Becoming a Teacher

Once you decide that you want to become a teacher, you will need to apply to the Teacher Certification Program. Undergraduates usually do so in the first semester of their sophomore year. Admission to the program is highly competitive since teacher education has limited enrollment. Students may reapply in their junior year if not admitted as a sophomore. To be considered for admission to the program, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and have passed each portion of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Basic Skills. Admission criteria include consideration of grade point average and score on a written composition.

Unique Program Offerings and Requirements

If you are interested in becoming a teacher, we encourage you read the materials that describe our program carefully. For instance, you will need to spend a year after college graduation in an internship in order to complete our program, which makes the TE program quite different than those at other universities. Teacher certification candidates are granted Michigan teaching certificates upon completion of all University and State of Michigan requirements. Michigan teaching certificates are accepted in many states and schools overseas. Recruiters from school districts throughout the nation and the world seek our graduates, and we regularly sponsor recruitment fairs so that our students can meet potential employers.

For More Information

We encourage you to contact:

Student Affairs Office
620 Farm Lane, 134 Erickson Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353 9680
(517) 432 2718 (fax)
coesao@msu.edu