All students applying for admission to the Teacher Education Program must meet the following criteria:

1. Computer proficiency: successful completion of a course or a passing score in a computer proficiency test given at no cost in the Information Systems Department.
2. Academic Achievement
   • Complete 30 hours in general education and EDU199 (or MUE225) with 20 hours of observation.
   • Have a 2.5 average for all courses completed.
   • Have a 2.5 average in the major courses completed.
   • Have a 2.5 average in the professional education courses completed.
   • Have no grades below “C” in the professional education courses. (ECE, EDU, ELE, MUE, SED, SPE, including PSY310 and 312 which are cross listed as ELE and SED courses.
   • Achieve satisfactory scores on Praxis I, assessment of academic skills. Information on testing procedures and passing scores may be found in the Administrative Offices of the DeVos College of Education.
3. Personal-Social-Physical Status
   • Satisfactory rating from the Campus Health Services.
   • Completion of the Personality Profile (16PF).
   • A recommendation from three full-time professors who are well acquainted with the student.
   • Statement from the Dean of Students concerning disciplinary status.
   • Satisfactory results from a hearing test.
4. Communication
   • Have a 2.5 average in English Composition courses with no grade below a “C”.
   • Submit an essay entitled, “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” accompanying the Application for Admission.
   • Have satisfactory ratings on three Interview Forms. One from a cooperating teacher, one from your advisor, and one from the following four choices: Director of Teacher Education (Dean of Education), the Director of Field Experiences, Chair of the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, or Chair of the Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Secondary Education.
5. Portfolio: Submit portfolio to secretary of TEP when all of the requirements for admission have been met.

APPLICATION

Application For Admission

Students who are enrolled in EDU199, Introduction to the Teaching Profession, or MUE225, Introduction to Music Education, receive applications in class. A student may also obtain an application from the Helen DeVos College of Education Administrative Office. Upon return of the completed application to the College of Education and completion of all program requirements, the application will be presented to the Teacher Education Committee (TEC). The Teacher Education Committee will not deny admission into the program because of race, color, national origin, age, gender, or disability. Students may not enroll in methods courses required for licensure prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program. The requirements are also stated in the Lee University Catalog.

• Students are advised to make application to the Teacher Education Program as early as possible for the following reasons:

1. Admission requirements change from time to time.
2. The Praxis I covers recently studied material.
3. Methods courses and other upper-level education courses cannot be taken before being admitted to the Teacher Education Program.

• A majority vote of the Teacher Education Committee prevails when applications for the Teacher Education Program are presented. Once the Teacher Education Committee meets and has approved the applicant for admission, the student is admitted to the Teacher Education Program. The student is then informed in writing of the Committee’s decision to accept or deny the applicant.
• If an applicant is denied admission to the Teacher Education Program, an appeal to the Teacher Education Committee may be made. The applicant may request an appearance before the Committee. There is no appeal beyond the Teacher Education Committee.
• Students may appeal any decision affecting them to the Teacher Education Committee.

Praxis I

All candidates seeking admission to approved Teacher Education Programs in Tennessee colleges and universities must attain raw scores as follows on the Praxis I:

• Reading 174
• Writing 173
• Mathematics 173

Candidates who fail to pass any required subtest/s of the Praxis I may retake subtest/s as often as such tests are administered (refer to Praxis registration bulletin, retest policies change from time to time). Candidates retaking any of the subtests must attain cut-off scores in effect at the retesting time.

There is a $25.00 fee for each part of the Praxis I plus a $35.00 registration fee. Students may take the test as often as it is given. Dates for the test are available in the College of Education or the Counseling and Testing Office.

An alternate way of taking the PRAXIS I (PPST) is to call the Sylvan Center in Chattanooga, (423) 894-8333, (or at any other location) to make an appointment to take the test there. Passing scores are listed above. The candidate may take each Computerized PPST once per calendar month up to 6 times in a 12-month period. Cost is $80.00 for one test, $105.00 for two tests, and $130.00 for three tests. Beginning October 1, 2003 a combined reading, writing, and math test will be offered at a cost of $115.00.

EXEMPTION FROM PRAXIS I

Applicants can be exempted from taking the Praxis I if they have attained an ACT composite score of 21 or above, an ACT Enhanced score of 22 or above, or a combined verbal and mathematics SAT score of 920 or above or 1020 recentered SAT.