English, B.A. with a Concentration in Teacher Education

Effective Spring 2017 - This concentration is not accepting any new students. Students may elect to pursue the English, B.A.  while completing coursework for teacher licensure through the English Education Certificate . Students currently enrolled in the BA in English Program can elect to complete this concentration if they apply for this concentration through their Academic Advisor before the end of the Spring 2017 term. See your Academic Advisor regarding the timeline for completion.

Current students, please refer to the FAQ web page linked here to learn about the “teach out” process. Please meet with your Academic Advisor regarding your current Study Plan.

In addition to offering students a strong academic background in English studies, the undergraduate major in English with a teacher education concentration, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences , provides students the knowledge and skills found in the liberally educated person who is interested in a career in teaching English at the secondary level.

Teacher Licensure

This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Initial Secondary License in English. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, students must complete at least 42 hours in general education and 84 hours in required courses. General education courses may include both lower and upper-division courses, resulting in a completed program of 123 credit-hours. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC - 499: Student Teaching: English.

Students who major in English with a concentration in Secondary Education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours in the psychology of early adolescent development, three hours in curriculum instruction and three hours of methods related to the middle school. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.

To be recommended for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license, the student must present evidence of having passed the Basic Skills, Subject-Matter Knowledge, and Assessment of Professional Teaching examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System.

Students must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals  section in the catalog.

Admission to English Teacher Education

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:

1. have a cumulative average G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program;
2. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
3. submit evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly Basic Skills) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System;
4. submit scores from the ETS Proficiency Profile;
5. complete EDUC - 2310 Foundations of Education (3) , (or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better; and
6. attend Secondary Education Orientation.

Some schools and/or school districts require criminal background checks in advance of any field experience undertaken by teacher preparation candidates in school settings. Candidates may be required to comply with these requirements. Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.

Student Progress

The faculty monitors and evaluates student progress continually. The section, Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals , 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. The status of all students allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each term, and the students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When 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.

Student Handbook

The Student Handbook Undergraduate Degrees in Secondary Education referred to in this catalog is available online.

Admission to Student Teaching

Before enrolling in EDUC - 4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone (12) , an application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the director of Field Experiences in the College of Education. The application must be submitted by November 30 for the fall term and January 31 for the spring term preceding the academic year in which the student intends to teach (student teaching is not offered in the summer term). This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:

1. completed general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
2. 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, with a grade of “C” or better in each course and EDUC-4465 , ENGL-4570 , ENGL-4575 , and ENGL-4580  with a grade of “B” or better;
3. must have completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
4. must 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;
5. 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”;
6. submit evidence of having passed the English Content Area Examination of the Illinois Licensure Testing System; and
7. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.