Teacher Education Program Admission

The Teacher Education Program at St. Ambrose University includes areas of study necessary to prepare highly qualified professional classroom teachers, and enables the student to receive an initial license to teach in Iowa agencies and schools.

The program is approved by the Iowa Department of Education. Through agreements with other states, graduates may apply for certification after receiving an Iowa license.

Suggested Coursework Before Admission

Students apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program while enrolled in EDUC 205 Field Experience or EDUC 207 Orientation to Teaching. However, there are general education courses which can be taken before applying for admission. These courses are:

  • ENGL 101 Written Communications
  • PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology
  • One American History course or one American Government course
  • MATH 121 Intermediate Algebra (or a higher level mathematics course)
  • Biology and Non-biological Science (ECE/Elementary majors)

Admission Requirements

  1. Maintain a 2.7 cumulative grade point average (GPA). *
  2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in education. *
  3. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in major field (for early childhood and secondary education majors only). *
  4. Submit a completed audit sheet. **
  5. Pass C-BASE examination. ***
  6. Complete 70 field hours in EDUC 205 or provide verification through EDUC 207.
  7. Submit three professional rating forms (from EDUC 205 or EDUC 207 instructor, cooperating teacher's final evaluation, and St. Ambrose faculty member) and achieve a combined score of at least 75%.
  8. Receive a grade of B or above in EDUC 205 or EDUC 207.
  9. Submit a completed Application for Admission to Teacher Education Program form (including statement of fraud section and necessary signatures).
* For students who do not achieve the required GPA at the conclusion of the EDUC 205 or EDUC 207 semester, GPA will be reviewed at the end of the next semester. Full admission will be granted if all coursework for the past two semesters meets the required 2.7 and 3.0 GPA standards. Summer counts as a semester if courses are taken. Note that for full admission on other requirements must be met and full admission can only be maintained by continuing to meet all requirements each semester.
** All coursework required in education or by the major must achieve a grade of C or above.
*** Students are allowed a maximum of three attempts at C-BASE while enrolled as students at St. Ambrose. If a student does not pass C-BASE on the first attempt, he or she must communicate with the Assessment Coordinator, and develop a plan of remediation before attempting the exam again.
NOTE: Admission to the St. Ambrose Teacher Education Program does not guarantee a state authorized teaching license. Scheduling a retake does not qualify for entry into the program. In order to enter the program a student will need to retake the C-BASE exam and achieve the necessary scores, as well as maintain all other essential elements. While enrolled at St. Ambrose, students may attempt the C-BASE exam a maximum of three times. If the minimum scores of 235 on all required sections of the exam are not achieved after three attempts, admission to the Teacher Education Program will be denied. However, an appeal process is available.

Download a copy of the admission form.