06-07 Catalog | School of Education

301 MCKB
(801) 422-3694

Dean: K. Richard Young, Professor, Counseling Psychology and Special Education
Associate Dean: Barbara Culatta, Professor, Communication Disorders
Associate Dean: Marie Tuttle, Teaching Professor, Teacher Education

The five departments in the David O. McKay School of Education are:

Communication Disorders
Counseling Psychology and Special Education
Educational Leadership and Foundations
Instructional Psychology and Technology
Teacher Education

The principal purposes of the David O. McKay School of Education are:

preparing teachers for public and private schools;
providing graduate programs for the preparation of school principals, counselors, school psychologists, curriculum supervisors, speech-language pathologists, and master teachers;
offering research-based graduate programs; and
researching educational processes and issues.

Education Advisement and Certification Office

Linda Parker, Supervisor
120 MCKB
(801) 422-3426

The Education Advisement and Certification Office assists students from the beginning of the freshman year through graduation and teacher licensure. Students majoring in elementary education, early childhood education, special education, or audiology and speech-language pathology are advised concerning general education and major requirements, graduation requirements, and teacher licensure procedures.

Secondary education majors in social science receive their total program advisement from the Education Advisement and Certification Office. Other secondary education majors receive advisement in general education and major requirements from their respective college advisement centers. All majors receive licensure advisement in the Education Advisement and Certification Office.

Students are encouraged to visit their advisement centers on a regular basis.

Field Services Office

Margaret F. Ostlund, Director
120 MCKB
(801) 422-3426

The Field Services Office (FSO) assists students with student teaching and internship placements in local partnership schools and in schools selected for national and international programs. All students must make application and receive clearance for student teaching and internships by submitting a Student Teaching Application to the Education Advisement and Certification Office. Forms are available on the Field Services Web site: http://www.education.byu.edu/fieldservices. Proof of placement registration is required with student teaching applications. See the Web site for instructions: http://www.educationplacement.byu.edu

Career Placement Office—Education

Lisa Gregory, Supervisor
2400 WSC
(801) 422-6934
E-mail: education_placement@byu.edu

The Education Placement Office provides students with information about job search strateies as well as teaching opportunities throughout the United States and some other countries. Students register with the Education Placement Office by going to the Web site http://educationplacement.byu.edu, and following the instructions provided. Registrants gain access to many valuable services, including job search advisement; workshops; career strategies courses; and materials on how to prepare resumés, do well in an interview, and make the most of networking. Education Placement also regularly schedules recruiters and advertises job postings received from school districts across the nation.

Acceptance into Teacher Education Licensure Programs

Acceptance into teacher education licensure programs in the David O. McKay School of Education is based on a student's application and admission criteria, including a 2.85 GPA and an FBI background clearance. The David O. McKay School of Education seeks students who attain high educational standards and who evidence aptitude for teaching.

Secondary education majors are encouraged to take Sc Ed 276R in their sophomore year. Early childhood education and special education majors must complete their "Exploratory Experience in Education" (see advisor for details) before the final semester of their sophomore year, after which formal acceptance into professional program in the David O. McKay School of Education normally occurs.

Withdrawals. Students who withdraw from the university or who otherwise interrupt their education (excepting spring and summer terms) must expect, on returning to the university, to meet the most recent requirements for teacher education licensure programs.

Transfer Students. Students who transfer to the David O. McKay School of Education from a two-year college, another university, or another college within BYU must meet the requirements for acceptance set forth above.

Preparation of Teachers

Candidates for all teacher preparation programs are required to complete an application that includes core criteria for each program. Applications are available online at http://www.education.byu.edu/ted for all teaching majors except special education.

Fingerprint and Background Check

All candidates for teacher licensure are required by state statute to be fingerprinted and pass an FBI background check before participating in required field experiences. Fingerprint clinics are held in the McKay Building in November and March. Allow from five to six weeks for fingerprints to be processed. FBI background clearance is valid for only three years. If clearance expires before graduation, candidates must repeat the fingerprinting and clearance process, including a new fee payment.

Failing to expunge a police record prior to the background check may result in a blocked registration while a panel reviews the charges. Candidates who cannot pass an FBI background check will be removed from the teacher education licensure program.

Early Childhood Teaching. Students who want to teach young children from prekindergarten through grade 3 should register in the Department of Teacher Education. Students receive advisement from the David O. McKay School of Education Advisement and Certification Office. Prior application and acceptance are required to enroll in the professional education course sequence. Students should plan their programs and course schedules with the designated advisors in the Education Advisement and Certification Office. Elementary education majors may elect to fullfill certification requirements for teaching P–K by completing a subject area emphasis in early childhood education. Contact the Education Advisement and Certification Office for further details.

Elementary School Teaching. Elementary education majors should check with their advisor in the Education Advisement and Certification Office for modifications to the program. An accepted application is required for admission to the elementary education licensure program. Applications must be completed before the final semester of the sophomore year. Applicants must demonstrate and maintain established standards for personal conduct and interpersonal skills as outlined in the program.

Students interested in elementary school teaching register in the Department of Teacher Education. Prior application and acceptance are required to take the professional sequence. Courses and prerequisites are listed in the Teacher Education section of this catalog. Students majoring in elementary education should plan their programs with the designated advisors in the Education Advisement and Certification Office.

Secondary School Teaching. Students who plan a career in secondary school teaching should register in the department of their academic major, except for social science majors, who register in the Department of Teacher Education. There is no major in secondary education per se, but students must complete professional education requirements as well as an academic teaching major or composite major. Some teaching majors require a teaching minor. Students should begin their professional preparation (Sc Ed 276R) during the sophomore year to facilitate scheduling the balance of the licensure program. For course listings and prerequisites, see the Department of Teacher Education section of this catalog. Students should plan their program with the designated advisors in their major advisement center.

Special Education Teaching. Students who plan to teach K–12 students with disabilities should apply through the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education. Application materials for the program are available online at http://www.education.byu.edu/cpse/undergradapp.pdf. Both an accepted application and successful completion of the "Special Education Exploratory Experience" packet are required for admission. These must be completed before the final semester of the sophomore year so that alternate educational plans can be made—without prolonging the time to graduation—if the student is denied admittance into the special education program.

Applicants must demonstrate and maintain established standards for personal conduct and interpersonal skills as outlined. The program includes multiple practica in the schools, and spring/summer enrollment is required. In addition to core courses, majors select an area of emphasis in either mild/ moderate or severe disabilities. Students receive advisement from the David O. McKay School of Education Advisement and Certification Office.

Communication Disorders. This academic department prepares students to be communication specialists in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other agencies and in private practice. Certification and licensure in Utah and in most other states, as well as by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, require a master's degree. Students interested in audiology or speech-language pathology should plan their program with the designated advisors in the Education Advisement and Certification Office.

Student Teaching. The culminating experience for students in teacher education is a student teaching assignment in a public school classroom under the supervision of mentor teachers and university supervisors. Students must plan their programs carefully to meet requirements for student teaching.

Internships. Internship appointments are available through programs offered by the David O. McKay School of Education and may substitute for student teaching. Internship appointments in the public schools are for a full year and carry a modest stipend. Interested students should contact their major supervisor or liaison.

Application for Licensure

The licensure of teachers is a function of the Utah State Office of Education (USOE). Requirements for Utah licensure are available in the Education Advisement and Certification Office. As licensure requirements are frequently updated, students should check the Web sites and attend the update sessions offered by the Department of Teacher Education to stay informed. Although such modifications are not retroactive, they may still affect the uncompleted portion of a student's program.

Prior to graduation, students are responsible to take the required Praxis II Content Test, to have the test score sent to BYU, to pay the state licensing fees, and to check that their fingerprint background clearance is still current. Students will also be responsible for any additional requirements imposed by the state prior to their graduation. To confirm the status of these requirements, contact the Education Advisement Center, 120 MCKB, (801) 422-3426. Graduation and licensure cannot be processed until these requirements have been completed.

Students who apply for Utah licensure must have the recommendation of the dean of the David O. McKay School of Education. Students are encouraged to plan their programs with the assistance of advisors in the Education Advisement and Certification Office so that they will be assured of meeting requirements for licensure.

Certification/Licensure in Other States. Under reciprocity agreements, Utah licensure is accepted in those states where such agreements are in effect. Specific information is available in the Education Advisement and Certification Office. Students who plan to certify/license in another state should contact that state for requirements beyond those in Utah as early in their programs as possible.