Program description
The School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offer a fifth-year secondary teacher education program (OU STEP) leading to recommendation for Michigan secondary standard teacher certification. After completing the requirements for graduation in their major and minor teaching areas and preliminary professional education course work, students engage in an academic year-long internship in the public schools that includes both courses and field experiences, and fulfills requirements for Michigan teacher certification. This certification is valid for teaching content areas in grades 6-12 for English, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, integrated science, history, and social studies.
Admission to the major
Admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program is required before taking professional education courses. Students plan their education course work with an adviser in the SEHS Advising Office. Students using this catalog to meet major requirements may also use any course subsequently approved as satisfying requirements and published in a later catalog.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the major. Qualitative criteria may be required as well. The program seeks students who are committed to teaching in diverse schools or districts. Underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply. Minimum criteria for admission to the elementary education major are:
Admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program is required before taking professional education courses. Factors considered in the applicant selection process include the following:
- A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.80 or higher at Oakland University
- Complete SED 3000 or 3001 with a minimum grade of B
- Complete WRT 1060 with a minimum grade of B
- Minimum average GPA of 3.00 in both CAS major and minor.
- Read and sign, acknowledging a duty to uphold the Michigan Code of Educational Ethics
- Submission STEP application to the SEHS Advising Office.
Additional information or an interview may be requested to provide a more complete application profile.
Second undergraduate degree applicants should note that admission to the OU STEP and to the university involve separate processes and should contact the undergraduate admissions office for information about admission to Oakland.
Applications to the OU STEP are considered once per year. The deadline is October 1 of the year preceding the intended internship year. Applications received after that date may be considered pending review by faculty and space in the program. Applications are available on the SEHS website oakland.edu/teach.
Schedule of Classes
Program requirements
Both Oakland undergraduates and students who have completed undergraduate degrees from Oakland or other universities (second undergraduate degree candidates) may become eligible to enter OU STEP. Both groups must fulfill all Oakland requirements for a baccalaureate degree in an approved major (listed above) prior to beginning their internship year. In addition, they must complete a teaching minor in one of the following areas: biology, chemistry, economics, English, English as a second language, history, mathematics, physics, or political science unless they are completing an endorsement in social studies or integrated science. For details on specific major and minor course requirements and social studies and integrated science endorsements, consult the applicable College of Arts and Sciences departmental listings in this catalog.
The program requires 36 credits of professional education coursework. Program coursework includes courses which are taken prior to the start of the internship year, and which may be taken while students are completing their other degree requirements. A minimum overall GPA of 2.80 is required before students can begin the professional sequence.
Courses to be taken prior to application to the Secondary Teacher Education Program
(4) or
SED 3001 - Public Education for Prospective K-12 Teachers (2)
(includes a 30-hour field assignment in the major in addition to course time.)
SED 3000 may only be retaken once. A minimum grade of a B is required for STEP application. Must be completed no less than one semester before application to STEP.
Pedagogy and field courses to be taken during the STEP Program:
Additional professional course requirements for Modern Language majors:
Professional program
Retention in the program is based on student demonstration of the characteristics, dispositions, skills, and conduct of members of the teaching profession.
Retention in the SEHS professional education programs
Follow link to Teacher Development and Educational Studies homepage
Internship and certification
To progress into the internship year, students admitted to the OU STEP must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in their education coursework and in their major and minor course-work. In addition, no single education course grade may be below B and no major or minor course below C. All major and minor coursework and all professional coursework (except DLL 4197, SED 4200, SED 4951 and SED 4952) must be satisfactorily completed before the internship year begins. Modern Language coursework applicable here include DLL 4197, EED 4240, SED 4200, SED 4951 and SED 4952.
Students must pass the MTTC subject area test for each content area in which they plan to be certified. Successful completion of both of these tests must be documented prior to the beginning of SED 4952.
In addition, students must receive a minimum grade of a B in SED 4951 and SED 4952 to be eligible for recommendation by Oakland University for Teacher certification. The State also requires a certificate in first aid and adult/child CPR before certification may be recommended. Students may be required to be fingerprinted and have a state police and FBI background check, at their expense, before beginning a field placement depending on school district requirements.
Successful completion of the STEP program and internship does not guarantee certification by the State of Michigan. Applicants should be aware that a conviction for a felony or a misdemeanor may constitute grounds for denial of a teaching certificate by the State of Michigan. (See complete policy on the SEHS School and Field Services web site.)