2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog School of Teaching and Learning

Education.IllinoisState.edu

Admission/Retention Requirements

Admission to this academic program is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to: courses completed, cumulative GPA, hours completed, personal interview or written statement, and samples of work completed. For additional information on minimum requirements for admission and the application and selection process, visit IllinoisState.edu/Majors or contact the undergraduate advisor for the intended major.

Students should contact their Teaching and Learning advisors for additional information. The number of students admitted varies based on space availability and the quality of the pool of applicants. The range should not be viewed as a minimum for acceptance into these programs. 

Course Finder

Honors in Teaching and Learning

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

Early Childhood Education

Degrees Offered: B.S., B.S. in Ed.

Major in Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Major leads to an initial Illinois Educator License with endorsement for teaching in programs serving children birth to age 7 (grade 2). The program is based on the conceptual framework “Realizing the Democratic Ideal” and is closely aligned with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IPTS) and the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The professional coursework of the program focuses on preparation for teaching in public school Pre-K through grade 2 classrooms, child care centers, pre-schools, and birth through age 3 early intervention programs.

Each student should consult the University-Wide Teacher Education Requirements section for further understanding of state General Education requirements for endorsement in Early Childhood Education.

Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

Credentialing Opportunities

Leading to Illinois Professional Educator License: Early Childhood Birth-Grade 2

Standards for Progress in the Major

All teacher education students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to complete the program. A grade of C or better in all coursework is required as part of the licensure program. To register for TCH 271, the Early Childhood Education program entry course, students must have achieved:

  • A minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.50;
  • A minimum of 45 semester hours completed (to begin TCH 271, however, students must have achieved junior standing—a minimum of 60 semester hours completed);
  • A minimum grade of C in TCH 210

View Early Childhood Education Course Requirements

Pedagogy Emphasis Sequence

Students in this sequence do not complete student teaching. Instead, they complete an internship experience. Passage of the Illinois State Board of Education licensure content test is not required for this sequence.

View Early Childhood Education Pedagogy Sequence Course Requirements

Early Childhood Education Minor 

Students may complete coursework leading to the 18-hour early childhood education subsequent endorsement. This endorsement is in addition to the student’s initial area of endorsement (elementary education, middle level education, etc.). To meet state requirements, students must fulfill 18 hours of coursework in categories designated by the State of Illinois as well as pass the State of Illinois Early Childhood Education test. Students must apply to the minor, and be accepted, to enroll in courses.

18 credit hours required 

 

Elementary Education

Degrees Offered: B.S., B.S. in Ed.

Major in Elementary Education

The Elementary Education program prepares candidates for the Illinois Professional Educator License and the Elementary Education Endorsement in grades 1-6. The program is based on the conceptual framework “Realizing the Democratic Ideal” and closely aligned with national elementary teacher education standards, the 2010 Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IPTS), and the Illinois standards for Elementary Education Teachers (2013), all of which are integrally related.

Throughout the program, elementary education candidates have opportunities to link theory with practice as they participate in approximately 400 hours of clinical experiences in elementary classrooms. Elementary education candidates also may apply to one of several Professional Development Schools in which they integrate their coursework with ongoing classroom experiences in participating school districts in a year-long student teaching experience.

Credentialing Opportunities

Leading to Illinois Professional Educator License: grades 1-6.

Standards for Progress in the Major

Effective February 1, 2012 students who are applying for their Professional Educator License or additional endorsements must have a grade of C or better in all coursework required as part of their licensure program. This includes all endorsement area courses and professional education courses.

To register for TCH 204, a student must have completed or achieved:

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
  • Grade of C or better in COM 110 and ENG 101
  • TCH 210 Child Growth and Development

View Elementary Education Course Requirements

Bilingual/Bicultural Teacher Education (English-Spanish) Sequence

Students who complete this sequence may be endorsed in elementary education and bilingual education. Bilingual Education student teaching must take place in the spring semester as part of a yearlong professional development school that supports the Bilingual/Bicultural sequence.

Additional courses in Spanish may be needed in order to obtain the language proficiency required. Language proficiency will be determined by successfully passing the Illinois Language Proficiency Test administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. The language proficiency test must be passed prior to the yearlong development school (PDS) experience.

View Bilingual/Bicultural Teacher Education (English-Spanish) Sequence Course Requirements

Middle Level Teacher Education

Degrees Offered: B.S., B.S. in Ed.

Major in Middle Level Teacher Education

School of Teaching and Learning advisors will assist the Middle Level Teacher Education major in planning coursework in both the primary and secondary content areas.

A primary feature of the Middle Level Teacher Education program is the experience that the pre-service teacher gains in working with young adolescent youth in the school environment. Simultaneously with the course work in the categories previously described, the candidate in the program engages in a variety of clinical experiences working with students in middle schools.

Candidates completing the Middle Level professional education requirements above must choose two content areas for endorsement. Those areas include: Mathematics, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, or English Language Leaner (EL).

Middle Level Education majors must choose two content areas for endorsement. Passage of ILTS content exams may be requried beyond the coursework listed. Since ISBE subsequent endorsement requirements are subject to change due to updated licensure code, students must confirm current requirements with their academic advisor each year of enrollment to ensure required coursework and additional ISBE licensure requirements for each endorsement are completed at the time of graduation.  

Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

Credentialing Opportunities

Leading to Illinois Professional Educator License: Middle Level Grades 5-8.

Standards for Progress in the Major

Effective February 1, 2012 students who are applying for their Illinois Professional Educator License or additional endorsements must have a grade of C or better in all coursework required as part of their licensure program. This includes all endorsement areas, major courses and professional education.

View Middle Level Teacher Education Course Requirements

Minor in Bilingual Education

Students may complete coursework leading to the 18-hour bilingual endorsement. This endorsement is in addition to the student’s initial area of endorsement (early childhood, elementary education, middle level education, etc.) and can be focused on the target language of the student’s choice. To meet these state requirements, students must fulfill 18 hours of coursework in categories designated by the State of Illinois as well as pass the State of Illinois Target Language Test. Students should see an advisor to plan this coursework.

18 credit hours required

Urban Education Study

Students working in urban populations may elect to complete Urban Education. Urban Education is not a certified area but is an elective option available to students in Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, Special K-12, High School, Early Childhood, and Special Education programs. Course content and Clinical Experiences are individually designed in keeping with the specific Teacher Education program of the student.