Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to determine teacher candidates’ pedagogical competence perceptions and their attitudes about teaching profession. The universe of the study is composed of 500 students registered to Harran University Pedagogical Formation Education Certificate Program in 2014-2015 academic years, spring term. Out of 500 surveys distributed, only 487 surveys were included in the analysis. Teacher candidates' attitudes about teaching profession were found to be at medium level. Although their attitudes about teaching profession were higher than their pedagogical competence levels, they were not at the expected level. When teacher candidates’ pedagogical competence perceptions and their attitudes about teaching profession were analyzed comparatively, the average of their attitudes about teaching profession were found to be higher than their pedagogical competence perceptions.  However, their attitudes and pedagogical competence perceptions were not at the expected level. There was found a significant and high level positive relationship between teachers’ pedagogical competence perceptions and their attitudes about teaching profession.

Keywords: