Frequently
Asked Questions
How long has the program been offered?
We secured
approval from the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board on
February 7, 2003, and enrolled the first cohort in May 2003.
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What
are the prerequisites for admission to the program?
To be admitted,
candidates must
Have graduated from an accredited college or university with a
bachelor's degree (GPA 2.65 or higher on 4.0 scale) and a major
or minor in the intended area of certification;
Have been employed for a period of at least five years in an area
requiring application of the individual's education; and
Have passed the Illinois Basic Skills test and applicable content area test required by the state for certification in the student's
intended teaching endorsement area(s).
Secure a commitment from a school district to be hired (and paid
as a full-time teacher) for the internship.
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What
areas of certification are available through the program?
Candidates may
become certified in one of the following six areas (foreign languages is a K-12 certificate; all others are at the high
school level):
Math
Science
Foreign Languages
Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Business Education
Technology Education (Industrial Technology)
NOTE: If you are looking for alternative certification in other content areas or at the elementary or middle grades level, you may find a list of all approved Illinois certification programs on the Illinois State Board of Education web site (look for alternative certification under the institutions you are interested in to see what they offer):
http://www.isbe.net/profprep/PDFs/directory.pdf
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Do
I have to pass the Illinois Basic Skills and Content Area Tests
to be admitted into the program?
Yes, you will
need to pass two tests: the Basic Skills Test and the Subject
Matter Test for the area in which you intend to become certified.
Please note that you must provide evidence of passing both tests
by the application deadline. When you register, please
make sure you designate EIU as the place you want scores reported.
You may register online and download study guides containing sample
questions at
http://www.icts.nesinc.com
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Do
the five years of work experience all have to come after I completed
my baccalaureate degree?
No. However,
the experience does need to be in your intended certification
area. The intent is to certify individuals who can bring real-world
experience into the classroom. Candidates will need to be able
to document five years of relevant work experience, but some of
that experience could come before the candidate earned the baccalaureate
degree.
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How
do I get a commitment from a school district to complete the internship?
Candidates
are encouraged to check vacancy bulletins to see what school districts
might be looking for teachers in the appropriate teaching area.
Keep in mind that the school district is hiring a full-time teacher
and paying a salary accordingly. Therefore, a process similar
to that pursued for being hired for a job is likely to follow.
While we do not take a formal role in internship placements, we
do take some steps to help. A mailing is sent to all Illinois
superintendents and high school principals telling them about
the program and letting them know that they may be contacted about
internships. Also, if a district indicates it has a need for a
specific area, but lacks any candidates, we will to take the role
of putting prospective candidates and districts in touch with
each other. Click here for a link to additional sources to help you secure an internship.
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How
much does the program cost, and is financial aid available?
Using tuition and fees in effect for the 2007-2008 academic year, cost of the program is estimated at the following amounts (contact the program coordinator for current tuition and fee rates):
Rates
Tuition: $189.75 per hour
Continuing Education Fee: $37.00 per hour
Textbook Rental Fee: $7.95 per hour
Total: $234.70 per hour
Summer Tuition and Fees: Candidates enroll for 16 or 17 semester hours for a total slightly under $4,000.00.
Fall/Spring Tuition and Fees:
Candidates enroll for 6 semester hours of internship each term for a total of slightly more than $1,400.00.
Summer After the Internship: Candidates enroll for 1 semester hour for a total of about $235.00.
Tuition and fees for the entire program total approximately $7,000.00.
Financial aid in the form of student
loans might be available, depending upon a given candidate's situations.
Inquiries should be directed to the EIU Office of Student Financial
Aid at 217/581-3714.
Candidates who are admitted to the program must also purchase a license to use LiveText software (once admitted to the program, candidates will receive more information about cost and procedures for securing this license).
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What
classes will I take, and when will they meet?
Course
schedule and descriptions in PDF format. 
(Adobe
Acrobat
Reader required.)
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Do
the summer classes have to be taken on campus at EIU?
Yes, the 8-week
summer classes meet on EIU's campus from mid June to mid August.
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Is
campus housing available/required for the 8-week summer session?
We have arranged
university housing, which is an option available to anyone in
the program but is not required (keep in mind that classes run
from early morning till evening Monday through Friday for 8 weeks).
Approximate cost for housing, which consists of a furnished 2-bedroom apartment, is $1,000.00 (double occupancy may be available if you would like to share the costs with another candidate). If you would like to apply for campus housing,
you will find a box to check on the application form.
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How
do I get an application?
Applications
are available on our program web site:
http://www.eiu.edu/~eiuttp
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When
are applications due?
The deadline
for submitting applications for the 2008-2009 program is April
4, 2008. Please note that candidates must provide evidence of
passing both the Illinois Basic Skills Test and applicable content area test required by the state for certification in the intended
teaching endorsement area by the application deadline (the deadline
is set to coincide with the score reporting date from the March
8, 2008, test date). Candidates who have have met all other requirements
have until May 31, 2008, to secure an intership position. Contact
the program coordinator for more details.
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How
do I get more information about the program?
First, check
the program web site:
http://www.eiu.edu/~eiuttp
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If
your question is not answered there, contact the program coordinator:
Jim Kestner
Coordinator of Web-Based and Alternative Certification Programs
2338 Buzzard Hall
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920-3099
V: 217/581-6671; F: 217/581-2518
E-mail: jlkestner@eiu.edu
http://www.eiu.edu/~eiuttp/ |
