Secondary Transition to Teaching

The Transition to Teaching program at IU South Bend provides an accelerated path to teacher licensure in Indiana for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Our program features evening and online classes designed to increase accessibility for working professionals who wish to become teachers in secondary schools (grades 5-12)! If you are ready to make a positive impact on your community and its youth—we are ready to help.

18Credit hours to pursue licensure

1Calendar year to complete the program

10:1Average student to faculty ratio

Our Program

Classes emphasize theory to practice learning and prioritize real-world applicability of material, so you can continually improve your praxis and serve students to the best of your ability.
Many of our Transition to Teaching candidates are employed on emergency permits (EP), while they pursue their teaching license. In many cases, individuals employed on emergency permits can complete their required field experiences, including student teaching, in their EP classrooms. Students who wish to complete field experience requirements through their emergency permit positions should contact the Graduate Advisor and Director of Student Teaching for more information.

Program of Study

John C. Maxwell said: “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

“So, I teach to inspire students to be able to look at me and say, “because of you I didn’t give up.’”

~ Kwadwo A. Okrah, Ph.D., Professor & Director of Center for Global Education

Get to know your faculty

Frequently Asked Questions

Students complete a 30-hour field experience during the Fall semester and complete full-time (11 weeks) student teaching in the Spring. In many cases, individuals employed on emergency permits can complete their required field experiences, including student teaching, in their EP classrooms. Students who wish to complete field experience requirements through their emergency permit positions should contact the Graduate Advisor and Director of Student Teaching for more information.
Transition to Teaching candidates who are not employed on an emergency permit will be assigned appropriate field placements by the Office of Student Teaching & Clinical Practice.

If you have questions about field experience, please contact the Director of Student Teaching & Clinical Practice, Michael Harley at mlharley@iu.edu.

Applicants should be aware that field observation and student teaching requirements do require a commitment to being in secondary classrooms for specified amounts of time during the regular school day. It may be possible to complete the program while being employed on an emergency permit in the schools. Students who wish to complete field experience requirements through their emergency permit positions should contact the graduate advisor and Director of Student Teaching for more information.

Admission requirements

Download and complete the Student Application Form.
Order official transcripts through an official electronic delivery system, such as Parchment or National Clearinghouse.
- If your school sends transcripts electronically and the transcript vendor requires an email address for delivery, use IUSBRecv@iu.edu.
- Send by mail to: IU South Bend School of Education, 1002 South Esther Street, South Bend, IN 46615.
- Drop it off in person in a sealed envelope at 1002 South Esther Street, South Bend, IN 46615.
Two professional letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, social workers, or other helping professionals are required.
Personal statement, including:
- Why you are applying.
- Explain your experience working with youth.
- What makes an effective teacher.
- What skills you need to become an effective teacher (i.e., what do you hope to gain from this program).
- Any other information that may help the faculty make an admissions decision is welcome.
Praxis Content Exam and GRE test scores (if applicable)
- Applicants must demonstrate acceptable levels of content knowledge prior to entering the program (bachelor's degree in field you are planning to teach). If not, you need to take the Praxis Content Exam as part of the application process.
- Must have earned a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA in a degree program from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may be required to take the GRE. Applicants who are required to take the GRE must earn a verbal score of 150 and a writing score of 3.5; they do not need to take the quantitative reasoning section of the GRE. You can prepare to take the GRE through the IU South Bend GRE Prep Class.

All admission requirements must be sent in one email to edschool@iu.edu.

Submit an application!

All applications are due April 30.

Classes begin in May.

Ready to join us?

For more information, take the first step and contact the Education Advising Office at edschool@iu.edu or call 574-520-4845.

Secondary Transition to Teaching