Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) with the Elementary concentration leads to teacher certification in the state of California, and requires intensive, supervised practice at school sites, as well as academic course work that focuses on cutting-edge, school-based research.
Complete and submit Stanford's graduate online application. Applicants for 2020-21 will start their program in summer which is in Stanford's 2019-20 academic year. Please indicate summer 2019-20 as your start term.
Current Stanford undergraduate students: To begin your application please click here. Please note, requirements for coterms differ slightly from outside applicants so make sure to review the coterminal application requirements page found here. For additional questions or concerns contact valcazar@stanford.edu.
$125. Application fees are non-refundable and submitted with the online application. For information on fee waiver eligibility and process visit the Graduate Fee Waivers website.
To complete your application to STEP, you are required to write a STEP-specific essay (STEP Essay) responding to the prompt below.
Applicants may choose to write a second essay (Statement of Purpose) answering the general prompt on the online application. However, the Statement of Purpose is optional and the STEP admission committee does not encourage applicants to submit this second essay.
One or both essays can be submitted electronically with your online application by uploading them into the personal statement section. If you chose to write two essays please combine them into one word document before uploading. Your statement should be typed, single spaced and not exceed three pages in length.
STEP ESSAY: In 750-1250 words, please describe your educational background, your experience working with youth, and your interest in teaching. Please specify your interest in teaching a particular subject matter area at the secondary level (STEP Secondary, single subject program) or your interest in teaching at the elementary level (STEP Elementary, multiple subject program). In addition, explain your views on the role of education in society and your reasons for wanting to enter the teaching profession. Indicate how your talents, skills, and experiences might contribute to the STEP community.
Resumes are required of all applicants. Please upload your resume in the online application..
Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. In the online application, you will be asked to identify your recommenders and their email addresses. Please notify your recommenders that they will receive an email prompt to submit their recommendation online. Stanford GSE only accepts online recommendations through the application system; Stanford GSE cannot accept mailed, emailed or faxed recommendations.
Professors and people who have seen your work with youth are good choices for writing letters of recommendation. The letters should speak to your commitment to the profession, character, work ethic, and academic ability. It might also include why you would be a good fit for STEP.
When submitting your online application, you will be asked to upload your transcripts as a PDF document. We cannot accept mailed, emailed or faxed copies of your transcripts during the application process. Transcripts should be submitted for any institution at which you spent at least one-year doing academic study.
Upon admission, admitted students will be prompted to submit official transcripts by mail.
If the course work and grades are reflected on the transcript of your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution.
If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, we require that you submit a translation of the transcript that is either provided by the institution or a certified translator.
Stanford University requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from all applicants whose native language is not English. The Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL is not required. Applicants who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree or a two-year master's program (or its equivalent) in the U.S. or at an institution where English is the main language of instruction are not required to take the TOEFL. For more information on TOEFL requirements, please see the "Required Exams" section on the Graduate Admissions website.
The Graduate School of Education requires a minimum TOEFL score of 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test or 100 for the internet-based test in order to be considered for admission.
The test may be taken no earlier than 18 months prior to the application deadline. Be sure to take the test in time for your scores to be received at Stanford by the application deadline.
Stanford Institution code: 4704 (no department code is required). TOEFL website: http://www.toefl.org
Applicants to STEP must complete the STEP Supplemental Form. It is included in the online application.
All STEP applicants interested in receiving fellowships should be sure to complete the fellowship application section found on the supplemental form in the online application.
Applicants residing in California must take the CBEST by the application deadline and receive passing scores prior to the start of the program in June. Out-of-state candidates admitted to STEP will need to pass the CBEST no later than the end of their first quarter in the program. Some out of state basic skills exams can be used in lieu of the CBEST. Email Viviana Alcazar to verify eligibility.
The Basic Skills Requirement can be satisfied with other options. For more information please see www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl667.pdf
All STEP students must satisfy the basic skills requirement before they can assume daily teaching responsibility in their placements. If you have previously passed the exam, include a score report with your application.
Visit the CBEST website for test dates and registration information: http://www.cbest.nesinc.com/. Stanford reporting code: 327
Only STEP teacher candidates who have demonstrated satisfactory subject matter competence may assume daily classroom student teaching and/or internship responsibility. You must demonstrate subject matter competence in one of the following two ways:
STEP Multiple Subject Candidates must demonstrate subject matter competence by completing the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET).
We urge applicants to take the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. Multiple subject applicants are expected, however, to take the CSET Multiple subject exam and pass two of the three subtests before the program. Candidates must ultimately pass all subtests by January of their program year.
Applicants to STEP Elementary should plan on taking the CSET no later than March 31, 2020. CSET: Multiple Subject is computer based and offered year round in California and across the country, Monday – Saturday. Advanced registration is required.
If you have previously passed any of the exams, include a score report with your application.
Please visit http://www.cset.nesinc.com for information on test dates and locations, registering for the exam and test preparation materials.
CSET Stanford reporting code: 582
On a separate sheet of paper, summarize all of your college course work following the format below. Include any courses in which you are currently enrolled or plan to take before enrolling in STEP. Please upload your transcript summary along with the transcripts in the online application.
This summary does not replace your official transcripts. Group courses under the following headings:
Example:
Social Science
| Year | Dept & Course No | Title | Institution | Units/Qtr | Units/Sem | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aut 01 | Poli Sci 183 | Criminal Justice | UCSD | 5 | A | |
| Wtr 02 | Psych 101 | General Psych | UCSD | 4 | A- | |
| Aut 02 | Soc 01 | Intro Sociology | Scripps | 4 | B | |
| Spr 04 | Econ 151 | Econ Analysis | Scripps | 4 | B+ |
Bilingual authorization candidates must demonstrate speaking, reading, listening and writing proficiency in Spanish. Frequently applicants have a Spanish major or minor, were raised in a multilingual community or have had significant other experiences with the language (ie study abroad, Peace Corps).
It is recommended (but not required) that applicants for this authorization pass the CSET LOTE exams in both Language and Culture (Subtests III & V) prior to the STEP year. For more information about the CSET please visit: http://www.cset.nesinc.com/. If you are interested in applying for the bilingual authorization pathway please be sure to check the box on the supplemental form in the online application.
Program Director: Professor Ira Lit
MA Officer & Credential Analyst: Viviana Alcazar
© Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
