New Student Checklist 

Alternative Pathway 

Elementary, Secondary, & Special Education MEd programs

&  Graduate Certificate (Teacher Certification)


Welcome!


To help orient you to the program and give you the information needed to be prepared to successfully begin in the program, please watch the Academic Advising Orientation Video and complete all 6 steps of the New Student Checklist (below).

Alternative Pathway


At ASU we use the terms "Alternative" and "Traditional" to help us identify the type of path a student will be following when enrolling in their experiential learning opportunities (also referred to as traditional internships/student teaching). Students that are pursuing the Teacher Certification requirements under the Alternative pathway independently obtained a full-time teacher of record position and are teaching a content area that aligns with their certification goals. Students must submit paperwork about their position to the Professional Education Services (PES) office to verify their position is in alignment with certification requirements. If anything changes they need to communicate the changes to PES first, and then connect with Academic Advising because there will likely be impacts to their academic progress. Step 3 is how and when students make contact with the PES office to start the paperwork for this process. 


The traditional pathway on the other hand is designed for students that do not possess a full-time teacher of record position. These students will then be placed in their traditional internships, and in their practicum student teaching experiences by our Professional Education Services (PES) office to gain their teaching experience. These positions are generally unpaid internship and student teaching positions. 


Questions on if your current employment could work for your experiential learning courses? Connect with PES (MLFTC-pes@asu.edu) and notify your advising team after speaking with them if anything needs to change for your scheduled courses.  


Looking for the Traditional Pathway New Student Checklist? Access to the Traditional Pathway New Student Checklist

 

NOTE: 

Teacher of Record Position Requirements:

Elementary Education (click to expand)

Teaching all subject areas in grades K-8. 


These subject areas can include: English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc. 


Content-specific teaching positions in grades 6-8 typically should apply to the Secondary education program. Speak with advising for more info.


If your position changes at any point during the program you must notify PES. Your job must remain in alignment with the above definition for your program or it may delay your graduation and/or require taking additional courses.

Secondary Education (click to expand)

Teaching one subject area in grades 6-12.


Approved subject areas: 

English, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Mathematics, Business Education, General Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Physical Education (PE), Spanish, German, French, Chinese (Mandarin), and Theater*


*The theater content area is available for MEd students in the Sync modality only and requires taking 2 IN-PERSON courses at the ASU Tempe Campus.


If your position changes at any point during the program you must notify PES. Your job must remain in alignment with the above definition for your program or it may delay your graduation and/or require taking additional courses.

Special Education (click to expand)

Teaching students with mild/moderate disabilities in grades K-12.


If your position changes at any point during the program you must notify PES. Your job must remain in alignment with the above definition for your program or it may delay your graduation and/or require taking additional courses.

Step 1: Obtain IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card


Arizona Students: In order to enroll in your experiential learning opportunity courses (traditional internships/practicum experiences), and to be able to step inside an Arizona classroom, students must obtain an Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card. Obtaining this card is not generally a speedy process taking anywhere between 2-8 weeks, therefore it is imperative to complete this step with urgency, and as soon as able to. In general terms, be prepared to fill out an application via the Arizona Department of Public Safety portal, and then choose how to provide your physical prints via the options given. All further detailed instructions can be found via the maroon bar titled "Instructions for how to obtain an IVP Card" which links out to the AZ Department of Public Safety's website.


Once students have obtained their IVP card, they must email a photo copy of both the front and the back card to their advising team. Sending proof of the card to your advising team is the pre-requisite to be able to enroll in your experiential learning opportunity courses, and for many students, those courses will begin in their first semester. Keep in mind your admittance into the program date in relation with the ASU Academic Calendar registration deadlines as well as processing times for the IVP Card to make any decisions about how to begin your program.  


Out-of-State Students: Students are responsible for meeting their state's credentialing body's requirements for fingerprint clearance and/or background checks, therefore an Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card for out of state students is not required to be able to register for your experiential learning opportunity courses. However, it is strongly encouraged to still obtain an Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card. Especially, if a student's intention is to earn the Arizona certification to then apply for reciprocity in their state. Another benefit is that having an Arizona IVP card on file can occasionally provide additional placement opportunities such as virtual placements that are based in Arizona (for example: a virtual internship).

Step 2: Register for Classes


For each program, your advising team has put together recommended course sequence options based on when the student was admitted. Depending on the program there may be different pacing options for students to view as well. The course sequence is what shows students the recommended order of when to take their courses. If you become off-track then please connect with your Educator Prep Academic Advising Team right away. 

To find your recommended course sequence follow the steps below:

If you have a hold on your account, it may prevent you from registering. Follow the directions indicated on your MyASU priority tasks to resolve your holds.

It is recommended to bookmark your course sequence so you can refer to it each semester for registration.

How to Register.mp4

Video Registration Instructions: Watch the "Registering for Classes" video above for a tutorial. Must be signed into your My ASU account to watch. 

Written Registration Instructions: Using the course sequence obtained from Step 1 login to your My ASU page (my.asu.edu) > My Classes box > Registration > Add/Shopping Cart to enter in the 5 digit class registration numbers listed on your course sequence.

Experiential Learning Opportunities Registration Reminders (click to expand)

It is the student’s responsibility to abide by and be familiar with the ASU Academic Calendar dates, deadlines, and policies stated there.

Session A and B do not overlap and run for about 7.5 weeks in Spring/Fall semesters, while Session C runs the full length of a semester which is roughly 16 weeks. The exact start and end dates for each term are listed on the calendar. 

Not all courses are offered in every session, and what session courses are offered are subject to change each term.

Registration Opens:

My ASU Priorty Tasks (click to expand)

Throughout your duration of the program always check your My ASU Priority Tasks box for any actions that may be required of you and any of the financial aid action items. Priority tasks are sometimes informational only, or they may be more time-sensitive and require student action. Holds will also be visible there on student accounts which will prevent services typically if something is unresolved on the student's end. Financial holds may or may not prevent you from registering for classes. For example, one type of financial hold may allow you to register but not receive student loan funds. Another type of financial hold may require you to pay a portion of your tuition bill before you can register for future classes. It is recommended to pay special attention to that section of your My ASU and complete things as you see them appear. 

ASU Sync students must address registration holds, such as the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) hold, before they are able to register. 

Want additional support navigating your My ASU page? Check out Your guide to My ASU and Understanding My ASU.

Textbooks (click to expand)

IMPORTANT: Some books may be noted as, "provided at a negotiated rate and auto-delivered to you prior to class start". In that case, it is recommended to not purchase these books elsewhere without first confirming with the instructor that you can do so. Typically these are digital materials, and they may contain additional content that hard copy versions do not include. The charges for these auto-delivered books will show up on your account after the drop/add deadline. 

Sign in to My ASU to obtain your required book list by selecting Books in the My Classes box and order textbooks through ASU Bookstores. Under the "My Classes" box, click the "Books" button to access the book list and use the "proceed to the ASU Bookstore" to purchase. 

Accessing Classes (click to expand)

The digital learning platform for the program is Canvas which can be accessed through your My ASU page. The Canvas portal for the courses in this program will open 1-2 days before the course starts. Once it is open it will be underlined, and turn maroon in color when you move the cursor over it. Click on the course title to be redirected to the Canvas course page. Take time to familiarize yourself with the course structure, expectations, and assignments by reviewing the syllabus so you are prepared when the course begins.

Resources for Navigating Canvas and Slack:

ASU Email (click to expand)

ASU students are required to have a working ASU email address. You can access the mail feature in MyASU by clicking on the "Profile" tab in the menu bar at the top. You can forward your ASU email addresses to one account, even if it is a non-ASU address (gmail, yahoo, etc.). More information on ASU email addresses can be found here. 

Step 3:  Submit the Paid Internship Agreement (PIA)

All Alternative Pathway students will receive their Paid Position Initial Verification form from Professional Education Services (PES) via Sonia. Sonia is the data and assessment portal used by MLFTC.  It is very important that you complete this form in a timely manner to confirm that your teaching position will qualify for your required job embedded (also known as Apprentice Teaching) courses.


Once you have completed your form, your placement coordinator will send the Paid Internship Agreement (PIA) via Adobe Sign. Here is a PDF on how to fill out the Paid Internship Agreement for your reference: (PIA Paperwork Process in Adobe Sign). The designated campus administrator will also need to sign the document from Adobe Sign. Once all required signatures are collected, the placement coordinator will approve the Paid Internship Agreement and enter your placement into Sonia.


Please check your ASU email regularly including your spam folder to address these documents from PES. If you have any questions, please contact MLFTC-pes@asu.edu.


Note: You will be asked to verify your position every semester so we can ensure that your information is current.


Arizona Alternative Teaching Certificate + Enrollment Verification Letter (click to expand)

If you are in Arizona and are pursuing the Arizona Department of Education's Alternative Teaching Certificate you will need an Enrollment Verification Letter for your application. Detailed instructions for how to obtaino this letter from ASU including how to apply for the Alternative Teacher Certificate can be found on the Arizona Alternative Teaching Certificate webpage.


Note: Being issued your Enrollment Verification Letter is by our Certification and Compliance Team and is contingent upon being enrolled in at least one credit hour in the program. Registration is the first step to receiving an Enrollment Verification Letter. 

Step 4: Paying for Classes


Once you are registered, sign in to the My ASU Finances tab to view and pay your tuition and fees. To act on a financial aid award, sign in to the My ASU Finances tab, and go to the "Financial Aid and Scholarships" section. Watch this 2-minute video tutorial on how to check the status of your financial aid.

If you plan to apply for financial aid it is important to familiarize yourself with the terms of accepting it. For any questions regarding financial aid contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Services department directly. 


The ASU Tuition and Billing Calendar lists important payment deadlines. More information regarding how tuition and fees are calculated and important deadlines for paying tuition and fees is available via Student Business Services office. They have resources available like the Tuition and Fees Schedules and theTuition estimator. 


Teacher Waiver for In-State Tuition, if applicable:


If you are classified as Non-Resident for tuition purposes but are working full time in an Arizona school, you can submit the Teacher Waiver to receive in-state tuition rates.

Other Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources (click to expand)

Step 5: Plan of Study (iPOS) 


The Plan of Study or better known as the iPOS refers to a system that ASU uses for students and advisors to be able to track their degree progress. Student completion of the iPOS is an agreement between the student, academic advising unit, and Graduate College on the requirements for degree completion. Students are required to complete their iPOS by the end of the first semester. You will gain access to the iPOS system once you are within 90 days of the program start. 

For this program, an academic advising appointment is not required to complete the iPOS. Use your course sequence alongside the guided instructions that can be found on your program pages to complete it.  

Navigate to your program page and click on the header for "Plan of Study (iPOS)":

Step 6: Familiarize yourself with Certification Requirements

It is the student's responsiblility to understand and research certification requirements in their state. These teacher preparation programs are intended to prepare students for potential teacher certification in Arizona. Keep in mind that ASU is not the official entity that provides the teaching credential. For the state of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is the issuing authority. They also provide all official information for how to obtain an AZ teaching credenital beyond just going through our teacher preparation program on their website. Be sure to understand the additional requirements required for AZ certification other than participating in a teacher preparation program. We highly recommend students get familiar with and complete all requirements needed during their time in the program so there is no delay in receiving their teaching credential upon their program completion. 

Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. If you are planning to apply for certification in other states, either via reciprocity or directly through another state, please take time to review the ASU professional licensure webpage. Once on the webspage, select your program and check under the determinations to find out where our program stands with the state(s) where you plan to apply for certification. Always be sure to visit the website for your state’s credentialing body for any further information and contact them directly when needing clarification. 

As a courtesy, we have condensed the certification requirements into the Arizona Teacher Certification Checklist (below) for our students to aid them in their understanding of what is needed beyond the teacher preparation program.  

Contact Information

Academic Advising 

Educator Prep Team

Academic advising serves as a resource for staying on track for graduation and to help students navigate any academic concerns. Upon admission, they send a welcome email to assist students with orientation, and class registration. If you have course concerns or need help getting back on track, please reach out to them. 

602-496-1397| GradEdPrep@asu.edu

Schedule an Academic Advising Appointment

Programs: Educator Preparation Degree and Certificate Programs


Professional Education Services (PES)

The PES office works with Teacher Certification students to find a classroom placement in their area that meets program requirements for their experiential learning opportunities, and/or assists to make sure their current held teaching position is in alignment with certification requirements/enrollment at ASU. 

Any questions concerning your Sonia application or placement should be directed to your placement coordinator, or the PES team in general. 

MLFTC-pes@asu.edu

MLFTC Compliance Office

The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Compliance team is a resource for information regarding certification requirements in and out of state. Compliance works with the advising team to ensure that eligible students receive their Institutional Recommendation upon program completion. 

They also help assist students with their Enrollment Verifications specifally for students that are seeking the ADE Alternative Teacher Certificate. 


MLFTCcompliance@asu.edu