The State of Illinois standard secondary school teaching certificate qualifies students to teach grades six through twelve.
Separate Courses: Students gain firm grounding in teaching by taking separate courses in educational foundations, educational psychology, secondary methods and special education.
Block Schedule: Instructional Tasks for the Secondary School Teacher (SED 3330) and Literacy, Assessment and Differentiation in Secondary Schools (SED 4330) are blocked together into the same semester to provide an intensive experience in the foundations of teaching, learning and professional development. These courses meet daily, Monday through Friday, for two hours.
Practicum: An intensive practicum over a six-week period during the semester in which students take SED 3330/SED 4330 provides a variety of teaching experiences in preparation for student teaching. The practicum is blocked into the student's schedule, as the students are assigned to a school within a 50-mile radius. Carpooling is arranged.
Registration: Students must meet certain requirements before being admitted into SED 3330/SED 4330 -- Practicum, and other upper-level education courses. After those requirements have been completed, students will need to waitlist for the course in the Paws system. The department will register students for SED 3330/SED 4330 -- Practicum who have met the necessary requirements and waitlisted in Paws. If you have further questions about this process, please reach out to your academic advisor.
To meet State of Illinois requirements for certification, you must take certain courses. You may count these courses toward a bachelor's degree or take them after earning the degree. You will need specific courses in general education and in the subject you plan to teach.
These courses may exceed those required for a bachelor's degree. Complete details appear in the:
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