Education

Alternative Teacher Certification Program

This program is specifically designed for individuals who hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a Secondary (grades 7-12) teaching content/subject area. Individuals not holding a Bachelor or Master's Degree are NOT eligible for entry into this program. Students completing this program will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, and thus eligible for teacher licensure/certification of all states.

Successful completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) is a State requirement of this program. This basic skills test assesses one's proficiency in the areas of Reading, Writing and Mathematics. In addition, the State requires that all individuals participating in teacher education programs complete a Felony-Misdemeanor oath statement declaring that they have not been convicted of such a crime. It is important to note that not all crimes will prevent one from obtaining a teaching certificate. The PPST and the Oath statement must both be completed and on file in the Education Department Office prior to the Student Teaching Internship semester.

Courses for this program are made available at times, in distant locations, and in alternative learning formats to accommodate individual student scheduling needs. The following list of Education courses are required by the State of Nebraska; some of which may be transferred in from other institutions, except for those identified below as residency requirements.

Students may accelerate through this program as rapidly or as leisurely as they choose. However, all Education courses must be completed prior to the Student Teaching Internship experience.

Required Education Courses

EDUC 131: Intro to Teaching - 3 cr. hours (on campus or transfer)
PSYC 231: Educational Psychology - 3 cr. hours (on campus, online, or transfer from a Community College)
SPED 230: Exceptional Learner (or SPED 231) - 3 cr. hours (on campus, transfer, or on-line in June or July)
EDUC 300: Secondary O&P - 1-3 cr. hours (online-to be arranged by you with Ms. Hunn 308-432-6491)
EDUC 224: Audio Visual - 2 cr. hours (on campus or on-line in July-contact Mr. Engel 308-432-6364)
EDUC 431: Special Methods - 3 cr. hours (arranged by the teacher educator in your endorsement area)
EDUC 411, 412, 414 & 418: SPED 412: Sped.Practices and Strategies (1cr. hour) - 5 cr. hours (Professional studies courses offered in evenings during May/June summer sessions.
EDUC 270 or INS 501: Human Relations-1 credit hour (offered online)
EDUC 490S: Secondary Student Teaching Internship- 16 credit hours (this is full-time, in a school, for one full semester)
Sped 334: Diff Instruction for Diverse Classrooms (2 cr. offered online)

Endorsement (Content/Subject) Area Courses

A minimum of 75% of endorsement program credit hours (i.e., Math, Biology, etc.) must be completed, with no less than a 2.50 GPA, prior to the teacher internship experience. Needed endorsement area courses must be determined by the teacher educator in your proposed endorsement area/dept.; this will be determined through an evaluation of your college transcripts.

Residency Requirements

A minimum of 12 credit hours need to be completed at CSC prior to your student teaching-internship semester. Of these 12 cr. hours of residency, the following courses must be included:
-EDUC 431: Special Methods,
-EDUC 411, 412, 414 & 418; SPED 412 (Professional studies courses).
On-line courses and Directed Independent Study (DIS/correspondence) courses will count toward "residency" as long as they are taken from CSC.

Student Teacher Internship: Participants in this program must complete their student teacher internship experience at a school located within the CSC service area. Student teaching internship will be full-time, for one semester (minimum of 16 weeks). Application must be made before 6th week of the prior semester.

Contact person: Dr. Don King at 308-432-6442 or 1-800-CHADRON Ext 6442.