2021-2022 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Elementary Teacher Certification For Grades PK-3 and K-12 (PCKET) (Special Education)

• Requirements for the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching (PCKET) PK-3 Major

Michigan PK-3 or 3-6 elementary teacher certification with special education endorsements allows the holder to teach the special education endorsement areas in kindergarten through 12th grade. It also permits teaching any subject in pre-kindergarten through grade three or grade three through grade six. Special education endorsement areas include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Cognitive Impairment (CI)
• Emotional Impairment (EI)
• Learning Disabled (LD)

Special education teacher candidates choose two endorsement areas.

In addition to degree requirements, special education candidates must complete the PCKET major for either PK-3 or 3-6, certification core, elementary special education major, and endorsement requirements for two endorsements.

The PCKET major is designed for students seeking certification to teach in specialized areas at the elementary level. It provides a solid foundation in subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical approaches across all content areas taught at these levels; fine arts, health and physical education, integrated science, language arts, mathematics, and social studies. Students complete several field experiences in classrooms, as well as learning to plan instruction and assessments and to understand and work with diverse learners. Our graduates have a unique combination of skills and experiences that are highly valued.

The special education major is designed for students seeking certification to teach students with disabilities. The special education major prepares candidates to effectively teach students with disabilities in a variety of settings and to effectively manage the classroom by developing the ability to adjust teaching practices according to individual student needs. The program features highly trained faculty who value interaction with candidates, robust field placement opportunities, and content that is directly applicable to the K-12 classroom setting. The curriculum provides:

• knowledge of childhood development
• use of high leverage and inclusive teaching practices
• the ability to adapt content knowledge and present it according to individual needs
• extensive field experiences teaching in special education classrooms

Requirements for the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching (PCKET) PK-3 Major

The 50-credit PCKET major consists of the following courses and must be planned with the student's PCKET advisor.

Language Arts

• ENG 201 - Foundations of Literacy Instruction (3 credits)
• ENG 301 - Reading and Writing in the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
• ENG 401 - Languages, Literacies, and Cultures (3 credits)

Mathematics

• MTH 226 - Mathematics for PK-6: Whole Numbers and Operations (3 credits)
• MTH 326 - Math for PK-6: Fractions, Decimals, and Proportional Reasoning (3 credits)
• MTH 428 - Teaching Math in the Elementary Grades (1 credit)

Social Studies

• HST 209 - History and Social Studies for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
• SST 309 - Teaching Elementary Social Studies: Grades 3-6 (3 credits)

AND one of the following:

• HST 205 - American History to 1877 (3 credits)
• SST 308 - Teaching Elementary Social Studies: Grades PK-3 (3 credits)
• SST 311 - Data Literacy for Social Studies Teachers (3 credits)

Integrated Science

• SCI 225 - Integrated Life Science for PK-3 Teachers (4 credits)
• SCI 226 - Integrated Physical Science for PK-3 Teachers (3 credits)
• SCI 227 - Integrated Life and Earth Science for 3-6 Teachers (3 credits)

World Languages

• ENG 355 - Teaching English Learners, PK-6 (3 credits)

Fine Arts

• ART 231 - Integrating the Visual Arts Across Disciplines (3 credits) OR MUS 128 - Strum and Drum for Everyone (3 credits)

Health/Physical Education

• HPE 267 - Health and Movement Education for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)

Foundations

• PSY 301 - Child Development (3 credits)

Capstone

• PCK 495 - Integrated Discipline-Based Research in the PK-6 Classrooms (Capstone) (3 credits)

Requirements for the Certificate - Educational Studies Core 3-6 Major

• EDF 115 - Introduction to Education: An Exploration of Schooling in America (3 credits)
• EDF 315 - Diverse Perspectives on Education (3 credits)
• EDF 320 - International Teaching Certificate Preparation (1 credit)
• EDT 476 - Teaching with Technology (3 credits)
• EDI 430 - Student Teaching, Elementary (10 credits)

Requirements for the Certificate - Elementary Special Education Major

Teacher candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings. Special education candidates must meet with their advisors for the exact sequence of courses.

The following are taken in the graduate special education program as part of the initial standard teaching certificate: