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Students interested in Early Childhood (birth through grade 2) should major in Early Childhood Education. Early Childhood majors may add Elementary Education licensure. For Elementary (grade 1 through grade 6), students should pursue a major in Elementary Education. Students interested in teaching grade 5 through grade 8 should major in Middle Level Education.

The route to teaching high school (grade 9 through grade 12) is through one of the academic majors with teacher licensure. Please refer to the College of Education, Health and Human ServicesÌýteacher education web siteÌýfor a listing of majors with teacher licensure.

Licensure/endorsements, valid for teaching from grade 5 through grade 12, are available in Career and Technical Education (Business Education, Family & Consumer Sciences Education, and Technology Education).

Licensure/endorsements, valid for teaching from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, are available in the following fields: Art, Foreign Language/World Languages and Cultures, Music, and Physical Education/Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation.

Licensure/endorsements, valid for teaching from kindergarten through grade 22, are available in Special Education.

Individuals wishing to pursue a minor may select from those outlined in the catalog. Teacher licensure minors are designed to help prepare individuals seeking licensure in a second teaching area and are only available to those who are completing a major in an approved teacher preparation program leading to high school or K-12 licensure. Completion of a teacher licensure 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.

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 licensure program, you must complete the approved licensure 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.

All students with a teacher licensure major must receive a grade of "C" or better in all courses, regardless of 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 license must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

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

For individuals seeking licensure in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Middle Level 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 High School, 5-12 (Career and Technical Education), or Pre-K-12 (Art, Foreign Language, Music or Physical Education) licensure 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 licensure program.

• Departmental Methods Credits: 3-9

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, Health and Human Services.

The State of Illinois has established a testing program as part of its teacher licensure program. This program consists of subject-matter knowledge tests, and in the future, a state designed teacher performance assessment. Additional information is available on the COE website (/edprep/).

Students are required to attempt the licensure exam prior to being enrolled in student teaching. Furthermore, students must pass the content-area test in all other fields for which they are seeking an endorsement (in addition to hour requirements). Tests for subsequent endorsements do not have to be passed prior to program completion. The test has to be passed to earn the entitlement.

Upon completion of program and state licensure requirements, students will be eligible to earn their professional educator license (PEL). Directions for obtaining their PEL will be provided by the Executive Director for Educator Licensure inÌýthe College of Education, Health and Human Services.

To be formally admitted to teacher education programs, students must be selected, have earned University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses andÌýsuccessfully completeÌý SEDÌý4330/SED 4335 or a Departmental Methods Course; or ELE 3100 or ELE 3225Ìýor MLE 3110/40001 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.Ìý

At time of application for admission to teacher education, candidates must complete a criminal history background check through the university's approved vendor. Students must complete a second criminal history background check prior to the start of the student teaching semester through the school district(s) in which the candidate will be completing student teaching.ÌýStudents are responsible for the costs of these criminal history background investigations.

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.

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.

A full semester (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 Licensure Programs and individual course listings for specific information.

Every student planning to student teach must complete an electronic application one year prior to the semester in which the student plans to student teach. To student teach in Fall, the Student must apply by October 31, of the previous fall semester. To student teach in Spring, the student must apply by February 28, of the previous Spring semester.ÌýFailure to complete the application by the deadline may result in a one-year delay in student teaching.

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 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. Sites may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the OfficeÌýof 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.

1. Course Prerequisites (other departmental requirements apply):
   1. Early Childhood Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all prerequisites and co-requisites to it.
   2. Elementary Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all prerequisites and co-requisites to it.
   3. Middle Level Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all prerequisites and co-requisites to it.
   4. Special Education Curriculum. To student teach in Special Education, students must have completed Special Education 4900 and 4901, and all prerequisites to them.
   5. Secondary and Special Area Curricula. Students must have completed Educational Psychology 2330, Secondary Education 3330, and Secondary Education 4330, 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.)
3. Transfer students must have been in residence at EIU for at least one semester or one summer term.
4. A PPD tuberculin test, health physical, and DCFS Mandated Reporter Training must be completed and documented 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. Passing scores on the Illinois Content Area Test must be earned and documented prior to student teaching.

Student Teaching 4001 is a credit or no-credit course.Ìý 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.

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, Health and Human Services will send the applying student's name to the major department for Departmental Approval to Student Teach.Ìý 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.)Ìý In addition, students must document passage of Illinois Licensure content-area test in their discipline(s) no later thanÌýthe end of the semester prior toÌýstudent 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.Ìý 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.Ìý Appeal forms may be secured in the Office of the Dean, College of Education, Health and Human Services.

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:
Ìý

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, Health and Human Services.

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.

ALL teacher licensure majors (including Post-Baccalaureate students) MUST take STG 4000. This class is designed to provide experiences with school populations in multicultural settings and students with disabilities.

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, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, and others. Interested individuals should contact the COST Coordinator, COEÌýDean's Office 1420 Buzzard Hall,Ìýfor further information.Ìý Availability of sites is dependent upon Content Area.

Upon completion of program and state licensure requirements, students will be eligible to earn their professional educator license (PEL). Directions for obtaining their PEL will be provided by the Executive Director for Educator Licensure inÌýthe College of Education, Health and Human Services.

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