Academic Requirements
In addition to these requirements, we will review your application carefully to ensure that you have the right academic expertise to teach one of the critical-need subjects listed below. Recruiting teachers exclusively for high-demand subjects allows us to provide schools with the teachers they need most, and also makes it easier for Fellows to secure a job.
The following table outlines required exams by subject area:
Biology, 6-12
Required Coursework: Science-related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Science – Life Science
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Science – Life Science (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching).
Chemistry, 6-12
Required Coursework: Science-related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Science – Chemistry
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Science – Chemistry. (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching)
Early Childhood Education, PK-2
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Required Exams during program: Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Early Childhood Generalist (all subtests) (This exam must be passed within the first two years of teaching)
Elementary Education, 1-6
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Required Exams during program: Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Elementary Education Generalist (all subtests) (This exam must be passed within the first two years of teaching)
English, 6-12
Required Coursework: English-related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: English
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: English Language Arts (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching)
English as a Second Language, P-12
Preferred Coursework: TESOL or similar certification
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Required Exams during program: Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: English Learners (This exam must be passed within the first two years of teaching)
Mathematics, 6-12
Required Coursework: Math-related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Mathematics
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Mathematics (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching).
Science - Middle School
Required Coursework: Science-related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment – Science – Middle School
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Middle School Science (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching).
Social Studies, 6-12
Required Coursework: Social Studies related undergraduate major or passage of the Pearson Indiana Core Content Area Assessment in the area of Social Studies they will teach.
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative.
Social Studies candidates will also be required to take the Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment in the area of social studies they will teach. (Enrollees without an applicable major must pass this prior to the start of PST. Enrollees with an applicable major must pass this during their first two years of teaching).
Spanish, 6-12
Required Coursework: Majored in Spanish or minimum of 18 credit hours of Spanish coursework
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Oral Proficiency exam (OPI) (This exam must be taken during the first two years of teaching)
Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: World Languages – Spanish (This exam must be taken during the first two years of teaching)
Special Education – PK-12*
Required Exams: Core Academic Skills Assessment (or qualify for exemption via an approved alternative)
Required Exams During Program: Pearson Indiana CORE Content Area Assessment: Exceptional Needs—Mild Intervention (This exam must be passed within the first two years of teaching)
*Applicants seeking to dual license in Special Education and Elementary will be required to take a third year of courses at Marian University before being license.
All Subjects: Developmental Pedagogy Assessments
Pearson designs three assessments: The CASA, Content Area Assessments, and Development Pedagogy Assessments. You will be required to take a Developmental Pedagogy Assessment, but not until after you successfully complete your first year of teaching. At this time, highest priority is passing CASA and any necessary Content Area Assessments.
For more information about available subjects and requirements, visit the Applicant Toolkit. We will provide more detailed guidance about testing deadlines and requirements upon admission to our program. Once admitted, we encourage you to register as early as possible because testing dates are limited and some candidates require multiple attempts to earn a passing score.
NOTE: Eligibility and academic requirements are established by the Indiana Department of Education and are therefore non-negotiable and subject to change.