor and cooperating teacher ratings that indicate the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards have been met, submit the student teaching electronic portfolio, and designated class and field disposition assessments.