Prospective Teacher Education candidates must:

• Be enrolled at IWU and considered in good standing, that is, maintaining a gpa of 2.0 or higher. Students on academic probation will not be admitted.
• Attend at least one Teacher Education information meeting, held at the start of registration advising week each semester. Requirements, policies and procedures are reviewed at this meeting, and students have the opportunity to have their questions answered.
• Complete an application to the Teacher Education Program, available from the Educational Studies Department, Room 146, Center for the Liberal Arts.
• Submit declaration of major form to the Registrar’s office, once the decision to apply has been made. Elementary education candidates declare a major in Educational Studies. Secondary education candidates declare a major in an approved subject area of their choice. Music education candidates declare a major in music education.
• Demonstrate professional dispositions and sound physical, psychological and emotional health.
• Be 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.)

Phases and Requirements

I.  Acceptance to the University

Any student in “good standing” at IWU may enroll in Studying Children and Adolescents Development (Educ 255), or Foundations of Education (Educ 225), or Foundations and Principles of Teaching Music 132 (Music Education Candidates).

II.  Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP)

• Students should submit their applications the first week in April of the sophomore year, or after completing Educ 225 and 255 (elementary and secondary candidates), or Music 132 and techniques courses (Music Education candidates).
• Acceptance to the TEP is a prerequisite for enrollment in upper level Educational Studies curriculum courses (303, 315, 325, 335, 360 & 362).
• Acceptance into the TEP means that students have demonstrated academic competence, and the professional dispositions required by ISBE.
• Teacher Education Committee approval is required only for borderline or other questionable applications. In this case, the application will be reviewed by a subcommittee of TEC, who will make a recommendation to the committee as a whole.

     Requirements:

• attendance at department information meeting by the end of the sophomore year
• completed application, including signature indicating student has read and understood the Teacher Education Handbook
• passing score on ISBE Basic Skills Test
• minimum cumulative gpa of 2.75

   Elementary and secondary candidates must:

• complete Studying Children and Adolescents (Educ 255) and Foundations of Education (Educ 225)
• major gpa of 2.75
• Educational Studies gpa of 2.75 (no D’s)

    Secondary certification candidates must have completed two courses in the major.

   Music Education candidates must:

• complete Music 132
• pass all portions of the Upper Division Interview (Note: passing the UDI is necessary but not sufficient for acceptance)
• Obtain a professional education gpa and music major gpa of 2.75 (no D’s)

III. Declaration of Intent to Student Teach (September, junior year)

• permits enrollment in upper level elementary and secondary, or Music 332 and 333 courses

    Requirements:

• complete Intent to Student Teach (available 146 CLA)
• satisfactory field evaluations from 200 level coursework in all programs
• satisfactory review of progress toward criteria for acceptance to student teaching