Certificates Available

The State of Illinois currently issues a range of teaching certificates, all of which are available through various programs offered by Eastern. They are listed in the following table by name, type, and grade level:

• Early Childhood Certificate (Birth through Grade 3)
• Elementary Certificate (Kindergarten through Grade 9*)
• High School Certificate (Grade 6 through Grade 12*)
• Special Certificate (Kindergarten through Grade 12)

* Individuals wishing to teach in grades 6-8 are required to take specific course work relative to teaching in the middle grades.

Early Childhood and Elementary Certificates

High School Certificates

The route to a high school certificate is through one of the academic majors with teacher certification. Please refer to the College of Education and Professional Studies teacher education web site (www.eiu.edu/ceps/teached) for a listing of majors with teacher certification. Additional course work is required for students wishing to teach in grades 6-8.

Special Certificates

Special certificates, valid for teaching from kindergarten through grade 12, are available in the following fields: Art, Foreign Language, Music, Physical Education/Kinesiology & Sports Studies, and Special Education.

Minors

Individuals wishing to pursue a minor may select from those outlined in the catalog. Teacher certification minors are designed to help prepare individuals seeking certification in a second teaching area and are only available to those who are completing a major in an approved teacher preparation program of the same certificate type. Completion of a teacher certification minor does not guarantee that the individual will be granted an endorsement to teach in that field. Individuals must meet all requirements (including state tests) as set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education to be granted an endorsement in a second teaching field. Minors not so identified are considered “non-teaching” minors and, in most cases, do not meet Illinois state teaching requirements. Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses and earn a 2.65 GPA in a teaching minor.

Requirements

Since not all requirements are listed in the same place, students should take note that they must satisfy all of the following:

• University General Education Requirements
• Major Requirements. (See appropriate major.)
• Professional Education Requirements. (See below.)
• Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education. (See below.)
• Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from a teacher certification program, you must complete the approved certification program and graduation requirements with a 2.65 cumulative and major GPA and complete all courses with a grade of “C” or better. Note: Some majors require a higher GPA; please consult departmental requirements.

Minimum Grade Requirement in Courses for Teacher Certification Programs

All students with a teacher certification major must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses, regardless where they are taken, used toward graduation including general education, professional education, major and minor courses, all university required courses, and electives. Furthermore, any course used for the purpose of adding endorsements to a teaching certificate must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

All post baccalaureate teacher certification candidates completing a teacher certification program must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses, regardless where they are taken, used toward completion of the program. Furthermore, any course used for the purpose of adding endorsements to a teaching certificate must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

Professional Education Requirements

For individuals seeking certificates in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, or Special Education, the Professional Education requirements are included as a part of the respective major and are outlined elsewhere in this section.

Individuals seeking a High School certificate, or a Special Certificate in Art, Foreign Language, Music or Physical Education must complete the following Professional Education requirements. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all professional education courses in order to graduate from a teacher certification program.

Regular Program Courses (Total 37-43 Hours)

• Departmental Methods Credits: 3-9

• SED 2000 - Inquiry Into Teaching. Credits: 2

• (Exceptions to this course are in Art, Music, Kinesiology & Sports Studies, and Career and Technical Education.)

• EDF 2555G - Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom. Credits: 3

• (May also be used to satisfy General Education (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and Diversity requirement.)

• SED 3330 - Instructional Tasks in the Secondary School. Credits: 4
• EDP 3331 - Theories of Learning and Development for Secondary Teachers. Credits: 3
• SPE 3500 - The Education of Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs: Access to the General Curriculum. Credits: 3

• (The exception to this course is in Kinesiology & Sports Studies.)

• SED 4330 - Literacy, Assessment, and Differentiation in Secondary Schools. Credits: 3
• EDF 4550 - Critical Focus on Education. Credits: 3

• (EDF 4450 may be substituted for EDF 4550 if taken prior to Fall 2013.)

• STG 4000 - Multicultural/Disabilities Practicum. Credits: 1
• STG 4001 - Student Teaching. Credits: 12-16

• (Register for 12 semester hours.)

Repeating Undergraduate Professional Education Courses with Field Experiences/Practica

Students may enroll in any undergraduate professional education course that includes a field experience or practicum no more than twice. Any students wishing to attempt a field experience/practicum course more than twice must appeal to the department in which the course is offered. The department will review the request and make a determination as to re-enrollment in the course. If the request is approved, a remediation plan must be developed and completed prior to re-enrollment. The remediation plan is to be developed by the department in consultation with the student. If the student’s request to re-enroll is denied, the student may seek reconsideration through the Office of the Dean, College of Education & Professional Studies.

Illinois Certification Tests

The State of Illinois has established a testing program as part of its teacher certification program. This program consists of a test of basic skills/academic proficiency, subject-matter knowledge tests, and an assessment of professional teaching. Students are limited to taking each of these tests a maximum of 5 times per test. Additional information is available on the CEPS website (www.eiu.edu/ceps/teached).

The Basic Skills Test/Test of Academic Proficiency measures basic skills in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics. Students are required to pass this test for selection. Under Illinois law, no student may be admitted to a teacher education program without first passing the Basic Skills Test/Test of Academic Proficiency. Students can substitute a composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT plus Writing for the Basic Skills Test/Test of Academic Proficiency requirement.

Students are required to pass the content-area test in their discipline(s) no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching. Furthermore, students must pass the content-area test in all other fields for which they are seeking as endorsement (in addition to hour requirements). Tests for additional endorsements do not need to be passed prior to student teaching, but must be passed prior to program completion.

The Assessment of Professional Teaching is a test over the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and all teacher standards in English/Language Arts and Technology. This test must be passed before a student can receive a teaching license in Illinois or any other state.

Application for Teaching Certificates

Students should begin the process of applying for their teaching certificates early in the term in which they will graduate or complete all requirements.  Forms and instructions will be distributed by the Student Teaching Coordinators.

Admission to Teacher Education

Formal University Admission to Teacher Education Programs

To be formally admitted to Teacher Education Programs, students must be selected, have earned University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses and successfully complete SED 3330/EDP 3331 or SED 3100 or ELE 3100 or ELE 3250 or MLE 3110 or SPE 4800/4820 with a grade of “C” or better and earn positive practicum evaluations, thus demonstrating the knowledge, skills and dispositions of one desiring to enter the teaching profession.  Students selected under the selection process in place prior to Fall 2002 must also pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills/Test of Academic Proficiency. A composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT plus Writing can be substituted for the Test of Basic Skills/Test of Academic Proficiency.

Criminal Background Investigations

At time of application for admission to teacher education, candidates must complete an Illinois State Police fingerprint-based criminal history check. Candidates must complete a second Illinois State Police fingerprint-based criminal history check the semester prior to student teaching. The fingerprint-based criminal background investigation is conducted by the Illinois State Police and is processed through an outside vendor. Students are responsible for the costs of these criminal background investigations.

Education Scholars Program

Incoming freshman students who have demonstrated excellent scholarship as measured by ACT scores and high school class rank may be eligible to be admitted to the Education Scholars Program in the College of Education and Professional Studies.

Community college transfer students who have demonstrated excellent scholarship at the community college as measured by GPA and involvement in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities may also be eligible for admission to the Education Scholars Program.

Students must remain in good academic standing and continue to meet teacher education requirements to remain in the Education Scholars Program.

For information about the Education Scholars Program, contact the College of Education and Professional Studies or the Admissions Office, or visit the College of Education and Professional Studies teacher education web site at http://www.eiu.edu/~ceps/teached.

Application of Teacher Education Criteria to Other Programs

Revocation of Admission to Teacher Education

Under certain conditions admission to teacher education may be revoked by the Council on Teacher Education. Major causes of revocation are explained at the scheduled admissions meeting.

Student Teaching

To be eligible for a student teaching assignment, a student must attain 90 semester hours or more toward graduation and must have complied with all regulations and qualifications relative to “University Approval to take Teacher Education Courses” and “University Approval to Student Teach.” Students must register for Student Teaching 4001 through EIU to qualify for graduation. Registration and fees are required as with other regular course work. Students are assigned to student teach in public schools in one of the student teaching centers located throughout the state. Assignments are made by the Student Teaching Coordinators. The public school cooperating teacher to whom each student is assigned holds licensure consistent with the licensure the student teacher is seeking and the setting and subject area assignment are appropriate to the license. Students engaged in student teaching are limited to a total academic load of 13 semester hours (except in Special Education) and the number of hours of outside work permitted is restricted.

Individuals who hold a valid teaching license, have student taught previously in completion of an approved teacher education program, and document one year or more successful teaching experience as the teacher responsible for delivering the Special Education components of the individualized educational program, may substitute completion of 6 s.h. of Special Education course work specific to instructional strategies for the student teaching experience.  This course work must result in successful completion of supervised, evaluated practica.

A full semester (15 or 16 weeks) of assigned student teaching/professional experience is required of all students seeking initial licensure. Students should consult the Professional Education Requirements for Teacher Certification Programs and individual course listings for specific information.

Application Process

Every student planning to student teach must complete an electronic application during the Fall semester preceding the academic year in which the student plans to student teach. For example, a student who plans to student teach during the 2015-16 academic year must complete the application in Fall 2014. Failure to complete the application by the deadline may result in a one-year delay in student teaching.

Placement Centers

All student teaching at Eastern is completed in approved sites only. Student Teaching Coordinators make placements, supervise and evaluate student teachers in collaboration with the public school cooperating teacher in the local schools. Students must student teach in an approved site. Students cannot student teach in districts where they attended school or in districts in which relatives are employed or where there is a significant conflict of interest. Students cannot be employed in the district in which they are student teaching. The University retains the right to determine student teaching placement(s).

Student Teaching sites are available in several regions of Illinois, but we do not have sites in all areas. Maps of current sites are available on the Student Teaching website. From these maps, students must rank-order four geographical areas as preference for student teaching region. There is absolutely no guarantee that any of these preferences can be honored. In addition, a site may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Department of Student Teaching.

Many school districts (especially those in the Chicago area) have additional criteria and standards for those who wish to student teach. Placement in the Chicago area is very competitive.

Prerequisites and Requirements for Student Teaching

1. Course Prerequisites:
   1. Early Childhood Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all prerequisites and co-requisites to it.
   2. Elementary Education School Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all prerequisites and co-requisites to it.
   3. Special Education Curriculum. To student teach in Special Education, students must have completed Special Education 4900 and 4901, and all prerequisites to them.
   4. Secondary and Special Area Curricula. Students must have completed Educational Psychology 3331 and Secondary Education 3330, and all required departmental methods courses and all course prerequisites to those noted.
2. Students must complete courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.65 GPA and a 2.65 cumulative GPA. (NOTE: Some majors require a higher GPA; please consult departmental requirements.) Students who were selected under the selection process in place prior to Fall 2002 are required to complete courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.50, and a 2.50 cumulative GPA.  (NOTE: Some majors require a higher GPA; please consult departmental requirements.)
3. Transfer students must have been in residence at EIU for at least one semester or one summer term.
4. A PPD tuberculin test must be completed and documentation provided to University Health Services within 90 days of the beginning of student teaching.
5. A Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) must be completed prior to student teaching.
6. Students will complete a sequence of supervised and evaluated pre-student teaching clinical experiences before the student teaching semester.
7. Effective Fall 2004 student teaching may not commence until passing scores on the Illinois Content Area Test have been earned and documented.

Granting of Credit for the Student Teaching Experience

Student Teaching 4001 is a credit or no-credit course.  A credit will be earned only if the candidate does each of the following:

1. Successfully completes the student teaching experience (successful completion is determined by the judgment of the University coordinator in consultation with the cooperating teacher);
2. Completes all departmental requirements which may apply.

Criminal Background Investigations

All teacher licensure candidates are required to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background investigation. The criminal background investigation is conducted by the Illinois State Police and is processed through an outside vendor. Students are responsible for the cost of this criminal background investigation.

Students may be required to complete additional criminal background investigations required by school districts in which they are assigned to student teach. Students should complete the criminal background investigation for EIU prior to completing any such investigations for school districts. Students are also responsible for the cost of criminal background investigations required by school districts.

University Approval to Student Teach

Approval to Student Teach is a multiple-step process, including earning “Departmental Approval to Student Teach.” The Office of the Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies will send the applying student’s name to the major department for Departmental Approval to Student Teach.  Students must complete courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.65 GPA and a 2.65 cumulative GPA. (NOTE: Some majors require a higher GPA; please consult departmental requirements.)  In addition, students must document passage of Illinois Certification content-area test in their discipline(s) no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching.

Every student planning to student teach must complete an electronic application. Failure to complete the application materials by the deadline may result in a one-year delay in student teaching.

Students must have received conditional “University Approval to Student Teach,” including department approval, no later than mid-term of the semester prior to student teaching, with final approval granted at the close of the semester.  A student who is refused “University Approval to Student Teach” or whose approval is revoked may appeal the decision to the Council on Teacher Education. The decision of the council is final.  Appeal forms may be secured in the office of the Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies.

Departmental Approval to Student Teach

After a student has applied to student teach s/he must contact his/her own major department and submit an application to that department for “Departmental Approval to Student Teach.” “Departmental Approval to Student Teach” is the responsibility of the candidate’s major department and must include the following:
 

1. Completion of courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.65 GPA and a 2.65 cumulative GPA. (NOTE: Some majors require a higher average in the major; please consult departmental requirements.)
2. A grade of C or better in each professional education course completed.
3. Evidence of recent participation in professional organizations, meetings, and /or appropriate activities with youth.
4. A portfolio submitted by the student to the department which includes: lesson plans, unit plans, and evidence of group work, communication skills, and ability to work well with youth (including #3 above), and a résumé.
5. Other criteria as determined by the student’s major department. Department criteria are available in the Department Office.

Students must have received “University Approval to Student Teach,” including department approval, no later than mid-term of the semester prior to student teaching (on or before October 15 for Spring student teaching; or on or before March 15 for Fall student teaching). A student who is refused “University Approval to Student Teach,” or whose approval is revoked may appeal the decision to the Council on Teacher Education. The decision of the Council is final. Appeal forms may be secured from the Office of the Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies.

Termination of Student Teaching Placement

Students are guests of the host school district. A School district and/or the University retains the right to terminate a student teaching placement. A subsequent conference to examine options will be held with the student and the Student Teaching Coordinator and/or Student Teaching Chair, with input from the major department as needed or appropriate.

STG 4000

ALL teacher licensure majors (including Post Baccalaureate students) MUST take STG 4000 (except for ISEP students who complete the multicultural requirements within the course modules). This class is designed to provide experiences with school populations in multicultural settings and students with disabilities. Some students may wish to take STG 4000 during the student teaching semester. Options for STG 4000.

1. A student may be placed in an approved multicultural site during student teaching and complete a packet of activities.  Some regions have limited multicultural placement opportunities.  Students who wish to complete this option must discuss this option with their coordinators during the pre-placement meeting.
2. A student who is student teaching in non-approved sites may complete the course by participating for an additional 25 contact hours in an approved multicultural site.  A student in a non-approved site will work with his/her student teaching coordinator to complete the 25 hours in an approved site during the student teaching semester.

Overseas Student Teaching

EIU is a member of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), a group of state and private universities committed to quality overseas student teaching experiences. Under the agency of this organization, Eastern offers qualified students an opportunity to do their student teaching abroad. Placements for overseas student teaching are made in selected schools in Australia, Ecuador, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Scotland, Wales, and others. Interested individuals should contact the COST Coordinator, Department of Student Teaching, 2418 Buzzard Hall, for further information.  Availability of sites is dependent upon Content Area.

Assessment of Professional Teaching

The Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) is a test over the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and all teacher standards in English/Language Arts and Technology. The appropriate APT test must be passed before a student can receive a teaching license in Illinois or any other state.

Application for Teaching Licensure

Students should begin the process of applying for their teaching license early in the term in which they will graduate or complete all requirements. Forms and instructions will be distributed through student teaching coordinators during the student teaching semester. Students should see the earlier section for information about the Illinois Certification Tests.

Application for Graduation

Students should apply for graduation a minimum of one semester prior to student teaching. Please contact your College Graduation Officer for more information.