Admission to Teacher Education

BSED / BS candidates seeking admission to teacher education should complete an application by the end of the semester the applicant is enrolled in EDCI 201: Teacher Leadership in a Diverse Society ( BK 250: Introduction to Birth-Kindergarten for BK majors). Applications should be submitted only after ALL admission criteria have been met.

Teacher Education Application for MAT and alternative licensure candidates seeking admission to teacher education

Student Criteria

Students who plan to receive a degree or certification in education and a license through WCU must apply for and be officially admitted to a teacher education program. Acceptance and registration in a department does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education program.

Teacher education students must complete a criminal background check through WCU's approved vendor prior to early field experiences and again before entering internship semesters. See the Office of Field Experiences for information on the background check policy.

Transfer Students
The same admission criteria apply to transfer students and four-year undergraduate students.

BK Program
Students enrolled in the Birth-Kindergarten program who are pursuing a teaching license (Professional Education concentration) must meet all admission requirements, including test scores. B-K students who do not plan to teach in the public schools (Early Childhood concentration) will not apply to Teacher Education.

Requirements for BSED / BS Teacher Education Program Admission

1. 1. Complete at least 30 earned hours, which can include transfer hours
   2. Earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher in EDCI 201 (BK 250 for BK majors) and ENGL 101. Note that earning a C (2.0) or higher grade in ENGL 202 will be required before beginning Internship I.
   3. Earn (and then maintain) a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on hours attempted at WCU.
   4. Achieve the minimum required scores on the SAT, ACT, or Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Reading, Writing, Math). Students who already hold a four-year degree and are seeking a second degree or licensure-only certification are not required to fulfill this requirement.
   5. Complete and submit the Teacher Education Admission Application via the link emailed to your catamount email account. Application links are emailed to candidates during EDCI 201 or BK 250, or at the beginning of the first semester for transfer students with equivalent credit.

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Please Note: Due to Hurricane Helene and the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, for any teacher education major who applies for admission to teacher education on or after October 24, 2024, with the purpose of beginning/taking courses in the spring semester, the minimum testing admissions requirements set forth in G.S. 115C-269.15(a) have been waived.

This means that passing Praxis Core scores are not required for admission to the Teacher Education Program for the spring 2025 term, beginning October 24, 2024 through the last day of registration for a spring course. All other admission criteria as outlined in the WCU Undergraduate Catalog are expected to be met and maintained. For Birth-Kindergarten majors seeking admission to teacher education, this policy applies to both the first and second 8-week session of the spring semester.

• Students admitted to Teacher Education during this time will never have to submit admission test scores as long as they are continually enrolled and meet all other requirements to remain in teacher education.
• If a student stops out (does not enroll for more than three semesters) or is removed from teacher education, reapplication will be required to continue and admission criteria current at the time of reapplication will be required.
• If a student does not apply to Teacher Education before registration for Spring 2025 courses ends, admission criteria current at the time of application will be required.

If you have questions regarding application materials, please contact Rachel Wike, Coordinator of Teacher Education Admissions, at rwike@wcu.edu.

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The applicant’s fitness for teaching in the chosen area is determined on the basis of demonstrated academic ability and other personal dispositions conducive to effective teaching. A student may be considered suitable in one area and unsuitable in another. Students with disabilities that may impact successful teaching should consult with the Director of Teacher Education and the Office of Accessibility Resources.

If admission requirements are not completed by the end of the semester the applicant is enrolled in EDCI 201 or BK 250, it is recommended that these requirements be met before 75 semester hours have been completed.

 

Continuation in Teacher Education

The requirements for continuing in the TE program are:

1. GPA of at least 2.75 on hours attempted
2. Behavior which adheres to the North Carolina code of ethics for teachers and the professional dispositions of the College of Education and Allied Professions.
3. Satisfactory participation in the required professional laboratory program that is prerequisite to student teaching. An evaluation of each field experience assignment will become a part of the student’s professional record.

If a student fails any two courses in the professional education sequence or the same course twice in the professional education sequence, the student is withdrawn from Teacher Education and will not be recommended for licensure by WCU.