Admission Requirements - Special
Admission to Biology Teacher Education
In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:
- have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program;
- submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
- submit evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency of the Illinois Certification Testing System;
- submit scores from the ETS Proficiency Profile; and
- complete EDUC2310 (Foundations of Education, or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better.
All candidates for Illinois teacher certification at Governors State University are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information on this testing and available test sites, please visit accuratebiometrics.com. Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.
Student Progress
The faculty monitors and evaluates student progress continually. The section, Teacher Education and Certification, in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the secondary education faculty is available in the Secondary Education Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Conditional Continuation
The faculty may permit a student to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the student’s records identify evidence that the student will likely be successful in the program. The status of all students allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each semester, and the students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the student is informed in writing of the transfer to good standing status. A student may not be admitted to student teaching without being in good standing status.
Admission to Student Teaching
Students must apply for admission to student teaching before enrolling in EDUC4999: Student Teaching. An application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the Director of Field Experiences in the Division of Education. The application must be submitted by November 30 for the fall semester and January 31 for the spring semester proceeding the academic year in which the student intends to teach. Student teaching is not offered in the summer session. This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:
- completed at least 48 hours of general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in courses taken at Governors State University;
- completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including a minimum of 100 clock-hours of field experience with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “C” or better in each course, and EDUC433 and EDUC434 with a grade of “B” or better;
- must have completed methods course no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
- have no more than six hours remaining to be completed in the major in which the student is enrolled with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and completed all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
- met all state requirements applicable to the subject matter area(s) in which the student will teach as outlined in Section IX, Staff Qualifications of the Illinois State Board of Education publication, Minimum Requirements for State Certificates;
- submit evidence of having passed the Biology content area exam of the Illinois Certification Testing System; and
- received a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.
