Checkpoints
Checkpoints are set up to monitor a students progress through the teacher education program.
Checkpoint 1
Checkpoint 2
Checkpoint 3
Checkpoint 4
Checkpoint 5
Checkpoint 1: Admission to all Teacher Education Programs
Teacher education students must submit an application for admission to the Professional Instructional courses during their sophomore year. Junior and senior transfer students and post-baccalaureate students seeking Illinois certification should apply during their first semester of attendance. All applicants for teacher education must be approved by the Teacher Education Admission Committee. See the Teacher Education Program Handbook for specific details regarding admission criteria and deadline dates.A. General Requirements
Students are eligible to apply to the teacher education program once the following requirements or approved equivalents have been met:
- Grade-point average: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 must be earned for all University work taken. No courses included in the calculation of the grade point average for entrance into the Profession Instructional Courses or the Professional Semester can be taken under a Pass/DF grade option. These courses include all those designated as the Professional Education Component in early childhood, elementary, secondary, DCE, and BME programs, plus the major in the early childhood program and the prerequisite courses of ENG-1100 English Composition; CTH-2100 Speech Communication; and MAT-1411 Mathematical Concepts I; or their equivalents.
- Course requirements: The student will have successfully completed the required courses in oral and written communication and in mathematics (not including math education) with a grade of C or better in each course (ENG-1000 Basic Writing, when required; ENG-1100 English Composition; CTH-2100 Speech Communication; and MAT-1411 Mathematical Concepts I; or above course). The student will have successfully completed the introductory course in education (EDU-2000) and in educational psychology (PSY-2400) with a grade of C or better.
- Written Statement: All applicants are to submit a written statement of their vocational goals and what they expect to contribute to the profession as part of their application.
- The student must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills. This test is administered by the State of Illinois, and is only given six times a year. Registration is required two months in advance.
- The student must have completed 20 hours of the required 100 pre-professional hours.
- The student’s program plan must be completely filled out and reviewed by the advisor.
- A character verification form must be completed and turned in with the application.
- Applications must be received by the established deadlines printed in the Teacher Education Handbook. The list of students who have applied by these deadlines will be issued to all full-time faculty with a request for comments to be directed to the College of Education by a specified date. The Teacher Education Admission Committee will review all applications and notify students of their status in writing.
- Students who miss deadlines, wish to appeal decisions or have other considerations should present their case in writing to the Dean of the College of Education. Such appeals will follow the appeal process as outlined in the Concordia University Student Handbook.
Early Childhood Teacher Education
A state approved program offering certification by entitlement.
- Complete general requirements for admission to the Professional Instructional courses as listed above.
- Submit the application form to the College of Education.
- Have attained a cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Obtain a recommendation from the Teacher Education Department.
- Maintain a minimum of 2.75 in the early childhood major.
A state-approved program offering certification by entitlement.
- Complete general requirements for admission to the Professional Instructional courses as listed above.
- Submit the application form to the College of Education.
- Obtain a recommendation from the Teacher Education Department.
- Have attained a minimum of 2.50 GPA in the proposed concentration at the time of application.
A state-approved program offering certification by entitlement for the majors available for Secondary Eduation Students.
- Complete general requirements for admission to the Professional Instructional courses as listed above.
- Submit the application form to the College of Education.
- Obtain a recommendation from the department of the proposed major.
In the undergraduate Director of Christian Education Program the student has several possible options. The program can be tied into teacher certification at the elementary or secondary level or it can be a DCE certification only program without state certification as a teacher.
Under the program of study involving teacher certification, the requirements for admission are:
- Complete the general requirements for admission to the Professional Instructional courses.
- Submit the application form to the College of Education.
- Submit an application for admission to the DCE program following the successful completion of EDL-2991 DCE Practicum I.
- Complete the interview process as designed by the DCE Program Coordinator.
- Complete the appropriate personality surveys.
A state approved program offering certification by entitlement to teach music only K-12.
- Complete general requirements for admission to the Professional Instructional courses as listed above.
- Submit the application to the College of Education.
- Have attained a passing score on the piano proficiency test.
- Obtain a recommendation by the music department based on personal qualifications and suitability for teaching K-12.
Checkpoint 2: Admission to the Professional Semester (Student Teaching)
Each of the teacher education programs requires student teaching. In order to apply for student teaching, a student must first be accepted into the Professional Instructional courses. Student are encouraged to apply for student teaching as early as possible (at least two semesters prior to the professional semester), but no later than the deadlines listed in the Teacher Education Handbook.To be accepted for participation in the professional semester (student teaching), the student must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be formally admitted to an approved Teacher Education Program in the College of Education or have the permission of the Dean of the College of Education.
- Have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in residence at Concordia University.
- Have attained junior, senior, or post-baccalaureate class level standing.
- Have satisfactorily completed the courses prerequisite to student teaching.
- Have recorded 80 of the required 100 hours of clinical pre-professional experiences in specific categories through the Office of Field Experience.
- Have earned the minimum grade point averages:
Professional Education 2.75 Major 3.00 Minor/Concentration 2.50 Cummulative 2.50 - Have on file in the Office of Field Experience a negative TB test that is valid for six months including the last day of student teaching.
- Early Childhood and Elementary majors must have completed 6 hours of methods prior to student teaching. Secondary and BME majors must take the methods course in their major prior to student teaching.
- A list of potential student teachers will be distributed to the education departments and to those departments in discipline-related areas with a request for comments to be directed to the College of Education.
- The Teacher Education Admission Committee will notify students of their status in writing. The Teacher Education Admission Committee may arrange an interview with applicants who have been referenced by departments.
- Students who miss deadlines, wish to appeal decisions, or have other considerations should present their case in writing to the Dean of the College of Education. Such appeals will follow the appeal process as outlined in the Concordia University Student Handbook.
Checkpoint 3: Placement
See placement section of Sudent ServicesCheckpoint 4: Graduation Approval
All students completing teacher education programs must be approved by the faculty for graduation. Students intending to graduate from the College of Education must meet all University requirements listed under Academic Information: Graduation. Additionally all education students must pass the relevant subject matter test for Illinois Certification as is required for graduation from a state-approved program.Top of page
Checkpoint 5: Professional Education Requirements for Teacher Certificate
The State of Illinois licenses all Illinois school teachers. Concordia University offers several programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree which qualify as state-approved certification programs. Students completing one of these programs may apply through the Office of the Registrar for one of the following certificates: Type 04—Early Childhood Certificate, Type 03—Standard Elementary Certificate to teach in grades K-9, and Type 09—Standard High School Certificate to teach specific disciplines in grades 6-12. The Bachelor of Music Education degree will qualify a student for the Type 10—Special Certificate for teaching music in grades K-12. Students qualifying for the Type 03 and Type 09 Certificate may also be eligible for Middle School Endorsements in specific subject areas provided they have completed the required middle school professional education courses and have the appropriate hours required in each subject area. Students who are eligible for Certification by Entitlement should secure the necessary forms and directions for making their application to the state from the Registrar’s Office. In order to be certified to teach in the schools of the State of Illinois, a person must be of good character, in sound health, a citizen of the United States and at least 19 years of age.The specific requirements for each of these programs are found under the description of that program in this Catalog.
