Getting Started

The APPLICATION PROCESS for the next program year must be completed by MAY 1ST.  This means the Transcript Review has been completed (Transcripts due by April 1st), the Alternate Route Application with references and disclosures has been submitted and you have received a Letter of Acceptance.  This process can take several weeks, so please plan accordingly. 

The next orientation will be June 24, 2013.  Attendance is required by those accepted into the 2013 program.  You must contact our office at least one week in advance to confirm your reservation to attend orientation.

The nine credit hours of required education coursework (twelve credit hours for K-12 teaching licensure areas) will include topics related to principles of learning and teaching, the exceptional child, and classroom management.  These courses are required before you begin as a teacher, school counselor or library media specialist.  The coursework may be taken prior to getting a contract.  The required coursework is graduate credit and all courses are online.  ED 879 XB-Classroom Management (2 credits) is offered summer & spring semesters and ED886 XB-Instructional Design (3 credits) is offered fall and spring semesters.  SD550 XA or SD550 XB-Survey of Exceptional Child (3 credits) is offered online in summer, fall and spring semesters.  SC 719 Classroom Climate is offered only in the summer session.   EL 751 Application of Developmental Theories (3 credits) or an elementary methods course specific to your teaching area is required for anyone getting a K-12 teaching license.  EL 751 is available online summer, fall and spring semesters. 

Candidates are provided with mentors and are required to participate in online or campus seminars during a yearlong internship resulting in an additional 12 semester hours of graduate credit. The collaboration of school and university personnel will support candidates in meeting State standards and demonstration the characteristics of a critical thinker, creative planner and effective practitioner.

  • Content Areas for Secondary Teaching. The following are the teaching content areas in ESU's Alternate Route Program: Business, English, Middle School or 6-12 Mathematics, Modern Languages, Art, Psychology, Biology, Physical Sciences - (Middle School Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics), Social Studies, Speech/Theatre, Music. 
  • Kindergarten-12th grade teaching areas:  Art, Health, Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish), Music and Physical Education.
  • The specialist areas are: School Counselor and Library/Media
  • Cost of the program is the cost for credits:  For the 2012-2013 academic year it is $277/graduate credit hour for online courses plus $60/course.  The 9 education courses you take are graduate so that is $2493 plus $60 x 4 courses = $240 for a total of $2733.  The Internship you take while on the job is $277/credit hour x 12 credits for the year = $3324. Grand total = $6,057.  The Board of Regents could change the cost/credit, so this is an approximate cost.  If you need to apply for financial aid, contact their office, 620-341-5457.  Elaine Henrie is the director.  You need to be enrolled in 6 credit hours of courses to qualify for financial aid, 5 in the summer (These requirements change, please check for current information).
  • Military Experience:  If you've served 6 years, funding may be available for your course work.  Contact John Parker at john.parker@dese.mo.gov or visit Troops to Teachers website, www.troopstoteachers.mo.gov.  You may also call toll free @ 1-877-530-2765.
  • Orientation. Orientation is June 24, 2013, 9:00-4:00, in Visser Hall, Emporia State University Campus. Attendance is required by those accepted into the 2013 program.  You must contact our office at least one week in advance to confirm your reservation to attend orientation.

To get started:

1.  Submit an application to Graduate School (Graduate School Application) and have all official transcripts sent to the Graduate Office, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial Street,  Campus Box 4003, Emporia, KS  66801.

  • You have 2 choices—either a Licensure Program/Alternate Route OR a degree seeking program/Master of Education in Teaching.  Either one will work to be in the Alternate Route Program.   If you choose the Licensure Program/Alternate Route you can change your status later if you decide to get the Master of Education in Teaching (MEd); please note that it will cost an additional $40 to change your status.  If you choose the MEd program, you are not obligated to get a master’s degree but would have seven years to complete the course work—the Alternate Route required courses (21 credit hours) plus an additional 15 credit hours. 

A.   Licensure Program/Alternate Route Option:  Please note:  You are applying for a licensure program at ESU.   Don’t choose a degree seeking, certificate seeking or non-degree seeking program!   If you do, you’ll be put in a different program and your transcripts will be scanned and shredded.  If you choose “Licensure” and “Alternate Route”, your transcripts will not be shredded and will be sent to us as we’ll need them later when you apply for a teaching or school specialist license.

    • Go to www.emporia.edu/grad and click on the “Apply Now” link on the left hand side of the page.  Under the header Online Application, click on the APPLY NOW link.  When you are redirected to the Admissions Application Login, click on “First time user account creation.”  After creating your Login ID and PIN, you will enter into the application.  After reading through the application instructions, you will need to select the correct criteria for you application.
    • Applications:     Graduate Application
    • Location:    ESU Online Program (CAUTION—make sure you don’t leave ESU Main Campus as the choice—use the pull down arrow and select ESU Online Program)
    • Type:    1st-time Licensure/Non-degree or Returning Licensure/Non-degree
    • Admission Term:     Select the term you anticipate enrolling in the Alternate Route Program.
    • If you’ve never been an ESU graduate student choose:  “1st Time Licensure/Non-degree – This application is to be completed by students who are applying for a licensure program or as non-degree and have not attended ESU previously as a graduate student.” 
    • If you’ve attended ESU as a graduate student before choose:  “Returning Licensure/Non-degree - This application is to be completed by students who have previously attended ESU as a graduate student and are returning as a licensure or non-degree seeking student.” 
    • After selecting the correct criteria, you will enter into the application.  After completing the Name section of the application you will be directed to the Application Checklist.  You will need to complete all seven sections of the application.  When you enter into the Planned Course of Study checklist item, you will need to select the appropriate Alternate Route Licensure program you are applying to.  Your choices are 1) Licen-Alt Rt Sch Library Media OR  2) Alt Route School Counselor OR  3) Licen-Alt Rt Tchng/Sec Tchng (these are the first three choices on the pull down menu).  If these choices aren’t coming up, you’ve made an incorrect choice earlier in your application.  If you’re seeing Post Bac choices with content areas, you’re not in the Non-Degree programs where you made your selection for “Type”.  Go back and select the correct application type.
    • It is extremely important to complete the Planned Course of Study section correctly, as this will assign your correct advisor and also keep your official transcripts on file to be forwarded on when it comes time for you to receive your teaching certificate through the state.
    • If you should have any questions while completing your admission application, please do not hesitate to contact the Graduate School at 620-341-5403/800-950-GRAD.

  OR 

B.   Degree Seeking Program/Master of Education Option:

    • After you log in select the following:
      1. Application:  Graduate Application
      2. Location:  CAUTION! Do not leave this on ESU Main Campus, use the pull down option and select ESU Online Program.
      3. Type:  Select 1st Time Degree/Cert Seeking if you haven’t gotten a degree from ESU before otherwise select “Returning Degree/Cert Seeking”
      4. Admission Term:  Fall, Spring or Summer 20__

You can look at “Programs Offered” and MED-Teaching is there.  That is your program that you’ll enter later as your “Planned Course of Study”

  • The next questions are about you—you should not have difficulty here
  • When you get to the Checklist of 7 items, your “Planned Course of Study” is MED-Teaching.
  • The other checklist items are about you and your education—you should not have difficulty here or finishing the application.

These are the items to watch for:  The biggest mistakes people make is they leave the Location as ESU Main Campus—because the MED is not an on campus master’s degree, it won’t show up as a choice.  Please change the location to ESU Online Program!   Your Planned Course of Study is MED-Teaching.

2.  Send an email to Sharon Pittman at spittma1@emporia.edu specifying the content area you are wanting to teach so your transcripts can be reviewed by the appropriate department.

3.  Wait for your transcript review results before applying for the alternate route program. You’ll be notified that you can either apply for the program or that you need to complete more course work before applying. 

4.  Start the process early as you can take some of the education classes fall or spring semester, leaving a lighter load for summer. 

How to apply (once transcript review is complete)