The GTC Program is for those who have not completed a teacher preparation program nor have a teaching certificate.

If you already have a teaching certificate and are looking to expand your licensure (i.e., add an additional endorsement), please contact the Office of Certification and Accreditation to inquire about programming options that may be more appropriate for your educational/career goals.

You must have an awarded bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Additionally, you must be a year out from having earned your bachelor's degree when starting the GTC Cohort. 

You must have at least a 3.0 GPA in your final 60 undergraduate credits (this will be calculated by GVSU's Admissions Office when you submit your Graduate School application). This would be waived if you hold a master's degree.

You must be able to complete two initial courses prior to being eligible to start in the GTC Cohort. See additional information and details in the Elementary GTC Sequence section.

Before fully committing to the Elementary GTC Program, it's important that you engage with the age group you intend to teach. Early exposure to diverse classroom settings and student needs provides a realistic view of the teaching profession. Additionally, this perspective can help you, as a prospective teacher, identify if the intended age group truly aligns with your personality and preferred teaching methods.

Therefore, you must have at least 30 hours of documented, paid or unpaid experience working with the PK-6th grade age group prior to starting the GTC Cohort. Responsibilities should fall within an educational setting. These hours will be documented on the Verification of Experience form (see Application and Admission Processes section), which will be completed and signed by a supervisor for verification.

Examples of Relevant Experience: substitute teaching, tutoring, volunteering, working at a before/after school program, summer camp counseling

Total Credits: 39; 6 credits of initial coursework and 33 credits of the structured Elementary GTC Cohort

See current "Tuition & Fees" on the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website. Please note, rates are subject to change as the board renegotiates each summer. Graduate Tuition Rates will fall under the Education - Instruction and Curriculum (M.Ed.) program.

Financial planning prior to starting the Elementary GTC Cohort will be imperative.

Hybrid; both in-person and online attendance required. In-person coursework and meetings will be held on the City Campus in Grand Rapids.

Given that course scheduling is dependent on faculty availability, specific course details (i.e., meeting dates, times, and locations) will be finalized once registration is live each March. 

Full-time; GTC Faculty have shared it's incredibly challenging to work while participating in the program given the accelerated pace, rigor of being a full-time graduate student, structured sequence, and clinical field experience requirements. Please take this into consideration when deciding whether this program is right for you!

Offered Fall and Winter Semesters

• HPE 267: Health and Movement Education for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
• EDT 619: Introduction to Learning, Design, and Technology (3 credits)

*Initial coursework must be completed prior to starting an Elementary GTC Cohort. You must be enrolled in at least 6 credits a semester to be eligible (credit-wise) for financial aid.

May through August

• EDI 631: Teaching Science: PK-6
• EDI 633: Teaching Social Studies and Diversity
• EDI 635: Development and Needs of Students
• EDR 621: Foundations of Literacy

Total Semester Credits: 12

August through December

• EDI 685: Practicum/Graduate Field Experience
• EDI 630: Teaching Mathematics: K-8
• EDI 638: Facilitating School Environments
• EDR 628: Literacy Instruction Across Disciplines

Total Semester Credits: 12

You will also serve as a Teacher Apprentice this semester. See Clinical Field Experience Semesters section below.

January through April

• EDI 685: Practicum/Graduate Field Experience
• EDS 652: Foundations of Special Education

Total Semester Credits: 9

You will also serve as a Teacher Intern this semester. See Clinical Field Experience Semesters section below.

Teacher Candidates enter the Teacher Apprenticeship with diverse backgrounds and experiences, so the pace of progression through different stages will vary. However, all Teacher Apprentices should gradually assume more classroom responsibilities over the Fall Semester.

Teacher Apprentices should steadily increase their involvement in the classroom by:

• actively engaging with the class
• mentoring individual students
• preparing instructional materials
• teaching small groups
• progressing to teaching larger groups and the whole class

Typical Teacher Apprenticeship Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday for the full academic day

Teacher Candidates enter the Teacher Internship with diverse backgrounds and experiences, so the pace of progression through different stages will vary. However, all Teacher Interns should gradually assume more classroom responsibilities over time.

Teacher Interns should steadily increase their involvement by:

• actively engaging with the class
• mentoring individual students
• preparing instructional materials
• teaching small groups
• progressing to teaching larger groups and the whole class for an extended period of time
• co-planning and co-teaching with the Mentor Teacher
• planning and delivering independent lessons
• independently planning and delivering lessons

Typical Teacher Internship Schedule: Monday through Friday for the full academic day

First, you will need to apply to GVSU's Graduate School for the semester you plan to take your initial coursework. As a reminder, these courses must be completed prior to joining the Elementary GTC Cohort. Within this application, you will:

• upload your Essay/Personal Statement
• upload your current Resume
• send all official transcripts to GVSU

Follow the  Graduate School Application Guide - Elementary GTC to ensure you apply appropriately. Early applications are recommended given seat availability in initial coursework.

Once you are admitted to GVSU's Graduate School and have followed the instructions to set up your GVSU Network Account, you can register for your initial coursework in myBanner. This  Banner Registration website provides step-by-step instructions for accessing the Registration Page, as well as a Course Registration tutorial video.

HPE 267: Health and Movement Education for Elementary Teachers 
EDT 619: Introduction to Learning, Design, and Technology

Please note: degree-seeking students must enroll in at least 6 credits each semester to be eligible (credit-wise) for financial aid. Both courses are offered Fall and Winter semesters.

Complete the Elementary GTC Cohort application to confirm participation in the upcoming Elementary GTC Cohort. New Cohorts begin each May. Within this application, you will:

• provide your GVSU email address and G-Number
• indicate which semester(s) you are completing the two initial courses (HPE 267 and EDT 619)
• disclose if you have a felony or misdemeanor
• provide consent to share educational records
• upload your Verification of Experience form
• upload your Educator Resume

Application Window: August 1st through November 1st
Application Deadline: November 1st

*Late applicants should contact the Office of Certification and Accreditation at [email protected] or 616-331-6650

Following the November 1st application deadline, the Office of Certification and Accreditation (OCA) will take a few weeks to review applications for the upcoming GTC Cohort. From there, OCA will coordinate one-on-one meetings with each applicant to review their submission and discuss next steps. Please be sure to check your GVSU Student Email (@mail.gvsu.edu) regularly, as this is how the university will initiate communications once admitted, including how to register for an Application Review Meeting.