Program Overview

BA in Urban Education

The BA in Urban Education program is designed to prepare students for a career in teaching in urban settings. The program focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching in urban environments and provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to succeed in these settings.

Program Codes

20FP5252BA

Degree Requirements

The BA in Urban Education program requires the completion of 120 semester hours, including the Urban Education Core Curriculum, Elementary Education Course Requirements, and elective courses.

Semester Hour Requirements

• Core Curriculum Requirements: 60 hours
• Elementary Education Course Requirements: 60 hours
• Total Hours: 120

Core Curriculum Requirements

The Core Curriculum Requirements include the following courses:

• ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
• ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
• Understanding the Creative Arts course (3 hours)
• GEOG 161: Introduction to Economic Geography (3 hours)
• POLS 101: Introduction to American Government and Politics (3 hours)
• Select one of the following:
  • HIST 103: Early America: From Colonization to Civil War and Reconstruction (3 hours)
  • HIST 104: Modern America: From Industrialization to Globalization (3 hours)
• NATS 105: Physical Systems in Earth and Space Science (4 hours)
• NATS 106: Chemical and Biological Systems (4 hours)
• MATH 140: Arithmetic and Algebraic Structures (4 hours)
• MATH 141: Algebraic and Geometric Structures (4 hours)
• ED 100: Introduction to Urban Education (3 hours)
• ED 151: College Connection I (1 hour)
• ED 152: College Connection II (1 hour)
• ED 307: Nature and Practices of Natural Sciences (3 hours)
• ED 205: Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education (3 hours)
• EPSY 255: Child Development in Contemporary Society (3 hours)
• EPSY 326: Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition (3 hours)
• EPSY 382: Child, Family, and Community (3 hours)
• Electives (8 hours)

Elementary Education Concentration Requirements

The Elementary Education Concentration Requirements include the following courses:

• CI 401: Methods of Reading: Early Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
• CI 402: Reading and Writing in the Content Areas: Intermediate Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
• CI 403: Literacy in the Disciplines: Adolescent Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
• CI 404: Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
• CI 405: Teaching and Learning Science in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
• CI 406: Teaching and Learning Social Sciences in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
• ED 316: Teacher Development I: Curating Teacher Agency in Urban Education Contexts (3 hours)
• ED 317: Teacher Development II: Curating Teacher Identity in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
• ED 350: Foundations of Professional Practice in Comparative Contexts: Fieldwork I (3 hours)
• ED 351: Foundations of Professional Practice in Urban Classrooms: Fieldwork II (3 hours)
• ED 416: Practical Inquiry I: Teacher Competencies and Performance-Based Assessment (3 hours)
• ED 417: Practical Inquiry II: Teacher Competencies and Performance-Based Assessment (3 hours)
• ED 450: Pre-Student Teaching in the Urban Elementary Classroom, Fieldwork III: Arts, Health, and Physical Ed (6 hours)
• ED 451: Student Teaching in the Urban Elementary Classroom: Fieldwork IV (12 hours)
• SPED 416: Methods of Instruction for Exceptional Learners (3 hours)
• CI 470: Language, Culture, and Learning in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)

Student Teaching Requirement

Student teaching is completed in a linked-placement structure across both semesters of the senior year, with official student teaching occurring in the spring semester of students' last year. Minimum requirements for student teaching include senior standing, a 3.00/4.00 GPA in professional coursework, and a grade of C or higher in all coursework required for licensure.

State Teacher Licensure

The curricula for the preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers as listed in this catalog have been approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Higher Learning Commission, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the university.

Council on Teacher Education

The Council on Teacher Education is responsible for supporting licensure students and coordinating teacher education programs throughout the University of Illinois Chicago.

State Examinations

Prior to entitlement to licensure, the candidate must complete state examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Program Pass Rates

In accordance with the public disclosure requirements of Title II of the Higher Education Act, the University of Illinois Chicago reports that teacher education program completers scored as required on these two assessments required by the state for teacher licensure.

Student Teaching

All teacher candidates must submit applications for approval to student teach in and through the Chicago Public Schools. This approval process includes a background check.

Illinois State Board of Education Endorsements

The BA in Urban Education offers pathways to the following endorsements:

• Middle Grades: Middle Grades Endorsement is offered as an additional endorsement for teaching students in Grades 5-8.
• Early Childhood Education (birth - 2nd grade)
• Special Education (birth - 21)
• English as a Second Language/Bilingual Education Endorsement

Other Licensure Policies

Per legislation signed in August 2011, the Illinois State Board of Education no longer requires Teacher Education candidates to prepare and sign form 73-91 (Notice of Intent to Become a United States Citizen) or to verify their legal presence and eligibility for employment in the United States.

Sample Curriculum Plan for the BA in Urban Education

The sample curriculum plan for the BA in Urban Education is a suggested sequencing guide for students seeking to complete the degree in four years. The plan includes the following courses:

• Freshman Year:
  • First Semester:
    • ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
    • ED 100: Introduction to Urban Education (3 hours)
    • MATH 140: Arithmetic and Algebraic Structures (4 hours)
    • NATS 105: Physical Systems in Earth and Space Science (4 hours)
    • ED 151: College Connection I (1 hour)
  • Second Semester:
    • ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
    • EPSY 255: Child Development in Contemporary Society (3 hours)
    • MATH 141: Algebraic and Geometric Structures (4 hours)
    • NATS 106: Chemical and Biological Systems (4 hours)
    • ED 152: College Connection II (1 hour)
• Sophomore Year:
  • First Semester:
    • ED 205: Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education (3 hours)
    • POLS 101: Introduction to American Government and Politics (3 hours)
    • HIST 103 or HIST 104: Early America: From Colonization to Civil War and Reconstruction or Modern America: From Industrialization to Globalization (3 hours)
    • EPSY 326: Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition (3 hours)
    • Elective (4 hours)
  • Second Semester:
    • ED 307: Nature and Practices of Natural Sciences (3 hours)
    • GEOG 161: Introduction to Economic Geography (3 hours)
    • EPSY 382: Child, Family, and Community (3 hours)
    • Understanding the Creative Arts General Education course (3 hours)
    • Elective (4 hours)
• Junior Year:
  • First Semester:
    • CI 401: Methods of Reading: Early Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
    • CI 404: Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
    • CI 470: Language, Culture, and Learning in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
    • ED 316: Teacher Development I: Curating Teacher Agency in Urban Education Contexts (3 hours)
    • ED 350: Foundations of Professional Practice in Comparative Contexts: Fieldwork I (3 hours)
  • Second Semester:
    • CI 402: Reading and Writing in the Content Areas: Intermediate Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
    • CI 405: Teaching and Learning Science in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
    • CI 406: Teaching and Learning Social Sciences in the Urban Classroom (3 hours)
    • ED 317: Teacher Development II: Curating Teacher Identity in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
    • ED 351: Foundations of Professional Practice in Urban Classrooms: Fieldwork II (3 hours)
• Senior Year:
  • First Semester:
    • CI 403: Literacy in the Disciplines: Adolescent Literacy in Urban Classrooms (3 hours)
    • ED 416: Practical Inquiry I: Teacher Competencies and Performance-Based Assessment (3 hours)
    • ED 450: Pre-Student Teaching in the Urban Elementary Classroom, Fieldwork III: Arts, Health, and Physical Ed (6 hours)
    • SPED 416: Methods of Instruction for Exceptional Learners (3 hours)
  • Second Semester:
    • ED 417: Practical Inquiry II: Teacher Competencies and Performance-Based Assessment (3 hours)
    • ED 451: Student Teaching in the Urban Elementary Classroom: Fieldwork IV (12 hours)