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Welcome to the English with a Teacher Education Sequence Program

 

In addition to offering students a strong academic background in English studies, the undergraduate major in English with a teacher education concentration offers students the knowledge and skills found in the liberally educated person who is interested in a career in teaching English at the secondary level.

Teacher Certification

 

This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Initial Secondary Certificate in English. To be recommended for certification by Governors State University, students must complete at least 42 hours in general education and 84 hours in required courses. General education courses may include both lower and upper-division courses, resulting in a completed program of 126 credit-hours. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC499: Student Teaching: English.

To be recommended for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching certificate, the student must present evidence of having passed the Basic Skills, Subject-Matter Knowledge, and Assessment of Professional Teaching examinations of the Illinois Certification Testing System.

Students must meet other requirements for certification through approved programs listed in the Teacher Education and Certification section in this catalog.

Students who major in English with a concentration in Secondary Education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students choosing to pursue the middle school endorsement must take three (3) hours in Early Adolescent Educational Psychology and three (3) hours in Curriculum Methods for Middle School. Students should contact the Office of Secondary Education for specific course numbers.

Admission to English Teacher Education

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:

  1. have a cumulative average G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program;
  2. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
  3. submit evidence of having passed the Basic Skills Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System;
  4. submit scores from the ETS Proficiency Profile; and
  5. complete EDUC310 (Foundations of Education, or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better.

Some schools and/or school districts require criminal background checks in advance of any field experience undertaken by teacher preparation candidates in school settings. Candidates may be required to comply with these requirements. 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 trimester, 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.

Student Handbook

The Student Handbook Undergraduate Degrees in Secondary Education referred to in this catalog is available online.

Admission to Student Teaching

Before enrolling in EDUC499: Student Teaching, an application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the director of Field Experiences in the College of Education. The application must be submitted by November 30 for the fall semester and January 31 for the spring semester preceding the academic year in which the student intends to teach (student teaching is not offered in the spring/summer trimester). This ap¬plication for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:

  1. completed general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in courses taken at Governors State University;
  2. completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including 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 EDUC465, ENGL533, ENGL573, and ENGL574 with a grade of “B” or better;
  3. must have completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
  4. must have no more than six hours (at the discretion of the advisor) remaining to be completed in the major, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, and completing all courses with a grade of “C” or better; 5. met all state requirements applicable to areas of student teaching assignments as outlined in the “Illinois Program for Evaluation, Supervision, and Recognition of Schools, Part I, Subject G: Staff Qualifications”;
  5. submit evidence of having passed the English Content Area Examination of the Illinois Certification Testing System; and
  6. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

 

Program Fact Sheet

To view the program fact sheet, please go to BA in English with Teacher Education Sequence Fact Sheet