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College of Education & Professional Studies

Diane Jackman,Dean

Douglas J. Bower,Associate Dean

Tom Grissom,Assistant to the Dean for Academic Computing

Peggy Brown, Assistant to the Dean

Bonnie Wilson, Assistant to the Dean

General Mission

The College of Education and Professional Studies is committed to the preparation of professionals in the design and implementation of programs that advance intellectual, physical, psychological, and social well-being. These professionals are to be competent practitioners who are well grounded in research and theory. The College promotes the tradition of teaching and extends to the region and beyond by producing culturally literate and technologically sophisticated teachers, counselors, administrators, coaches, trainers, directors, and therapists.

The professional education units offer degrees and certification in early childhood education, elementary and middle level education, special education, secondary education, health education, kinesiology and sports studies/physical education, guidance and counseling, and school administration. In addition, non-teaching professional units offer excellent programs in community counseling, community health, safety/driver education, recreation administration, therapeutic recreation, and athletic training. While educating excellent entry-level personnel in undergraduate programs, the College prepares those in its graduate programs for distinguished leadership in meeting future challenges in various institutions. It also serves as an effective center of cultural and educational opportunity, maintaining partnerships with schools, hospitals, business and industry, and other recreational and social agencies.

A strong commitment to quality programs in the College of Education and Professional Studies is demonstrated by a highly qualified and dedicated faculty; a clinically intensive, contemporary curriculum; and recognition by appropriate accrediting and certifying agencies, including the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission into teacher preparation programs are listed in this catalog in the section on teacher certification programs. Requirements for admission to graduate programs are given in the Graduate Catalog.

Teacher Education

Information about teacher education may be found at the following website: Please check this site regularly: As rules, regulations, and dates change, you'll find the most current information here.

Teacher Certification ProgramsThe following information is intended to serve as a general guide for students wishing to qualify for an Illinois teaching certificate. While all of Eastern Illinois University's teacher education programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, only the state can issue teaching certificates. Effective July 2004 the requirements by which these certificates are awarded was changed and students must meet the new requirements as set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education. More detailed information is available through the College of Education and Professional Studies.

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

Students interested in an Early Childhood certificate should major in Early Childhood Education. Early Childhood majors may add Elementary Education certification. For Elementary certification, students should pursue a major in Elementary Education as outlined in this section. Options available in the Elementary Education major are Middle School and General. Each of these options serves a different purpose, and students are urged to consult the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education for additional information.

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 ( 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. Note: A student entering Fall 2002 and thereafter must 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 professional education 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 graduating after December 2011 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 after December 2011 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. Two professional components are listed. Students may choose either the "Regular Program" or the "Integrated Program" but cannot mix the two. 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 34-37 Hours)

  • Departmental Methods Credits: 3-9
  • EDF 2555 - Diversity of Schools and Societies: Social and Global Perspectives. Credits: 3
  • EDF 4450 - Philosophy and History of Education. Credits: 3
  • EDP 3331 - Theories of Learning and Development for Secondary Teachers. Credits: 3
  • SED 2000 - Inquiry Into Teaching. Credits: 1
  • SED 3330 - Instructional Tasks in the Secondary School. Credits: 3
  • SPE 3500 - The Education of Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs: Access to the General Curriculum. Credits: 3
  • STG 4000 - Multicultural/Disabilities Practicum. Credits: 1
  • STG 4001 - Student Teaching. Credits: 12-16

Recommended Courses

The following courses are highly recommended to assure standards are met and may be required in your major (consult with advisor or your major listing):

  • EDU 2022 - Teaching and Learning with Technology in Classrooms. Credits: 2
  • EDU 4281 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Secondary Classrooms. Credits: 3
  • HST 3000 - Health Concepts for Teachers. Credits: 2
  • KSS 3000 - Fitness Concepts for Teachers. Credits: 1
  • MLE 4280 - Teaching Reading in the Middle/Secondary School. Credits: 3

Integrated Secondary Education Program (ISEP) (Formerly ASEP)

ISEP is an integrated, competency-based program emphasizing early exposure to the public high school classroom. Instruction is flexible with specific learning modules and a Credit/No Credit grading system. Some classes may be held in the public schools; car-pooling can be arranged. Admission is by application only.

For further information concerning either the Regular or Integrated program, contact the Department of Secondary Education and Foundations or visit the department’s web site.

ISEP Program Courses (Total 28-31 Hours)

  • Departmental Methods Credits: 3-9
  • EDF 2555 - Diversity of Schools and Societies: Social and Global Perspectives. Credits: 3
  • SED 2000 - Inquiry Into Teaching. Credits: 1
  • SED 3000 - ISEP Level I. Credits: 3
  • SED 3100 - ISEP Level II. Credits: 3
  • SED 4000 - ISEP Level III. Credits: 3
  • STG 4001 - Student Teaching. Credits: 12-16

Recommended Courses

The following courses are highly recommended to assure standards are met and may be required in your major (consult with advisor or your major listing):

  • EDU 2022 - Teaching and Learning with Technology in Classrooms. Credits: 2
  • EDU 4281 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Secondary Classrooms. Credits: 3
  • HST 3000 - Health Concepts for Teachers. Credits: 2
  • KSS 3000 - Fitness Concepts for Teachers. Credits: 1
  • MLE 4280 - Teaching Reading in the Middle/Secondary School. Credits: 3

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.

Alternative Teacher Certification Program

The Alternative Teacher Certification Program is designed to prepare individuals to teach in severe shortage areas and provides an intensive course of study in educational foundations, pedagogy, and methodology, followed by a year-long internship during which students are hired and paid as first-year teachers. Specifically, students enroll in a web-based course in May, then in a full-time schedule of courses during the eight-week summer session. After successfully completing the summer course work, students complete an internship during which they are hired as full-time teachers for the entire academic year. The program culminates in acomprehensive program assessment course that students take in the summer following their internship. The program is limited to students seeking either a K-12 teaching certificate in foreign languages or a secondary teaching certificate in one of the following five subject-matter areas: math, science, family and consumer sciences education, business education, and technology education.

Candidates for this program must meet admission requirements that differ somewhat from other post-baccalaureate certification programs. Prerequisites include having completed a bachelor’s degree (GPA 2.65 or higher on a 4.0 scale) and a major in the intended area of certification, having been employed for a period of at least five years in an area requiring application of the individual’s education, having passed the Illinois Basic Skills test and applicable subject-matter test, and having secured a commitment from a school district to be hired (and paid as a full-time teacher) for the internship. Interested students should contact the Department of Student Teaching and Clinical Experiences for specific requirements and additional program details.

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, 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 (

The Basic Skills Test 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.

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 be awarded a certificate by the State of Illinois.

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

Selection Process for Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs

All students (including native, transfer and post-baccalaureate students) who wish to enroll in an initial certification program must be selected through the Selection Process for Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs.

To be selected a student must:

  1. submit a formal application for University Admission to Teacher Education,
  2. complete 29 s.h. or more of college level course work,
  3. obtain and document passing scores on the Illinois Test of Basic Skills, and
  4. establish a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.65 or higher.

Selection occurs at the close of each semester. Post-baccalaureate teacher education candidates must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.65 on a 4.0 scale at the point of graduation with the bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The undergraduate GPA will be used for selection for post-baccalaureate candidates. A post-baccalaureate student may use the graduate GPA for purposes of selection if the student has successfully completed a master's degree program. (The student has the responsibility of notifying the dean's office and furnishing evidence of the graduate GPA.)

University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses

Approval to take courses does not of itself admit a student to a teacher education program. A student may not be considered for "University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses" without being selected (see the section on the Selection Process above). The University Council on Teacher Education determines admission.

Applicants for University Approval to take Teacher Education Courses should be aware that Section 21-1 of the School Code of Illinois states in part, "No one shall be certified to teach or supervise at the public schools of the State of Illinois who is not of good character, good health and at least 19 years of age." In addition to the qualifications required for teacher certification by the State Code, the following are required by the Council on Teacher Education for University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses:

  1. Selection (as described above).
  2. Submitted letter of intent to Office of the Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies.
  3. Established and maintained an EIU cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.65/4.0 (Post-baccalaureate students required to have GPA 2.65 undergraduate, and 3.0 for courses #4750 and above taken at EIU).
  4. Completed Speech and Hearing Clearance. Student must schedule an appointment with the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic for this.
  5. Documented "C" or better in CMN 1310G, ENG 1001G, and ENG 1002G, or their equivalents (a minimum of 9 semester hours is required).
  6. Documented "C" or better in 3 s.h. of college level math.
  7. Documented "C" or better in ELE 2000 or ELE 2321; SPE 3201 or SPE 3220; SED 2000 or KSS 2000 or MUS 2440 or CTE 2000 or ART 2400.
  8. Completed the first required Criminal Background Investigation (CBI).

When a student has met all of the above criteria, he/she will have earned "University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses."

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 3000 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.

Criminal Background Investigations

All teacher certification candidates are required to submit to a criminal background investigation at two points in their academic career: upon selection and prior to student teaching. The first criminal background investigation is conducted by the Illinois State Police and is coordinated by the Department of Human Resources and the College of Education and Professional Studies. The second criminal background investigation is conducted by the Illinois State Police and the FBI, and is processed through an outside vendor. Students are responsible for the costs of these criminal background investigations.