The state of Connecticut requires that students be admitted to teacher education programs only after they have met certain criteria. Here at CCSU, students can make application to their specific program, generally referred to as “the Professional Program”, twice a year. This is a separate and very different process than applying to the University. Applications and accompanying documents are submitted to the Office of the Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies toward the end of the second or in the third year of study. Rarely are transfer students considered for admission into the Professional Program in their first semester at CCSU.

In order to be considered for acceptance into the Professional Program, all students must meet a set of basic requirements and in some cases, specific departmental requirements. Since effective communication is essential to teaching, applicants to the program are expected to demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills through essays and interviews. Students are also expected to demonstrate the interpersonal skills and dispositions that are associated with effective and equitable teaching practice.

The process of applying to the Professional Program can seem daunting and a bit overwhelming. It takes considerable advance planning and preparation. These pages lay out the requirements and procedures very specifically and are designed to help you, the student, reach your goal of becoming a teacher.

All of our teacher preparation programs here at CCSU are nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). We are proud of the quality of our programs and carefully consider all students who apply. It is important to note that admission to CCSU does not automatically guarantee acceptance into a teacher education program. Students who are denied admission into the Professional Program have the opportunity to appeal or, in most cases, may apply again in a later semester.

The application deadlines to the professional program are

Fall Semester: September 10
Spring Semester: February 10

or the next regular day of classes if the date falls on a weekend or holiday.

Students admitted to the Professional Program in these semesters will be eligible to register for education courses in the following semester.