Education

Steps to Becoming a Teacher

Students who wish to major or minor in education at Carthage, and complete the Teacher Education Program, must complete a series of steps during their four years at Carthage. The following pages outline the steps to becoming a teacher.

Education students should purchase the Carthage publication Steps to Becoming a Teacher from the Carthage Bookstore.

Program Checklist
Step 1: Getting Started
Developing Your Portfolio
Step 2: Teacher Education Program
Sample Schedules
Clinical Experience
Step 3: Student Teaching
Step 4: Certification Applications


Carthage Education Program Checklist


Freshman Year

  • Declare your major/minor.
  • Take and pass the PPST.
  • Take Core sequence (must earn a grade of C or better in all Core courses).
  • Take education foundations courses (EDUC 101, 105 or 201).
  • Begin working on the portfolio.
  • Begin dispositions review through designated classes.

Sophomore Year

  • Continue working on your minor for elementary/major for secondary.
  • Take the third education foundations course.
  • Apply to the Teacher Education Program.
  • Get three positive recommendations for the TEP application. (Two must be from education professors.)
  • Continue working on the portfolio and complete EDUC 222.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Take other 200-level classes.

Junior Year

  • Successfully complete the Praxis II subject area test(s) before student teaching application and have records on file with the education office.
  • Continue adding to the portfolio to prepare for its review at the time of application to student teaching.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Attend mandatory student teaching meeting.

Senior Year

  • Complete all pre-student teaching clinical requirements with report forms placed on file in the education office.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Complete application for student teaching and hand in by deadline.
  • Sign up for a student teaching interview (dates and times will be announced).
  • Hand in portfolio for review, due at the same time as student teaching application.
  • Attend mandatory student teaching interview.
  • Register for EDUC 430 (if in special education).
  • Student teach.
  • Revise portfolio with materials from student teaching.

Steps to Becoming a Teacher

Student Voices

Katie Larson, '10

What is it like to study education at Carthage? "It's very comforting knowing my professors are familiar with my career path and they will be there to back me up in the future," says Katie Larson, '10. Read more.

Inspiration & Ideas

The Children's Literature Center at Carthage, co-directed by education professor Marilyn Ward, offers future teachers valuable resources, lectures, workshops and seminars. Read more.