Education Department
Admission and Retention
Program Requirements
To begin the process for admission to the education department, the following requirements must be met:
• Complete course work for sophomore standing with a minimum grade point average of 2.50;
• Enroll in EDU200 Introduction to Education and EDU201 Introduction to Education Field Experience.
Application Process for Non-Transfer Students
While enrolled in EDU200 and EDU201 Introduction to Education and Field Experience a formal application process will take place for admission to the Education Department.
The applicant is required to submit the following:
• Application form
• Transcript (current)
• Personal autobiographical statement
• References (2). One reference must be from a Bethel faculty member who can specifically address your academic abilities. A second reference should be from a current or previous employer or supervisor (or possibly from a volunteer position working with children and/or youth). Please note: for 5-12/K-12 majors, the reference from a Bethel faculty member must be provided by a professor in the major subject area. Recent transfer students may receive a reference addressing academic abilities from an instructor at their previous institution.
• Professional Traits of Educators Form, signed and dated.
• Registered for and/or taken the state required basic skills exams to qualify for full admission.
• Personal interview
Application Process for Transfer and Post-Baccalaureate Students
If applicant is transferring an Introduction to Education course:
• If transfer GPA is 2.50 or higher, education coursework will be evaluated by the education department. Components of some courses in education may not be included in courses transferred from other schools and may not meet Bethel’s education requirements. In such cases, transfer or post-baccalaureate students may be required to complete additional components (i.e., field experience).
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• Participate in application process as outlined above during their first semester.
• If transfer GPA is below 2.50, register for non-EDU courses.
If applicant is NOT transferring an Introduction to Education course:
• If GPA is 2.50 or above, register for EDU200/201 Introduction to Education and Field Experience and participate in the application process as outlined above
• If transfer GPA is below 2.50, register for non-EDU courses.
Admission Categories and Criteria
Students will be informed in writing by the education department regarding their admission status. The categories are as follows:
Approved: The student has met the criteria for admission, is known by the approving department, is academically qualified, and is believed to be a suitable teaching candidate. The student is permitted to register for subsequent education courses.
Conditional Although the candidate will likely be approved, there are one Approval (or more) deficiencies in the application (for example, a missing reference(s)). The deficiency must be satisfied before approval will be given. The student is permitted to register for subsequent education courses for one additional semester only.
Deferred: A decision about the student cannot or will not be made until more data is available. Typically, a student is deferred when the department does not know the student well enough to approve. A student may be deferred for up to two additional semesters until an academic track record can be established. The student is permitted to register for subsequent education courses, but is aware that final approval for this major is not in place.
Denied: The faculty members involved in the decision know the student well enough to say they do not believe the candidate will be a successful teacher. The student is not permitted to register for subsequent education courses. The student will be provided information about what would need to change prior to reapplying.
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Standards for Continuance in Education Program
• Complete admission procedures before enrolling in EDU270 K-6 Education Block 1 (K-6 education majors) or in EDU240 Educational Psychology (5-12 and K-12 majors).
• Maintain a GPA of at least 2.50.
• Earn a grade of C or better in each EDU course for all education majors. For elementary education majors, this also includes a grade of C or better in MAT201M, MAT202 and all NAS courses (NAS101-104). (Courses with grades of C- or lower must be repeated).
• K-8, 5-12, and K-12 majors must earn a grade of C or above in each content area course. (Courses with grades of C- or lower must be repeated.)
• Demonstrate continual development of professional traits of educators, as presented throughout the program (see Appendix B).
Additional Requirements for Program Completion:
Note: There will be a variety of ways these competencies can be met including courses for credit or non-credit and workshops.
• First Aid/CPR for elementary education majors. (This may be taken at Bethel or through a Red Cross certification program.)
• Completion of a professional portfolio begins with the admission process to the education department and continues throughout the program.
Note: Students may be advised to discontinue taking education courses if one or more of the above requirements are not met. Deferral from admission or failure to maintain a GPA of 2.50 or better for more than two semesters may result in dismissal from the major.
Post Secondary Education Options
The following requirements must be met to be eligible to enroll in EDU200/201 Introduction to Education and Field Experience:
• Minimum of one semester completed at Bethel
• Sophomore standing (minimum of 30 credits)
• Minimum GPA of 2.50
Appeals Process
Education Department Policy:
If a student’s GPA falls below the minimum 2.50 required for admission to, and continuance in the Education program, the student may write a letter of appeal requesting a waiver.
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The appeal should include the following information:
• Circumstances that have contributed to a drop in GPA below 2.50
• Steps that will be taken to raise the GPA to a minimum of 2.50
• Reasons the student should be allowed to take education courses
The appeal must be typewritten, approximately one page in length, dated and signed. A transcript must be included with the appeal. Appeals without transcripts attached will not be considered.
The appeal should be submitted to the Education Office (CC429) or e-mailed to Jaci Prior at j-prior@bethel.edu by a specified date. An Appeals Committee from within the Education Department will review all appeals and the student will be officially notified in writing of the committee’s decision.
Bethel University Policy:
The student may take their appeal to the next institutional level according to the appeal process from the Student Policy Handbook listed below:
Appeals related to academic dismissal are made to the Academic Appeals Committee. Consult the registrar for procedures. All other academic appeals (course grades, graduation, status in programs, academic dishonesty, decisions of the registrar in applying academic policies, complaints about course content or procedures, etc.) are handled in the following manner:
• As soon as possible following the decision or incident in question, the student will seek to resolve the matter first with the instructor, or with the party directly responsible for the decision, and then with the department chairperson.
• If, after talking with the instructor and the department chairperson, the student still thinks he or she is being treated unfairly or not in accordance with announced academic policies, the student may appeal in writing to the dean of academic programs. This written appeal must be received within three weeks after the decision or incident in question. If the concern is a complaint about course content or procedures, the student should talk with the dean of faculty growth and assessment.
Minnesota Board of Teaching Policy:
In compliance with MN Statutes 122A.09 subd.4 (c):
The board, upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application of chapter 14.