Online Transition to Teaching Early Childhood Education Graduate Certificate

All applicants must have:

• Earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with one of the following:
  • Baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale; or
  • Both a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 points scale, and five (5) years of professional experience in an education related field; or
  • Both a baccalaureate degree and proof of passing Indiana’s approved content area examination(s) in the subject area that the individual intends to teach.
• Proof of up-to-date TB test.
• A signed Field Placement Requirement Notification form.
• A criminal history background check that meets School of Integrated Learning and Development guidelines.
• Submit a signed FERPA Release Form.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware that Indiana State Legislation has mandated that expanded background checks are required for those working with students in Indiana schools. Applicants will also be required to adhere to any additional State Mandates required for educators. Though candidates will be required to submit an initial background check that is acceptable to the university as a part of their application materials, that successful background report will only serve to gain admittance to that academic program. School corporations are governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees who set policy for their school corporation. All accepted candidates should understand that additional background checks at the candidate’s expense will most likely be required by school corporations and early childcare facilities before participating in clinical experiences.

NOTE: Applicants need to be prepared to have vaccination records on hand, if requested by an outside facility, to prevent delay of any required Field Experiences. Since this is an “outside” of IWU request, it will be up to the student to be prepared.

Program Requirements

• All Transition to Teaching Elementary Education candidates will be required to provide passing scores for Indiana's approved content area examination(s) based on the following schedule, or will be administratively withdrawn from the program: 
  • If scheduled for student teaching in September, testing is due the preceding April 1st.
  • If scheduled for student teaching in January, testing is due the preceding September 1st.
• The Transition to Teaching Elementary Education program is lock-step. Candidates who are unable to complete a course or who receive an unsatisfactory grade will repeat that course before moving on in the program. Tuition and fees will be charged for repeating the course.

Clinical Experience Requirements

• All candidates must complete field experiences throughout the program as well as a 14-week full-time student teaching experience in a K-6 classroom.
• All course work prior to student teaching must be completed with a minimum grade of no less than "B-" in each course to be eligible to student teach.
• All clinical placements will be made by the Office of Clinical Experiences, unless otherwise outlined in course curriculum. Candidates are not to contact any school or attempt to secure their own student teaching assignment at any time.
• Removal from a clinical experience may result in the candidate not passing the course and/or being permanently withdrawn from the program.

Completion Requirements

• Complete all course requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.00 and no grade lower than a "B-."
• Successfully complete all Clinical Experience requirements associated with the program.
• Provide passing scores for all required state licensure content and pedagogy examinations.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a certificate.

Upon completion of the Transition to Teaching-Elementary Education Program, candidates will be recommended for K-6 Educator Licensure in the state of Indiana. Candidates seeking licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the IWU Transition to Teaching Elementary Education program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

Education programs at Indiana Wesleyan University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 1140 19th Street, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-223-0077.