Science with Teacher Certification
(BS)
Standard High School Certificate
The Science with Teacher Certification major prepares students for teaching careers in the sciences (biological sciences, chemistry, earth sciences and physics) at the secondary level (grades 9-12). For students also wanting to be eligible to teach middle school sciences, additional Middle Level Education courses are required.
This major requires that students follow and meet the requirements for Admission, Retention and Graduation from Teacher Certification programs as described in the “Teacher Certification Programs” section of this catalog and as explained at the University Admission to Teacher Education Meeting which all students must attend. Students must gain University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses no later that the end of their first semester Junior year in order to use this suggested plan. Additional information on Admission, Retention and Graduation for Teacher Certification programs can be found on the College of Education & Professional Studies website at http://www.eiu.edu/ceps/teached.
All students must pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills for selection into teacher education and should complete this requirement no later than their sophomore year.
Students must receive a “C” or better in all professional education courses and maintain a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.65 to continue in the program. Courses requiring a “C” or better are identified in the suggested plan by a “+.”
Students have two options for completing the professional education coursework – Regular Secondary Education Program and Integrated Secondary Education Program (ISEP). The required courses under these two options are identified below with the designations of R and A respectively. The Integrated Secondary Education Program is strongly recommended for the Science with Teacher Certification major. For more information regarding these two options please consult with your advisor. Information is also available in the Teacher Certification Program section of this catalog.
Biological Sciences Specialization
The BS in Science with Teacher Certification (Biological Sciences Specialization) degree program prepares students for a career as a secondary science teacher with emphasis in the biological sciences.
The BS in Science Teacher Certification with Biological Sciences Specialization Major Comprises
1. 76 Semester Hours of Major Courses
or
2. 25-31 Semester Hours in the Professional Education Core
For the regular program
or the Following for the ISEP
3. An Additional 30 Semester Hours in General Education Courses
Suggested Four and a Half-Year Plan of Study
A possible four 1/2-year plan of study for the Science Teacher Certification with Biological Sciences specialization major follows. Other plans are possible: the student should consult with his/her advisor to develop the study plan best suited to his/her needs and interests.
First Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- General Education Humanities. Credits: 3
- Foreign Language. (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See Footnote +)
First Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- Foreign Language. (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See Footnote +)
(See Footnote +)
Second Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15
Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester at EIU). Selection requires that students pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills.
(See Footnote +)
Second Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 15
- General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, A, R)
(See footnotes +, A, R)
Third Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 13-16
*Check prerequisites; additional math classes may be required.
University Approval to Take Teacher Educatin Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Certification Program section of this catalog for more information.
- General Education Humanities or Fine Arts/Cultural Diversity. Credits: 3
(See footnote *)
(See footnote *)
(See footnotes +, A)
Third Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14-20
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnote *)
(See footnote *)
(See footnotes +, A, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
Fourth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-17
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, R)
Fourth Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14
Departmental Approval to Student Teach must be granted prior to Student Teaching. Students must also pass the Illinois Certification Subject Area test for their major prior to student teaching.
- Senior Seminar. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, 1)
Fifth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15
(Major GPA based on Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, and Earth Sciences courses taken at Eastern Illinois University.)
Students must complete all the professional coursework under either the Regular Secondary Education Program or the Alternative Secondary Education Program. The Integrated Secondary Education Program is strongly recommended for the Science with Teacher Certification major.
(See footnote A)
(See footnote R)
Chemistry Specialization
The BS in Science with Teacher certification (Chemistry Specialization) degree program prepares students for a career as high school science teachers. In addition, it prepares students to teach high school chemistry at all levels from introductory through Advanced Placement (AP).
The BS in Science Teacher Certification with Chemistry Specialization Major Comprises
1. 75-77 Semester Hours of Major Courses
or CHM 3915
or CHM 3780
2. 25-31 Semester Hours in the Professional Education Core
For the regular program
or the Following for the ISEP
3. An Additional 30 Semester Hours in General Education
Suggested Four and a Half-Year Plan of Study
A possible four 1/2-year plan of study for the Science with Teacher Certification with Chemistry Specialization major follows. Other plans are possible: the student should consult with his/her advisor to develop the study plan best suited to his/her needs and interests.
First Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 16
(See footnote +)
(See footnote +)
First Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 16
(See footnote +)
Second Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester at EIU). Selection requires that students pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills.
- Foreign Language, (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See footnotes +, A, R)
(See footnote +)
Second Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- Foreign Language (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See footnotes +, A, R)
Third Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 16-19
University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Certification Program section of this catalog for more information.
(See footnotes +, A)
Third Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 12-16
- General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
or - Humanities-Cultural Diversity Elective. Credits: 0-2
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, A, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
Fourth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 13-16
Departmental Approval to Student Teach must be granted prior to Student Teaching. Students must also pass the Illinois Certification Subject Area test for their major prior to student teaching.
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
or General Education Humanities. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, R)
(See footnotes +, 1)
Fourth Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 15-16
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
- General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
- Senior Seminar. Credits: 3
or General Education Humanities. Credits: 3
Fifth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15
(Major GPA based on Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, and Earth Sciences courses taken at Eastern Illinois University.)
Students must complete all the professional coursework under either the Regular Secondary Education Program or the Alternative Secondary Education Program. The Integrated Secondary Education Program is strongly recommended for the Science with Teacher Certification major.
(See footnote A)
(See footnote R)
Earth Sciences Specialization
The BS in Science with Teacher Certification (Earth Sciences Specialization) degree program prepares students for a career as a secondary science teacher with emphasis in the earth sciences.
The BS in Science Teacher Certification with Earth Sciences Specialization Major Comprises
1. 74 Semester Hours of Major Courses
or GEL 3510.
or ESC 3410.
2. 25-31 Semester Hours in the Professional Education Core
For the regular program
or the Following for the ISEP
3. An Additional 33 Semester Hours in General Education Courses
Suggested Four and a Half-Year Plan of Study
A possible four 1/2-year plan of study for the Science Teacher Certification with Earth Sciences specialization major follows. Other plans are possible: the student should consult with his/her advisor to develop the study plan best suited to his/her needs and interests.
First Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- General Education Humanities. Credits: 3
- Foreign language. (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See footnote +)
First Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- Foreign language (if needed) Credits: 0-4
- General Education Humanities or General Education Fine Arts-Cultural Diversity. Credits: 3
(See footnote +)
Second Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 17
Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester at EIU). Selection requires that students pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills.
- General Education Math. Credits: 3 (+ see footnotes)
(See footnote +)
Second Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 16
(See footnote +, A, R)
(+, A, R see footnotes)
Third Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-17
*Check prerequisites; additional math classes may be required.
University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Certification Program section of this catalog for more information.
- General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
(See footnote *)
(See footnote *)
(See footnotes +, A)
Third Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 13-19
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnote *)
(See footnote *)
(See footnotes +, A, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
Fourth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 13-16
Departmental Approval to Student Teach must be granted prior to Student Teaching. Students must also pass the Illinois Certification Subject Area test for their major prior to student teaching.
(See footnotes +, R)
(See footnotes +, 1)
Fourth Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 13
- Senior Seminar. Credits: 3
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
or
Fifth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15
(Major GPA based on Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, andEarth Sciences courses taken at Eastern Illinois University.)
Students must complete all the professional coursework under either the Regular Secondary Education Program or the Alternative Secondary Education Program. The Integrated Secondary Education Program is strongly recommended for the Science with Teacher Certification major.
Physics Specialization
Students in the Science Teacher Certification program with Physics Specialization are preparing for a career in high school science teaching. The physics specialization provides a broad based empirical introduction to the quantitative study of the foundations and applications of physics including the areas of mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics and modern physics for the student who will teach AP, honors, or upper division high school physics.
The Science Teacher Certification with a Physics Specialization Major Comprises
1. 73-74 Semester Hours in Major Courses
2. 25-31 Semester Hours in the Professional Education Core
or the Following for the ISEP
3. An Additional 30 Semester Hours in General Education Courses
Suggested Four and a Half-Year Plan of Study
A possible four 1/2-year plan of study for the Science Teacher Certification with Physics Specialization major follows. Other plans are possible: the student should consult with his/her advisor to develop the study plan best suited to his/her needs and interests.
First Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 16
(See footnote +)
(See footnote +)
First Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 16
(See footnote +)
Second Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester at EIU). Selection requires that students pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills.
- Foreign Language. (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See footnote +)
Second Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 14-18
- Foreign Language. (if needed) Credits: 0-4
(See footnotes +, A, R)
(See footnotes +, A, R)
Third Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15-18
University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Certification Program section of this catalog for more information.
- General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
(See footnote +)
Third Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 12-16
- Elective. Credits: 0-2
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, A, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
(See footnotes +, R, 1)
Fourth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 13-16
Departmental Approval to Student Teach must be granted prior to Student Teaching. Students must also pass the Illinois Certification Subject Area test for their major prior to student teaching.
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
- General Education Humanities-Cultural Diversity. Credits: 3
(See footnotes +, R)
(See footnotes +, 1)
(odd years only)
Fourth Year, Second Semester - Total Hours: 13
- Senior Seminar. Credits: 3
- General Education Humanities. Credits: 3
or - General Education Fine Arts. Credits: 3
- General Education Social/Behavioral Science. Credits: 3
Fifth Year, First Semester - Total Hours: 15
(Major GPA based on Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, and Earth Sciences courses taken at Eastern Illinois University.)
Students must complete all the professional coursework under either the Regular Secondary Education Program or the Alternative Secondary Education Program. The Integrated Secondary Education Program is strongly recommended for the Science with Teacher Certification major.
(See footnote R)
Footnotes
+ Requires a “C” or better
R Required for Regular Secondary Education Program
A Required for Alternative Secondary Education Program
1 Requires University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses
* Check prerequisites; additional math classes may be required.
Information sourced from the 2004-2005 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.