Transition to Teach Program

Purdue University Calumet will be offering programs in Secondary Education with content areas of
Math, Life Science, Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, English, Spanish, French & German ONLY.

Applicant Minimum Requirements

1. Transcripts showing a BA, BS, or other professional degree awarded in the content area    OR
   Transcripts showing a BA, BS, or other professional degree awarded in a closely related area & an evaluation by the Licensing Advisor for Purdue University Calumet.
2. Transcripts showing a 3.0/4.0 undergraduate overall GPA & content area GPA    
   OR
   2.5/4.0 undergraduate overall GPA & content area GPA and five years of professional experience.  “Professional experience” is defined as experience that occurred through full-time employment in an educational related field or in a field in which the person intends to be licensed.
3. Praxis I scores in Reading, Writing & Mathematics at or above state licensure cut-off scores.
4. Praxis II scores in the content area at or above state licensure cut-off scores.
5. Proof of Professional Liability Insurance.
6. Current Limited Criminal History Report
7. Resume documenting a minimum of 150 hours of experience in a P-12 education setting that occurred within the five-year period before the date of application.
8. Content area interview & departmental content area exam, if required by content area department for the license program chosen.
9. Payment of a $600 non-refundable application fee.  This fee defrays the cost of specialized T-to-T program field experience supervision, and do not include the cost for tuition of these courses or other university fees.  As a candidate registers each semester, they will be required to pay the university tuition and fees as is appropriate for all undergraduate candidates.
10. Successful completion of the Oral Proficiency Interview for Foreign Language Candidates at the Advanced low level.
11. Three letters of recommendation that focus on candidate’s character and potential for teaching.
12. Portfolio submission with entries demonstrating knowledge in written communication, diversity, special needs, technology, content knowledge, and candidate disposition.

All requirements for the Transition to Teaching program are aligned with the traditional teacher education program requirements at Purdue University Calumet. 

Steps for Candidates to assist in completing Transition to Teaching Admission Requirements for program beginning Spring 2007.

1. Obtain Transition to Teaching packet via the web.
2. Obtain your official transcripts.
3. Get evaluation for content area. Contact Licensing Assistant at 989-2335.
4. Get Praxis I & II information and procedures on how to obtain limited criminal history report in X-151.
5. Successfully complete Praxis I & II (takes 6 weeks to get results for test).
6. Get limited criminal history report (takes approximately 2 months to complete process).
7. Attend Portfolio review session offered at Purdue University Calumet.
8. Complete education field experience, if necessary.
9. Compile information & letters of recommendation for portfolio.
10. Turn in application with application fee by November 1st.
11. Obtain admission to Teacher Education Methods courses through School of Education.
12. Obtain professional liability insurance.
13. Pay application fee.
14. Register for courses beginning Spring 2007.
15. Apply to Student Teaching for Spring 2008 by February 15, 2007. Click here for Student Teaching forms and information.
16. Complete a total of four semesters of course work.

Requirements of for Foreign Language Applicants
Besides the requirements outlined by the School of Education, candidates interested in the transition to teaching program in foreign languages (French, German and Spanish) should demonstrate knowledge of the content area by passing the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at the Advanced Low level.  The following are sites for the OPI that would be helpful to you.

General information
http://www.languagetesting.com/index.html
Application
http://www.languagetesting.com/acad_apply20050826.cfm
The link below has useful information in terms of what's the interview like
http://www.dlielc.org/faq/opi_faq.html

If the OPI is not passed at the Advanced low level, the following entrance assessments must be completed.  Please contact Gloria Velez-Rendon in the Foreign Language department for details.

1. Written Essays
Two 300-word essays in the target language to demonstrate ability to write coherently and meaningfully at the intermediate-high level about target culture/ civilization topics. The applicant will choose two questions from a pool of six provided and will have an hour to develop each essay. The questions will deal with major culture-related issues covered regularly in language, culture and civilization courses at the PUC Department of Foreign Languages. Both a dictionary and a grammar textbook will be allowed during the essay test. The essays will be graded by two faculty members, who will look at applicant’s ability to develop the essay and sufficient familiarity with the topic. Rubrics based on the ACTFL Guidelines will be used to grade the essays.
In order to prepare for the essay test interested applicants will be provided with a list of major target-culture and civilization issues and major readings as determined by the Department of Foreign Languages. They will also be provided with a copy of the ACTFL Guidelines.
Applicants will be notified of the results of the essay test within 2 weeks by mail. If they do not obtain a passing grade, the Department of Foreign Languages will recommend the appropriate culture and civilization courses they need to successfully complete before they are accepted in the program.
Note: Graded essays will not be reviewed with the applicants or returned to them.

2. Interview
If applicants obtain a passing grade on the essays, they will be interviewed for 30-45 minutes by a team of two faculty members to assess their ability to communicate orally at the intermediate high level in the target language as defined by the ACTFL Guidelines. Interviews will be taped. Applicants will be notified immediately of the interview result.
Topics for the interview may include:

• Autobiographic information
• Reasons for wanting to be a foreign language teacher
• Applicant’s view on the role of foreign languages in education

If applicants do not pass the interview, the Department of Foreign Languages will recommend the appropriate conversation courses they need to successfully complete before they are accepted in the program.
Note: Interested applicants who have not taken target language literature should also demonstrate ability to interpret literary texts of major works in the target culture. 

Plan of Study for Transition to Teach Cohort Candidates

*Spring 2006 – 3 credit hours	*Summer 2006- 3 credit hours	*Fall 2006- 6 credit hours	*Spring 2007- 6 credit hours
EDCI 355: Teaching & Learning in the K-12 Classroom    AND Seminar Course	EDPS 309: Teaching Students with Diverse Learning Needs in the K-12 Classroom     AND Seminar Course	EDCI 34X & EDCI 370:  Strategies of Teaching in the Senior High & Junior High Classrooms for the Content Area and Reading in the Senior High/Junior High      AND Seminar Course	EDCI 497: Student Teaching in the Middle & Secondary Schools AND Seminar Course

*Please be advised that all semesters will require substantial field experience in local school corporations.

If you do not qualify for the T3 program but would like to be a part of our traditional education program, please fill out the Request for Evaluation form and return it to Kim Wasniak in Room ANNX-170C with your transcripts.