The School of Education at Elmhurst University offers a variety of specialized programs leading to State of Illinois teacher licensure. All of those programs are accredited by the State of Illinois. Accreditation ensures that the School of Education has met rigorous professional standards and that its graduates have been immersed in programs based upon best practices.

The School of Education at Elmhurst University prepares innovative and responsive professionals to uphold diversity, equity, and social justice through engagement in transformative education.

School of Education Goals

Graduates will be able to:

• Develop and implement innovative approaches to content knowledge development that integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge through culturally responsive pedagogy.

• Demonstrate how instructional planning, delivery, and assessment utilizes multiplicity of literacies present in our changing and interdependent world.

• Transform student learning opportunities using equitable and responsive instructional practices and assessments.

• Create classroom environments that are inclusive and representative of students’ cultural backgrounds within the classroom, school, and community.

• Engage in authentic experiences with, stakeholders (learners, families, colleagues, community) to develop collaborative practices both in and outside of the classroom that cultivate equitable and socially just learning environments

• Engage as critical reflective practitioners who are committed to inclusive schools that ensure a quality anti-racist education for all students.

The teacher preparation programs listed below have been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Successful completion of a specific licensure program is applicable to content area tests, and professional teaching assessments are program requirements. State of Illinois licensure requirements are separate from the University’s requirements for majors. Licensure is dependent on the requirements in place at the time a Professional Educator License (PEL) is issued (not on admission to the University or to a teacher preparation program). ISBE requires institutions to close programs if there are no active teacher candidates in the program within a three-year period. Prospective students are strongly advised to consult the Department of Education regarding the status of all programs listed below.

Teacher Preparation Programs

• Early Childhood (Birth–2nd grade)

• Elementary (1–6)

• English (5–8) (9–12)

• Mathematics (5–8) (5–12)

• Music (PK-12)

• Physical Education (PK-12)

• Science (5–12): minors in biology, chemistry or physics

• Social Science (5–12): concentration in history or political science

• Special Education (LBSI-Learning Behavior Specialist I)

• Theatre (PK-12)

• World Language Education (PK–12): concentration in French or Spanish

At the graduate level, the School of Education offers a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership and a Master of Science in Special Education. Please refer to the Graduate Study section of this catalog. Graduate-level courses for practicing teachers that do not lead to a master’s degree are also offered.

Requirements for Admission to Teacher Licensure Programs

Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a teacher licensure program.

Admission to a specific teacher licensure program requires:

• Sophomore status (32 earned semester hours) upon entering the program coursework; junior year standing for EYC and ELM candidates (48 earned semester hours);

• Attainment of C- or better in a minimum of three semester hours of English composition

• A cumulative grade-point average of 2.750 or above from all institutions of higher education

• A major grade-point average of 3.000 for world language education, history and physical education

• A major grade-point average of 2.750 for biology, early childhood education, elementary education, English, music education, political science, special education and theatre arts

• A major grade-point average of 2.500 for chemistry, mathematics and physics

• A completed application with recommendations, a personal statement and copies of current transcripts

• Evidence of an Illinois State Police criminal background check Students who wish to change teacher education programs after they have been admitted must file a request with the director of teacher education admission. Admission is program specific, and admission to one program does not guarantee admission to another.

Grading Requirements

All courses completed to meet licensure or major requirements must be completed for a grade of C- or higher. All education courses must be completed within 10 years of admission to a program. All courses completed in the School of Education on a Pass/No Pass basis require a C- or higher. Some courses may have higher requirements to earn a pass.

Requirements for Admission to the Clinical Term (Student Teaching)

Candidates apply to student teach in the academic year prior to the year in which they intend to student teach. Candidates cannot be admitted to student teaching until they have passed the appropriate State content area test and completed program-specific requirements.

The appropriate content area test must be passed prior to student teaching. This requirement must be met by August 15 for Fall Term student teachers and by January 15 for Spring Term student teachers. Candidates who have not passed the appropriate content area test(s) may not student teach, but may be eligible to graduate on schedule, receiving a degree in their content area for secondary or K-12 majors without recommendation for licensure.

Field Experiences

All School of Education programs include field requirements. The Director of Field Experiences will assist candidates in obtaining their field experience placements in partner school districts.

Licensure-Only Students

Non-degree or second-degree candidates pursuing teacher licensure must satisfy any requirements specified by the academic department that will sponsor them in their teacher education programs. In addition, they are required to complete a minimum of three full terms (excluding January Term and Summer Term) prior to student teaching

Transfer Student Limitations on Transfer Credit

Transfer students must meet GPA requirements and complete at least half of their education courses at Elmhurst University, excluding program seminar courses and student teaching. Education courses accepted in transfer must have been completed within the last 10 years at the time of admission to a program with a grade of C- or higher. In addition, transfer students must complete three full terms (Fall and Spring) at Elmhurst University prior to student teaching.