Sessions offer details on teacher certification programs

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field and a desire to enter the teaching profession can learn about Arizona State University programs leading to a master’s degree and Arizona teacher certification during one of several upcoming information sessions. The sessions are offered online as well as in person at the university’s Tempe, Polytechnic and West campuses.

ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College offers its Master’s and Arizona Certification (MAC) programs in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, special education and physical education. Programs are offered at ASU’s Polytechnic, Tempe and West campuses and on-site in local school districts. Partners for on-site programs in metropolitan Phoenix include the Osborn and Deer Valley districts, with the Sunnyside district in the Tucson area to be added in the summer of 2012.

Through a federal grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, teacher candidates in the Osborn and Sunnyside programs are eligible to apply for a living-wage stipend in the amount of $18,000 during the first year of the residency. The living wage is paid directly to the teacher candidate in monthly installments during the first year. To earn the living wage, teacher candidates must agree to work in the partnership district for a minimum of three years after completing the certification program.

“Our programs have a great reputation for producing high-quality teachers who have successfully completed rigorous coursework, field experiences and student teaching,” said Barbara Giles, assistant dean in Teachers College. “We maintain strong partnerships with school districts and work closely to ensure the preparation our students receive is consistent with the skills and qualities districts are looking for when hiring teachers.”

All requirements for on-campus MAC programs, including teacher certification and a master of education degree, may be completed in 18 months. Coursework meeting Arizona’s Structured English Immersion (SEI) requirement is built into all programs. On-site programs in partner school districts are four semesters in length, including summer coursework and field experience internships.

For prospective students considering starting a program in January 2012, offerings include the on-site elementary education program at the Osborn School District in Phoenix; the special education programs at the West and Polytechnic campuses that also provide elementary education certification; the elementary education and secondary education programs at the Tempe campus; and the early childhood education program, which features an online format.

Additional programs will admit their next cohort of students in the summer or fall of 2012.

Upcoming information sessions cover admission requirements, program options, and information about the Arizona teacher certification process. The sessions, which provide details about all programs at all locations, include:

• Wednesday, Aug. 10: Online info session, 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 25: Polytechnic campus, 5 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 29: Tempe campus, 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31: Online session, 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 6: West campus, 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 8: Polytechnic campus, 5 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 12: Online session, 10 a.m.
• Monday, Sept. 12: Tempe campus, 5 p.m.

Information sessions are approximately 90 minutes in length. Participants may register online at http://education.asu.edu/content/graduate-information-sessions.

For more information, call (602) 543-3634.