Teaching Degrees in Michigan

Michigan has some of the highest teacher salaries in the country. Before deciding to become a teacher in the Michigan public school system there are a few points to consider, including:

The impact of a master’s degree
Scholarships and grants
Michigan teacher certification

Also included here is a list of additional resources and a comprehensive directory of fully accredited teaching degrees in Michigan.

The minimum educational requirement for becoming a teacher in Michigan is a bachelor’s degree. There are 39 Michigan colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees in teaching and 29 that offer master’s degrees. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 57 percent of Michigan teachers have a master’s degree. Teachers with master’s degrees earn higher salaries than their counterparts with bachelor’s degrees.

Teaching Scholarships and Grants in Michigan

Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships and grants to help ease the monetary burden of earning a teaching degree in Michigan.

American Federation of Teachers – Michigan
AFT Michigan offers a variety of scholarships to students pursuing a career in education.

Eastern Michigan University Scholarships
The College of Education at Eastern Michigan University offers several scholarships.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) Audrey L. Wright Scholarship
Recipient must be a resident of Kent County, MI and pursuing an undergraduate degree in education. Must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a financial need.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) John T. and Frances J. Maghielse Scholarship
Candidate must be a Grand Rapids Public High School graduate, a resident of Kent County, and pursuing an undergraduate degree in education at a Michigan public or private college or university. The student should also display a financial need as well as a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) Roger and Jacquelyn Vander Laan Family Scholarship
Student must be a senior at South Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan and planning to enter as a full-time education major at any accredited college, university, or vocational or technical school. Student must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and also have financial need.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) Virginia Valk Fehsenfeld Scholarship
Scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a degree in education. Must be a resident of Kent County, be in need of financial aid, and have a minimum 3.4 GPA.

Grand Valley State University Scholarships
The College of Education at Grand Valley State University offers several scholarships.

Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics Scholarship
Student should be a member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics and enrolled at a Michigan college in an elementary or secondary teacher education program with a math major or minor. Must be a junior or senior, a resident of Michigan, and have a 3.0 GPA.

Michigan Education Association Scholarships
MEA offers a variety of scholarships to students studying to become teachers.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Michigan Program
Must be accepted at a participating Michigan college and currently employed in the field of early childhood education. Recipient must be sponsored by his/her employer and maintain employment while in the program.

Michigan Teacher Certification

The basic requirements for becoming a teacher in Michigan are:

A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
Completing the teacher preparation program
Passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills and a subject area exam
Fingerprinting and background check

Once a candidates have completed all the above requirements, they receive a Provisional Certificate, which is good for a maximum of six years. Prior to the expiration of the Provisional Certificate, a teacher needs to complete enough continuing education to receive the Professional Education Certificate, which is valid for up to five years.

Provisional Education Certificate requirements as of September 1, 2013 are as follows:

Three years of satisfactory teaching experience since the issue date of the Provisional Certificate.
Six semester credit hours of reading methods for elementary certified teachers, and three semester credit hours of reading methods for secondary certified teachers.
Three semester credit hours of reading diagnostic and remediation coursework in accordance with Michigan Revised School Code MCL 380.1531(4).
Teachers must also complete one or a combination of the following:

– Six semester hours in a planned program at an approved EPI
– Six semester credit hours of academic credit appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement (s) of the certificate at any regionally accredited college or university
– 180 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement(s) of the certificate held
– 150 District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) clock hours in
accordance with Michigan School Code Sections 380.1527

Additional Resources about Teaching in Michigan

The following resources provide additional information about earning a teaching degree and working as a teacher in Michigan:

Michigan Department of Education
A wealth of information on everything from the Superintendent’s Podcast to grants, to news, and individual school rankings.

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)
Information on the MTTC, registering for it, preparing for it, and FAQ.

Michigan Education Association
The Michigan Teachers Union website.

Teaching Degrees in Michigan