Admission Information

Please read all instructions carefully and complete the on-line application thoroughly

I. Who Is Eligible to Apply

Candidates with a completed bachelors degree from an accredited institution.  Preference is given to candidates who are already trained and certified as teachers, either in the US or from a foreign college/university, and/or are currently teaching Chinese within the public school system.

II. The Application Period

The College of Education will consider applications for admission to the Chinese Experimental Post-BA Teacher Certification Program received by January 4, 2010. Contact our office at (517) 355-3801 for details.

Completed applications, including the on-line portion, copies of all required scores, letters of recommendation, and copies of all transcripts, must be received by January 4, 2010. Admission decisions will be communicated to applicants via email.

III. Where to Apply

Applications are to be filed electronically on-line. Additionally, a paper copy of the completed Conviction Disclosure Form, offical transcript evaluations and offical transcripts must be submitted to 115 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824 or faxed to 517 432-4797, attention “Chinese program”.

IV. Admissions Process

1. Candidates seeking initial teacher certification must be formally admitted to the teacher certification program through the application process.  Candidates are required to: 

• Submit transcripts from their undergraduate institution that show an overall gpa of 2.75 or higher, as well as a 2.5 gpa in the teaching major and/or minor.  Candidates who received their bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution must have their transcripts reviewed by one of our approved agencies.  “Note that consideration for admission will be given on an individual basis for Chinese “experimental program” candidates who have a baccalaureate degree from a Chinese university and have earned the equivalent of a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher, as determined by an approved U.S. based transcript evaluation agency, such as W.E.S. or E.C.E.” For more information please visit this web page.
• Complete an on-line application for admission.
• Submit three letters of recommendation that attest to the candidate’s ability to teach Chinese effectively.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese with simplified characters and pinyin.  Native speakers of Mandarin will demonstrate proficiency through a panel review.  Non-native and heritage speakers of Mandarin will be required to provide ACTFL OPI scores of at least intermediate-high.  For information on arranging ACTFL OPI Mandarin testing, testing proficiency measures, please visit the ACTFL OPI web site for more information.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English.  For native speakers of English, proficiency will be established by panel review. Non-native speakers of English will be required to submit TOEFL/TSE scores. 

  Tests Required for Chinese Experimental Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Admission

  1. For non-native speakers of English:
     TOEFL: iBT with an average score of 80 or above and no sub-score below 19, and a score on the writing component of 22 or above.
     
     • Only the iBT will be accepted. Test scores from up to 24 months prior to admission can be submitted.
     OR

     IELTS (International English Language Testing System): with a score of 6.5 or higher.

      

  2. For non-native and heritage speakers of Chinese:
     ACTFL-OPI Mandarin: with scores of intermediate-high
  3. For all candidates:
     MTTC-Basic Skills and MTTC-FR: with passing scores on all sub-sections.
     • Candidates who are not currently residing in the US may register for, and take, the MTTC Basic Skills test when they arrive in the US.
     • All other applicants must provide proof that they have passed the MTTC Basic Skills test to be admitted to the program.
     • The MTTC-FR endorsement test for Mandarin Chinese must be taken and passed by all candidates prior to the College of Education can recommend a candidate to the Michigan Department of Education for certification/endorsement.

  For more information on required test scores and how to register for the TOEFL/TSE, please visit this web page.

2. Candidates who hold valid Michigan teaching credentials and would like to add Chinese as a world language endorsement to their credential are required to:

• Submit transcripts from all universities attended including institutions through which teacher certification was recommended. Candidates who received their bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution must have their transcripts reviewed by one of our approved agencies, such as W.E.S. or E.C.E.  For more information please visit this web page.
• Complete an on-line application for admission.
• Submit three letters of recommendation that attest to the candidate’s ability to teach Chinese effectively.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese with simplified characters and pinyin.  Native speakers of Mandarin will demonstrate proficiency through a panel review.  Non-native and heritage speakers of Mandarin will be required to provide ACTFL OPI scores of at least intermediate-high.  For information on arranging ACTFL OPI Mandarin testing, testing proficiency measures, please visit the ACTFL OPI web site for more information.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English.  For native speakers of English, proficiency will be established by panel review. Non-native speakers of English will be required to submit TOEFL/TSE scores. 

  Tests Required for Chinese Experimental Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Admission

  1. For non-native speakers of English:
     TOEFL: iBT with an average score of 80 or above and no sub-score below 19, and a score on the writing component of 22 or above.
     
     • Only the iBT will be accepted. Test scores from up to 24 months prior to admission can be submitted.
  2. For non-native and heritage speakers of Chinese:
     ACTFL-OPI Mandarin: with scores of intermediate-high
  3. For all candidates:
     MTTC-Basic Skills and MTTC-FR: with passing scores on all sub-sections.
     • Candidates who are not currently residing in the US may register for, and take, the MTTC Basic Skills test when they arrive in the US.
     • All other applicants must provide proof that they have passed the MTTC Basic Skills test to be admitted to the program.
     • The MTTC-FR endorsement test for Mandarin Chinese must be taken and passed by all candidates prior to the College of Education can recommend a candidate to the Michigan Department of Education for certification/endorsement.

  For more information on required test scores and how to register for the TOEFL/TSE, please visit this web page.

3. Candidates who hold valid teaching credentials from other states in the USA and would like to add Chinese as a world language endorsement to their credential are required to:

• Submit transcripts from all universities attended including institutions through which teacher certification was recommended. Candidates who received their bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution must have their transcripts reviewed by one of our approved agencies, such as W.E.S. or E.C.E. For more information please visit this web page.
• Complete an on-line application for admission.
• Complete an on-line application.
• Submit three letters of recommendation that attest to the candidate’s ability to teach Chinese effectively.
• Submit their credentials to the Michigan Department of Education for review.  For more information on submitting credentials to the MDE for review, please visit their web site.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese with simplified characters and pinyin.  Native speakers of Mandarin will demonstrate proficiency through a panel review.  Non-native and heritage speakers of Mandarin will be required to provide ACTFL OPI scores of at least intermediate-high.  For information on arranging ACTFL OPI Mandarin testing, testing proficiency measures, please visit the ACTFL OPI web site for more information.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English.  For native speakers of English, proficiency will be established by panel review. Non-native speakers of English will be required to submit TOEFL/TSE scores. 

  Tests Required for Chinese Experimental Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Admission

  1. For non-native speakers of English:
     TOEFL: iBT with an average score of 80 or above and no sub-score below 19, and a score on the writing component of 22 or above.
     
     • Only the iBT will be accepted. Test scores from up to 24 months prior to admission can be submitted.
  2. For non-native and heritage speakers of Chinese:
     ACTFL-OPI Mandarin: with scores of intermediate-high
  3. For all candidates:
     MTTC-Basic Skills and MTTC-FR: with passing scores on all sub-sections.
     • Candidates who are not currently residing in the US may register for, and take, the MTTC Basic Skills test when they arrive in the US.
     • All other applicants must provide proof that they have passed the MTTC Basic Skills test to be admitted to the program.
     • The MTTC-FR endorsement test for Mandarin Chinese must be taken and passed by all candidates prior to the College of Education can recommend a candidate to the Michigan Department of Education for certification/endorsement.

  For more information on required test scores and how to register for the TOEFL/TSE, please visit this web page.

4. Candidates who were trained as teachers by foreign colleges or universities and would like to be granted a Michigan teaching credential with Chinese as a world language endorsement (FR) on their credential are required to:

• Submit transcripts from all universities attended including institutions through which teacher certification was recommended. Candidates who received their bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution must have their transcripts reviewed by one of our approved agencies, such as W.E.S. or E.C.E. For more information please visit this web page.
• Complete an on-line application for admission.
• Submit three letters of recommendation that attest to the candidate’s ability to teach Chinese effectively.
• Submit their transcripts to the Michigan Department of Education for review.  For more information on submitting credentials to the MDE for review, please visit their web site.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese with simplified characters and pinyin.  Native speakers of Mandarin will demonstrate proficiency through a panel review.  Non-native and heritage speakers of Mandarin will be required to provide ACTFL OPI scores of at least intermediate-high. 

  Tests Required for Chinese Experimental Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Admission

  1. For non-native speakers of English:
     TOEFL: iBT with an average score of 80 or above and no sub-score below 19, and a score on the writing component of 22 or above.
     
     • Only the iBT will be accepted. Test scores from up to 24 months prior to admission can be submitted.
  2. For non-native and heritage speakers of Chinese:
     ACTFL-OPI Mandarin: with scores of intermediate-high
  3. For all candidates:
     MTTC-Basic Skills and MTTC-FR: with passing scores on all sub-sections.
     • Candidates who are not currently residing in the US may register for, and take, the MTTC Basic Skills test when they arrive in the US.
     • All other applicants must provide proof that they have passed the MTTC Basic Skills test to be admitted to the program.
     • The MTTC-FR endorsement test for Mandarin Chinese must be taken and passed by all candidates prior to the College of Education can recommend a candidate to the Michigan Department of Education for certification/endorsement.

  For information on arranging ACTFL OPI Mandarin testing, testing proficiency measures, please visit the ACTFL OPI web site for more information.

• Demonstrate proficiency in English.  For native speakers of English, proficiency will be established by panel review. Non-native speakers of English will be required to submit TOEFL/TSE scores.  For more information on required test scores and how to register for the TOEFL/TSE, please visit this web page.

5. Field Experience Requirements

All candidates are required to participate in two distinct field experiences are part of this program. 

• After the successful completion of the intensive summer session, candidates will be placed in teaching positions at public schools around Michigan.  Candidates will be placed in teaching positions according to the discretion of the program.  Candidates will not be allowed to request specific placements, with the exception of teachers who are already in Chinese teaching positions in public schools who will be placed in their existing positions.  Candidates will register for 2-3 credits for this field experience during the fall and spring semester, depending on their previous certification status and teaching experiences.  Teaching placements are for the full public school calendar. 

6. Requirements To Be Recommended for the FR Endorsement and/or Initial Certification

To be eligible for recommendation,  candidates must have completed all required Chinese Teacher Certification Program coursework  Students will be held to a minimum GPA of 2.5 for required ChineseTeacher Certification Program with no individual grade in a TE/CEP course below a 2.0. Students must also meet the College of Education’s technology requirement, testing requirements and professional standards.

MTTC Basic Skills passing scores must be reported officially to Michigan State University.

Click here to go to Application Information.