Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in English Education

This is a post-baccalaureate certificate to prepare graduates of English programs for teacher licensure in English Language Arts at the secondary education level is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences .

Description

The Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in English Education program enables students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in English to pursue a career in teaching at the secondary level. The sequence of course work is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and accredited by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and leads to an initial high school licensure in English Language Arts, pending a passing score on the Illinois state content exam and successful completion of student teaching. An additional endorsement in teaching English in middle school may be obtained by students who successfully complete three additional hours of methods related to middle school and pass the licensure content test. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.  

Teacher Licensure

Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), this certificate leads to the Initial Secondary Licensure in English Language Arts. For Governors State University to recommend students for this licensure, students must meet the following requirements:

• earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone: English;
• show evidence of having passed the ISBE-approved assessments for licensure; and
• meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in this catalog.

Students choosing to pursue the middle-school endorsement must additionally take three (3) hours in Early Adolescent Educational Psychology and three (3) hours in Curriculum Methods for Middle School. Students should contact the Office of Secondary Education for specific course numbers.

Admission to English Education Certificate Program

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for the certificate, applicants must meet the following requirements to be admitted to the English Education certificate:

1. have a bachelor’s or higher in English from a regionally accredited college or university;
2. have a cumulative average G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program; and
3. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher.

Continuation in the Certificate

In order to continue in the certificate after the first term of enrollment, students must meet the following requirements:

1. complete EDUC - 2310 Foundations of Education (3) , (or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better; and
2. submit evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly Basic Skills) of the Illinois licensure Testing system.

Student Progress

The faculty continually monitors and evaluates student progress. The Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals  section in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the secondary education faculty is available in the Secondary Education Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Conditional Continuation

The faculty may permit a student to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the student’s records identify evidence that the student will likely be successful in the program. Each term, the faculty reviews the status of all students allowed to continue conditionally and informs the students in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to “good standing” status. When such conditions are met, the student is informed, in writing, of the transfer to “good standing” status. A student may not be admitted to student teaching without being in “good standing” status.

Admission to Student Teaching in English Education

Before enrolling in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone , the student must submit an application for admission to student teaching to the director of Field Experiences in the College of Education. The student teaching application must be submitted in the fall term at least 9 months and no later than December 1 prior to a fall student-teaching placement, and in the spring term at least 9 months and no later than March 1 prior to a spring student-teaching placement.  Students will be notified of due dates at the beginning of the term in which the applications are due. Please check with your advisor to confirm deadlines, which may be subject to change.   (Student teaching is not offered in the summer term.)

This application for student teaching will certify that the applicant has or will have met (by the teaching term) the following requirements:

1. completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including 100 clock-hours of field experience with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
2. completed EDUC-6301, EDUC-6302, ENGL-6580, and ENGL-6570 and ENGL-6575 with a grade of “B” or better;
3. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for EDUC-3440, EDCP-6101 and SPED-6101 with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
4. completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
5. have no more than six hours (at the discretion of the advisor) remaining to be completed in the major, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, and completing all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
6. met all state requirements applicable to areas of student teaching assignments as outlined in the “Illinois Program for Evaluation, Supervision, and Recognition of Schools, Part I, Subject G: Staff Qualifications”;
7. submitted evidence of having passed the English Content Area Examination of the Illinois Licensure Testing System (or its equivalent); and
8. received a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

All candidates for Illinois teacher licensure at Governors State University are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to their initial field experience in the schools. Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.

Certificate in English Education Requirements

In addition to requirements for admission to student teaching, student must complete the following:

• have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher;
• have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in English courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
• earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone;
• complete a minimum of 100 clock-hours of supervised pre-student teaching experiences;

Additionally, students who seek licensure in English Teacher Education must show evidence of having passed the ISBE-approved assessment for licensure.