In order to become certified to teach, you must complete all necessary requirements in the areas of coursework, clinical experience, student teaching, and tests and assessments. The information below outlines some of the general guidelines for all education students, but each program contains specific requirements as well. Please contact the Lauby Teacher Education Center or your advisor for complete information.
The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center is your one-stop shop to assist you complete your program requirements. In the center are the Field Experience coordinators for all of the teacher education programs at Illinois State University, and student advisors for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, and Special Education. In addition, the Lauby Teacher Education Center is the location where you can acquire information and assistance as you work on meeting university-wide teacher education requirements.
Prior to registering for classes each semester, you should contact your advisor to review and/or revise your individual plan of study. Learn about the education courses required for each of these subject areas:
Clinical experiences give you the opportunity to observe the classroom setting and understand how teachers interact with their students. Clinical experiences are provided in off-campus clinical teaching sites such as local schools, professional development schools, campus laboratory schools, agencies, and other non-school settings.
In order to receive an initial teaching certificate in Illinois, you must complete a student teaching component. Illinois State University offers two different methods to complete this requirement.
Traditional Student Teaching
In traditional student teaching models, you are responsible for guiding, directing, and evaluating the learning activities of a group of pupils under the guidance and supervision of professionally certified and competent members of the teaching profession for 16 weeks. Depending on your major, placements may be available in Illinois or in other states and countries.
Professional Development Schools and Partnerships
Professional Development Schools (PDS) and Partnerships provide opportunities for you to fully immerse in a school environment for an entire year. During the year-long experience, you will complete a semester-long internship followed by a semester-long student teaching experience. PDS opportunities are currently available for for early childhood, elementary, middle level, secondary, and bilingual education majors. Through collaborative partnerships between Illinois State teacher education programs and a number of schools or school districts throughout Illinois, the goal of the program is to provide professional growth of all participants through the simultaneous improvement of both schools and teacher education. The Department of Special Education provides hands-on learning experiences for students in partner schools, both in and out of the state of Illinois.
In order to become certified teacher in Illinois, you must complete all of the requirements for a bachelor's degree as stated by your program area, including the university-wide teacher education performance based requirements. The Performance-Based Assessment System ensures that you will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to have a successful teaching career. This assessment system establishes critical points at which you will be assessed: admission to professional studies, admission to clinical practice (student teaching), and exit from clinical practice.
Throughout this assessment system, you will be expected to successfully meet specific technology standards identified in the Instructional Technology Passport System. There are ten major competencies that you are required to demonstrate: ethics, telecommunications, authoring tools, online searching, Web page development, idea development, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, assistive technology, and database management.
You will use LiveText Portfolio to maintain an online archive of your projects. The portfolio provides evidence that you have met the University-wide teacher education standards, specific program standards, and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. In addition, you can take the e-portfolio with you to enhance your employment interviews as well as to use in the classroom. Workshops are available throughout the year to help you learn how to use the software.
When you have completed a bachelor's degree program in an approved teacher education program and are recommended for certification by the dean of the College of Education as having completed all requisites (General Education, Professional Education, and field of study or area of specialization), you will be recommended for a teaching certificate in the State of Illinois. The Evaluations Office at Illinois State University will send you documentation necessary to apply for the appropriate Illinois teaching certificate.
Scholarships are available you as a teacher education major through the College of Education. Applications are accepted in the spring of each semester.
Make the most out of your college career, be involved in campus life, and learn more about becoming a teacher. Get involved in a student organization today!
Even once you are in your classroom, Illinois State University is there for you! We will support you and help you grow professionally. Get classroom resources, professional development information, and personal development assistance.
Career Center services especially for Teacher Education majors
The Illinois State University Career Center will assist you as you begin your job search, helping you prepare your resume and for interviews as well as connecting you to employers through job fairs. Get started in your job search today!