overview
The Teacher Education Program provides minors in either elementary or secondary teaching. In order to be certified as a teacher through the TEP program at UIS, students need to select an appropriate major and apply to (and be accepted into) either the elementary or secondary minor in the Teacher Education Program.
Candidates seeking initial certification in either elementary or secondary education may apply to the Teacher Education Program at any time. However, admission to the program will only be granted after certain criteria have been met.
Students who are accepted into the Teacher Education Program should expect to spend more than the traditional four years at the University.
Once a student is accepted into the Teacher Education Program, s/he is referred to as a ‘candidate.’ This term originated with the Illinois State Board of Education, who use that term for students who are ‘candidates for teaching certification.’ This maintains a distinction between university level teacher education students and students in K-12 schools.
