Application for TEP Admission is due September 15th for Spring Methods or February 15th for Summer and Fall Methods. (If the 15th falls on a weekend, application is due the Friday before or Monday after the weekend.) Failure to complete the Teacher Education Program Admission paperwork in accordance with the above deadlines may delay progress through methods, practicum, and student teaching.

Step 1: Review MSU's Expectations for Professional Competencies and Dispositions

As a future educator, you are expected to do more than simply complete your coursework. Please read through the Department of Education's Professional Competencies & Dispositions document. All applicants to the Teacher Education Program must attest that they understand and agree to meet the expectations outlined therein.

Step 2: Find Your Catalog Year

The requirements for majors and minors can change from year to year. However, once you've started a program, you are locked into the requirements in place at the time you started, so you don't have to try to keep up with changing requirements. Your Catalog Year indicates which set of rules and course requirements apply to you, and you'll need this info for the TEP application. You can find your Catalog Year in DegreeWorks, in the section header for your major:

Catalog Year Location

Step 3: Calculate Your GPAs

For students enrolled in the 2023-24 or subsequent Catalog Years, the Department of Education requires a minimum 3.0 GPA in any teaching major, teaching minor, or option. Additionally, students must successfully complete the Montana Assessment of Content Knowledge prior to graduation.

For students enrolled in the 2022-23 or prior Catalog Years, the Department of Education requires a minimum 2.75 GPA overall and in any teaching major, teaching minor, or option. Additionally, students must earn a minimum 2.75 GPA in their content coursework for any licensable area (teaching major or teaching minor). 

You can determine your GPAs as follows:

  • Your overall GPA for MSU coursework is available at the top of your DegreeWorks record.
  • Major and minor GPAs, as well as content GPAs for majors and minors must be calculated manually. Download the major and (if applicable) minor GPA calculator(s) for your catalog year from our GPA Calculators page. Enter the number of credits and letter grade for each course you have completed, and the spreadsheet will calculate your GPAs.
    • It is not necessary (or possible) to complete the Montana Assessment of Content Knowledge Verification and MACK Score portions of the spreadsheet at the time of application to the Teacher Education Program. These portions are included now for informational purposes and will be used during your application to student teaching and for verification of successful program completion prior to graduation.
  • Teaching option GPAs (for Special Education and Elementary Ed options only) must be calculated using the all-purpose GPA calculator available at the bottom of the GPA Calculators page.

You will be prompted to upload your completed calculator(s) upon submitting your application. Your application cannot be processed until you have submitted your completed GPA calculators. 

Please upload all calculators in Excel (.xlsx) format. We cannot process .NUMBERS or .PDF files.

You must complete the calculator(s) for your catalog year. If you submit a GPA calculator for the wrong catalog year, you will be asked to submit the correct calculator before your application is processed.

Step 4: Complete the Application for Admission to TEP

 

Professional Requirements

All prospective teachers are required to take courses in certain areas of professional education. A grade of "C" or better is required in all courses required for any teaching major, minor, or option (a "C-" is not acceptable). In addition, as of the 2023-24 MSU Catalog, all prospective teachers must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in any teaching major, teaching minor, and/or teaching option. Students enrolled in teaching programs under the 2022-23 catalog or prior catalogs must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a minimum 2.75 GPA in every teaching major, teaching minor, and/or teaching option,anda minimum 2.75 GPA in the content coursework for every licensable area (teaching major or teaching minor). (See the MSU course catalog for entrance requirements.)