The Making of a TeacherThe Making of a Teacher
Copyright © 1999 by the Center for Education Information.
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III. TYPES OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS
Institutions report having many different types of programs for the initial preparation of teachers and nearly all institutions surveyed by CEI have more than one type. Seventy-eight percent report having programs in which candidates enroll as Undergraduate students and complete with eligibility for certification in a four year program; 45 percent say they have a program in which candidates enroll as Undergraduate students and complete with eligibility for certification in a program of between four and five years; 11 percent have programs in which candidates enroll as Undergraduate students and complete with eligibility for certification in a five year program; 47 percent have Post-baccalaureate programs leading to certification to teach, but not a graduate degree; and 43 percent have Post-baccalaureate programs leading to certification to teach and a graduate degree. (Table 14)
Sixty-five percent of the respondents to the CEI survey indicated they had at least one program for the initial preparation of teachers at the Post-baccalaureate level. Of those institutions, 36 percent reported they had a program leading to certification to teach, but not a graduate degree; 29 percent reported they had a program leading to certification to teach AND a graduate degree; and 35 percent indicated they had both types of Post-baccalaureate programs for the initial preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers.
Credit Hours Required in Teacher Preparation Programs
Regardless of the type of Teacher Preparation Program or when an individual enters one, the number of credit hours to complete a Teacher Preparation Program are amazingly the same for all levels of teacher preparation. Post-baccalaureate programs require about 20 fewer credit hours than do Undergraduate programs. Depending on the level one is preparing to teach, in Undergraduate programs, 51-52 credit hours are required in general studies, 36-39 credit hours are required in ones teaching major or equivalent, 24-31 in professional studies and 14-16 in clinical experiences. At the Post-baccalaureate level of teacher preparation, 41-42 credit hours are required in general studies, 31-33 credit hours in ones teaching major, 23-28 in professional studies and 12 in clinical experiences. (Table 15)
Dr. Feistritzer is president of the National Center for Education Information
in Washington, D.C.
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