Block Applications

Each candidate must be a declared IESE major. Students must meet all the admission requirements to be considered for admission into the Integrated Elementary Special Education major. ALL essential components listed below must be completed correctly and submitted on time in order for the application to be accepted.

Faculty Advisor Review

Prior to submitting your application, you MUST meet with your faculty advisor to review your application. During this meeting your faculty advisor will review your application in SLL and complete their review form to confirm that you are eligible to apply to the blocks. Meeting with your faculty advisor is mandatory in order for your application to be considered eligible for admittance into the IESE Blocks. 

Selection Criteria

Please read the entire webpage for a full explanation of the criteria.

1. Cumulative GPA (2.7), including transfer credit
2. Pre-Integrated Elementary Special Education Major GPA (2.7)
3. Applicants must provide documentation of at least 30 hours of experience working with children, out of which a minimum of 10 hours are required within the K-8 classroom. This experience must have been completed within the last two years of the application date. This experience may be verified.
4. The application requires 1 letter of reference that highlights the following criteria required in teaching:
   • Work relationships with others
   • Reliability and Professionalism
   • Ability to Reflect
   • Flexibility
   • Ethical Behavior
   • Preparedness
   • Communication
   • Enthusiasm
   • Cultural Sensitivity
   • Self-Initiative

This reference must include a person who has supervised your work with children, preferably within a diverse setting, such as those involving cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, or disability-related diversity. References may also be verified.

Acceptance into the Secondary Teacher Education Program is selective.  Students must meet all the admission requirements to be accepted into the Secondary Teacher Education Program.  The number of students admitted to each cohort is limited in order to maintain a high quality program.  To be considered for admission, prospective candidates must complete the application on time in order for the application to be accepted.

Required Application Components

• Declared teacher education major
• 2.5 Cumulative GPA, including transfer credit
• 2.5 Major GPA
• One Letter of Reference
• Evidence of 30 hours working with youth
• Reflective Essay

APAS Report

• Instructions on how to download the “printer friendly report version”.pdf. Instructions also guide you through using Adobe Reader’s highlight tool. Use the highlight tool to indicate the following requirements on your APAS:
  • Cumulative GPA & Major GPA (must be a minimum 2.7, including transfer credit)
  • Cumulative Credits (completed and in progress): Must be a minimum of 60 credits
  • Courses (grades must be C- or better)
    • AHS 3300
    • ART 2810
    • EDUC 1002
    • EDUC 1101
    • EDUC 3412
    • IESE 1010
    • IESE 2001 or EDUC 1100
    • IESE 3331
    • MATH 1140
    • MATH 1142
    • MU 3600
    • SPED 4433
    • UST 1000 or ECH1000 or ES 1000 or PSY 1100
    • WRIT 3140

Tentative Planner

• Download a copy of the tentative planner.
• Once you have saved your own copy, edit the tentative planner as follows:
  • Add your name.
  • Add the term that you will be completing each semester (e.g. Block 1, Spring 2025).
  • Add the date (month and year) of your graduation.
  • If applicable, you must also include any missing Pre-IESE coursework that needs to be completed during the blocks. Once finished, ensure you save the tentative planner.
  • If you are missing any coursework, you may be admitted on a conditional basis to the program with the caveat that you do need to complete any outstanding coursework outside of the IESE program requirements prior to student teaching (Block 4). 

Letter of Reference & 30 hours of experience with children

• Applicants must submit a record of a minimum of 30 hours of experience working with children, out of which a minimum of 10 hours are required within the K-8 classroom.
• Applicants are required to submit 1 Letter of Reference Form. Reference must include:
  • At least 30 hours of experience working with children, out of which a minimum of 10 hours are required within the K-8 classroom.
  • This experience must have been completed within the last two years of the application date. 

APAS Report or Post Post Bac Contract

• APAS Report
• Instructions on how to download the “printer friendly report version”.pdf.  Instructions also guide you through using Adobe Reader’s highlight tool.  Use the highlight tool to indicate the following requirements on your APAS:
  • Cumulative GPA & Major GPA (must be a minimum 2.5, including transfer credit)
  • Cumulative Credits (completed and in progress):  Must be a minimum of 45 credits to apply to Secondary/K-12 Teacher Education Major; and you must have completed 60 credits before you can begin the block coursework.
  • Lower Division Courses (grades must be C- or better)
    • EDUC 1101 must be completed NOT in progress
  • Upper Division Courses (grades must be C- or better)
• Post Bac Contract
  • Highlight any unmet requirements

Tentative Planner

Download the tentative planner and add the terms in which you plan to be in each block and any outstanding coursework remaining during the blocks. Once completed, make sure to save the tentative planner.

• Physical Education Tentative Planner
• Music Education Tentative Planner
• Teaching Communication Arts & Literature Tentative Planner
• Art Education Tentative Planner
• Health and Physical Education
• Teaching Mathematics, Teaching Life Science, Teaching Physical Science-Chemistry or Physics, Teaching Earth & Space Science, Teaching Spanish, Teaching Social Studies Tentative Planner

Letter of Reference

Your application to the STEP program must include STEP Block Application Letter of Reference Form from someone who can speak to your level of responsibility, ability to complete tasks, and address your character, attitudes, and work ethic”. The person preferably would be a supervisor who has observed you working with youth, though this is not required. Letters of reference cannot come from relatives.

Documentation of Experience Working with Youth

In your application to the STEP program, you must verify at least 30 hours of working with pre-college age children or youth (age 18 or younger) in a supervised setting. Complete the STEP Block Evidence of Working with Youth Form to document this time. It may be the case that the total 30 hours were completed in more than one setting. If so, you will need verification from a supervisor in each setting. 

Reflective Essay

As part of your application to the STEP program, you are asked to reflect upon who you are in a diverse world. In your 1-2 page, single-spaced essay, describe how you understand yourself or see yourself in contexts of diversity. You might, for instance, describe experiences you have had in cultures other than your own, relationships with people from cultures other than your own, relationships with people who are differently abled, or experiences with social status. Explain how those experiences and relationships influenced who you understand yourself to be. You should also discuss what you may not yet understand about those who do not share your culture, language, world views, abilities, and/or experiences. Lastly, explain why this sort of reflection is important to becoming a teacher.

Faculty Advisor Review

Prior to submitting your application, you must meet with your faculty advisor to review your application.  During this meeting your faculty advisor will review your application in SLL to confirm that you are eligible to apply to the blocks.