EIU Educator Preparation

Accelerated Post-Baccalaureate
Teacher Licensure Program

The EIU Accelerated Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program is recruiting applicants for the 2022-23 cohort, which will begin classes May 31, 2022.  All coursework for the 2022-23 cohort will be conducted online; a monthly in-person seminar at EIU in Charleston will be required (please see below for details).

Candidates who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree program in a designated content area are eligible for admission to the program. Candidates must have at least 32 semester hours of coursework in the specific subject matter. Content areas that are offered in the program are:

• Mathematics (grades 9-12)
• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) (grades 9-12)
• English (grades 9-12)
• History-Social Science (grades 9-12)
• Career and Technical Education (Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, or Technology Education) (grades 5-12)
• Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish) (grades PK-12)

Note: This program is not available for: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, Special Education, Physical Education, Art Education, or Music Education.

Also Note:  Candidates must have a degree in one of the areas offered in the program (mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, English, History, business, family and consumer science, technology, French, German, Spanish). Unfortunately, degrees in such areas as General Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, or content areas not listed above (sociology, political science, geography, economics, psychology, etc.) cannot be used for admission.  Additionally, candidates must have had a 2.65 GPA or higher as an undergraduate.  Candidates who do not meet the GPA requirement must take at least 12 hours of post-baccalaureate coursework related to the desired content area with a GPA of 3.00 before applying for this program.

Candidates will take four online courses in Summer 2022 (May 31 - July 21).  During the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters, candidates will complete a full-year, full-time residency in a secondary school and complete one online class each semester.  During the Spring 2023 semester, candidates will complete the edTPA Portfolio Assessment required for licensure by the State of Illinois.

Note that this program requires monthly seminar online one Friday per month for the duration of the program; seminar dates for 2022-23 will be: September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, and May 5. Candidates must arrange to be absent from their residency assignments for these required seminars. Please note that the April 7 seminar will be on-campus at EIU if the edTPA performance assessment is required by the state for the Spring 2023 semester.

Course Sequence (31 semester hours)

• May-July 2022 (13 semester hours): EDP 2330; EDF 2555G; SED 3330; SPE 4500
• Fall 2021 (9 semester hours): First semester of residency; departmental methods course (CTE 3400, CTE 3403, ENG 4801, SOS 3400, MAT 3400, WLE 3400, or BIO 3400)
• Spring 2022 (9 semester hours): Second semester of residency; SED 4330
  

Letter of Interest, Current Resume, and Unofficial Transcripts (due March 18, 2022)
To be considered for admission, prospective candidates must submit:

• A letter of interest, which should summarize your background, your motivation(s) for entering this program, and what you hope to accomplish as an educator;
• Current resume, which should include all academic and employment history, as well as any significant volunteer and community activities.
• Unofficial transcripts, which must include all postsecondary (undergraduate and graduate) academic history.

These items should be sent to Dr. Stephen Lucas (see contact information below).

Admission Requirements (must be documented by May 13, 2022)

• Acceptance by the EIU Graduate School as a post-baccalaureate teacher licensure student; official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate study must be submitted to the EIU Graduate School;
• Bachelor’s degree in the designated content area with a minimum 2.65 GPA as documented in official transcripts;
• Criminal History Check through EIU-designated vendor (www.eiu.edu/edprep/resources/BackgroundCheck.php).
  
• Submission of completed and signed 2022-23 Acceptance Letter.

First Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by July 31, 2022)

• Completion of Summer 2021 coursework with a minimum 3.00 GPA and all courses with a grade of "C" or higher;
• State-required physical examination and tuberculosis check;
• Completion of Mandated Reporter training (https://mr.dcfstraining.org/);
  
• Completion of school district background check.

Second Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by December 16, 2022)

• Complete first semester residency and specific content area teaching methods course;
• Pass content area test (see https://www.il.nesinc.com/);
• Foreign language candidates must pass the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).

Program Completion

• Complete second semester residency and secondary education literacy course;
• Pass edTPA.

Program Cost and Financial Aid

• For the 2020-21 acclerated program cohort, total cost (tuition, fees, testing, etc.) was approximately $15,000.
• Current EIU cost and attendance information may be found here
• Post-baccalaureate students seeking a first teaching license are eligible for some forms of financial aid; information is available through the EIU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• The Golden Apple Foundation provides funds for recent college graduates and career changers committed to teaching in downstate, rural schools and districts through its Accelerators program
• Other possible sources of funding for teacher candidates may be found here; note that not all sources are available for non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate candidates

Contact Information
Dr. Christy Hooser, Associate Dean (cmhooser@eiu.edu)
College of Education
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 581-2524 / www.eiu.edu/coe
This information was updated June 30, 2021.