Admission to the IWU Teacher Education Program

Elementary, Secondary, and Music Education Candidates

Phases and Requirements

I. Indication of Intent to Pursue Certification

Notify the Educational Studies Operations and Certification Coordinator, Kelly Lawton at klawton@iwu.edu, of your interest in the teacher education program.  We will then add you to our mailing list so that you will be provided with adequate advising.

II. Enrollment in Educational Studies Courses

Any IWU student may enroll in Education and Social Justice (Educ 225), Studying Children and Adolescents (Educ 255) (Note Educ 225 is a prerequisite to Educ 255), or Foundations and Principles of Teaching Music (Music 132).  The courses have a field placement component.

All students are required to submit to an Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprint criminal background screening concurrent with enrollment in your first education course (Education 225, Music Techniques, or Music 132). Students are responsible for the $50.00 fee. See www.iwu.edu/edstudies for more information.

III. Declaration of Major

  • First and second year students may submit a declaration of major form to the Registrar’s office once you decide to apply to the Teacher Education Program (TEP), regardless of program acceptance status.
  • Elementary education candidates declare a major in Educational Studies.
  • Secondary education candidates declare a major in your subject area, AND a concentration in secondary education.
  • Foreign Language candidates declare a major in your subject area, AND a concentration in K-12.
  • Music Education candidates declare a major in Music Education.

IV. Application and Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP)

Acceptance to the TEP is a prerequisite for enrollment in 300/400 level professional education curriculum coursework. Candidates submit the program application materials in March of the sophomore year, or after completing Educ 225 and 255 (Elementary, Secondary, & Foreign Language) or Music 132 and technique courses (Music Education). 

A. TEP Application Materials

Instructions and application materials are available at www.iwu.edu/edstudies, Forms and Applications link.  The following materials should be submitted.

  • TEP Application Essay
  • TEP Application Form, including signature indicating you have read and understood this Teacher Education Handbook
  • Student Teaching Agreement Form
  • Pre/Student Teaching Resume
  • Pre/Student Teaching Placement Survey

B. TEP Admission Requirements:

  • Satisfactory TEP application essay
  • Passing score on all sections of the ISBE Basic Skills Test. For registration see http://www.icts.nesinc.com/ (see pp. 8-9)
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.*
  • Minimum professional education grade point average of 2.75* (includes Ed 225, Ed 255, Mus 132, and technique courses).
  • Minimum major grade point average of 2.75* (secondary, foreign language, and music education students).
  • Completion of four courses in selected major (secondary and foreign language).
  • Satisfactory field performance in 100/ 200 level professional education courses.
  • All candidates for acceptance to the TEP must
  •  Demonstrate professional dispositions and sound physical, psychological and emotional health, AND
  •  Complete an FBI and State of Illinois Fingerprint background check indicating you are free of specified felony convictions. (Illinois law does not allow a school board to employ anyone who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit certain felonies, which include drug and sex related matters.)
  • Students on academic probation will not be admitted.

* Grades of C- or lower in your major, professional education, or endorsement coursework will need to be repeated or an equivalent will need to be taken (p. 8). In addition, this grade point average is likely to be increased to 2.8 for the graduating class of 2014.

Teacher Education Committee (TEC) approval is required only for borderline or other questionable applications. In those cases, your application will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the TEC, who will make a recommendation to the committee as a whole.

V. Student Teaching

Elementary, Secondary, and Foreign Language Students

  • Student teaching takes place during the fall term of the senior year. Fall semester student teaching provides the equivalent of a year-long field placement, since one’s placement and cooperating teacher typically continues from the previous spring semester of your junior year.  Fall semester student teaching also allows candidates to participate in the opening of a new school year.

Music Education Students

  • Student teaching takes place during the fall or spring term for music education students. Faculty resources and course sequence requirements are important factors that affect scheduling of the student teaching.

A. Requirements

Successful completion of required coursework prior to student teaching does not in itself permit one to student teach. Students planning to student teach must meet the requirements specified below:

  • A minimum of 100 hours of documented, supervised and satisfactory field experience.
  • Successful completion of upper level curriculum and instruction courses.
  • Demonstrated dispositions of reflection, resourcefulness, and responsiveness.
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
  • Minimum professional education grade point average of 3.0 (
  •     Elementary/Secondary/Foreign Language: Includes 225, 255, and 303, 305, 315, 325, 335, or 360, 361, 362, or 363.
  •     Music Education: Includes 132, 221, 222a, 222b, 223, 224, 225, 332, 333, 333a, 333b, and 334
  • Minimum major grade point average of 3.0 (secondary, foreign language, and music education).
  • Grade of  C or higher in professional education and content area coursework required for certification.
  • Verification of negative TB test by April 20, junior year.
  • Major advisor/department recommendation.
  • No incomplete grades (except 9th semester graduates who have an incomplete in Educ 498).
  • Passing score on the ISBE Content Area Test no later than April 30 prior to student teaching.
  • Evidence of passing the online training course for mandated reporters (https://www.dcfstraining.org/manrep/index.jsp).

Candidates for student teaching will be notified in May of their status regarding student teaching the following fall.  Teacher Education Committee (TEC) approval is required only for questionable cases and student petitions. See “Ongoing Status Review ” (p. 13).

VI. Recommendation for Certification (May or December following senior year)

  • Completion of student teaching with no less than a B.
  • Successful completion of Issues in Educational Inquiry (Educ 498).
  • Minimum Senior Portfolio grade of C.
  • Cooperating teacher recommendation.
  • IWU Supervisor recommendation.
  • IWU seminar professor recommendation.
  • Final professional education, major, and cumulative grade point average of 3.0
  • Completion of ISBE certification and IWU graduation requirements.

Ongoing Student Status Review

A candidate may be dropped from the Teacher Education Program without qualification, upon:

  • • Grade point average(s) dropping below the specified levels during any phase of the program.
  • • Failure to demonstrate expected professional behavior and dispositions in the field.
  • • Changed status criminal background check, that is, a felony conviction.
  • • Other circumstances occur which would make one uncertifiable.

The Educational Studies Department or the Teacher Education Committee also may decide, upon review of your case, to grant the candidate conditional or probationary status, and develop a specific remedial plan.