Program Overview

Introduction to Teacher Education

The Department of Teacher Education at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) offers various programs for students interested in becoming teachers. These programs are designed to prepare students for Illinois licensure at the elementary, middle, or secondary level.

Bachelor's Degrees

The department offers five Bachelor's degrees:

• Elementary Education
• Middle Grades Education
• Secondary English Education
• Secondary History Education
• Secondary Mathematics Education

Minor

The department also offers a minor in Secondary Teacher Education, which can be combined with a major in an appropriate academic content area, such as biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, political science, or sociology/anthropology.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure

For individuals who have already completed a baccalaureate degree, the department offers post-baccalaureate teacher licensure programs in Elementary, Middle Grades, and Secondary education.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to a Teacher Education program, students must:

• Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.50
• Pass a background check
• Meet with a TEP Program Advisor
• Complete mandatory online trainings
• Sign the TEP Student Disposition Agreement
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their content major
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all TEP course work

Grading Policy

Students in the Teacher Education program must maintain a grade point average of:

• 3.0 in TEP course work
• 2.75 in their content area
• 2.75 for all college work
• General education course work, professional course work, and major course work must be completed with a grade of C or higher

Retention in TEP Programs

Teacher candidates must maintain the grade point average requirements and successfully complete field experiences. Candidates not meeting these criteria may be removed from or counseled out of their program.

Field Experiences and Student Teaching

Methods courses require field experiences, which are completed in schools designated by the Department of Teacher Education. Student teaching occurs during the final semester, and candidates are assigned to a school setting for this semester-long experience.

General Education Requirements

Candidates in teacher education are expected to possess general education knowledge, including knowledge related to the arts, communications, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, sciences, and the social sciences, from multicultural and global perspectives.

Licensure

The Department of Teacher Education recommends candidates to the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board for a Professional Educator License upon completion of several criteria, including general education requirements, departmental requirements, passing scores on the Illinois Licensure Testing System content exam, and a performance assessment.

Subsequent Licenses/Endorsements and Professional Development

Illinois licensed teachers may complete course work toward subsequent licenses and endorsements in a variety of content areas through the Department of Teacher Education. The department also offers courses for professional development for in-service teachers and other school personnel.

Prairie Area Teaching Initiative

The Prairie Area Teaching Initiative (PATI) is a departmental initiative designed to recruit students from Illinois. Graduates must make a serious commitment to teaching, for a minimum of two years, in a district in Illinois.

Online Degree

The Department of Teacher Education offers online sections for all middle grade, secondary, introductory, and core courses. TEP courses use a blended learning format, and 300-400 level TEP online courses require participants to attend two to three mandatory weekend campus conferences each semester.

Courses

The department offers a variety of courses, including:

• TEP 207: Foundations of American Education
• TEP 223: Adolescent Development for Teachers
• TEP 224: Exceptional Child for Teachers
• TEP 227: Educational Psychology for Teachers
• TEP 305: Technology For Teaching
• TEP 315: Managing the Diverse Classroom
• TEP 318: Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment
• TEP 405: Teaching in the Middle School
• TEP 415: Teaching in Secondary Schools
• TEP 419: Content Area Literacy Methods
• TEP 435: English Methods for Middle and Secondary Grades
• TEP 436: Mathematics Methods for Middle and Secondary Grades
• TEP 437: Science Methods for Middle and Secondary Grades
• TEP 438: Social Studies Methods for Middle and Secondary Grades

Student Teaching

Student teaching is a semester-long experience that occurs during the final semester. Candidates are assigned to a school setting and must apply for student teaching within a prescribed timeframe. Candidates must meet the GPA requirements, complete all course work, and pass a physical and TB test to be eligible for student teaching.