Admission requirements
Admission Requirements:
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. To make formal application to the program, potential candidates should complete the following steps:
- Apply and be admitted to UIS.
- Complete the TEP Application form.
- 2.35 or higher to be conditionally admitted; 2.50 or higher to be fully admitted.
- Pass the Test of Basic Skills and either request that official scores be sent to University of Illinois Springfield or provide a photocopy to the Department. Post-baccalaureate students seeking secondary certification must also pass the Content Area Exam in the area of their major when that is the area of certification.
- Submit official transcripts from all higher education institutions to the Department of Teacher Education. Faxed copies will not be accepted.
- Successfully complete a fingerprint check (criminal background check (CBI)) through Accurate Biometrics. Download forms and detailed instructions.
- Schedule an advising appointment with a Department Adviser
- Elementary candidates - schedule an appointment with Heather Nielsen, TEP Elementary Initial Adviser / Certification Officer, at 217.206.6934 hmccullo@uis.edu
- Secondary candidates - schedule an appointment with Tyler Tanaka, TEP Secondary Initial Adviser / Online Coordinator, at 217.206.6118 ttana2@uis.edu
When all admission criteria have been completed successfully and submitted, the program considers applications for approval. A letter of acceptance or non-acceptance will be sent to each applicant. All candidates must participate in a mandatory TEP Orientation.
Retention in the TEP Program
Once admitted to the program, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.00 in teacher education course work, (professional coursework with a grade of C- or lower must be repeated), a grade-point average of 2.75 in his/her disciplinary concentration (elementary) or area of specialization (secondary), and a grade-point average of 2.50 overall. S/he must also successfully complete the field experiences required by all methods courses. Candidate progress is evaluated throughout the teacher education programs according to GPA, professional teaching standards, dispositions, and other factors. Candidates not meeting these criteria may be removed from or counseled out of the program.
General Education Requirements
What you need to know about General Education Requirements in the Department of Teacher Education:
1. As part of the application process to the Department of Teacher Education, candidates are required to complete the General Education Self-Assessment form at their appointment with an Initial Program Adviser.
2. Candidates in the Department of Teacher Education are required to fulfill additional general education requirements beyond the University's basic requirements. General education courses fall into the following categories:
- Communications
i. Composition
ii. Speech - Science
i. Biological
ii. Physical - Mathematics
- Humanities
- Social / Behavioral Science
i. Including American history or government - Third World - Global Perspective
3. The candidate, the Initial Adviser, and the candidate's faculty adviser will collaboratively create a plan for addressing any General Education areas in which the candidate is deficient.
4. The candidate must meet all Department of Teacher Education General Education requirements prior to application for student teaching.
5. The General Education link on the UIS web site will be helpful for candidates in deciding which courses to take to fulfill these requirements, but s/he should also check with her / his TEP faculty adviser in determining which courses will fulfill TEP General Education requirements.
Fingerprint Checks
All candidates must successfully complete a fingerprint check through Accurate Biometrics in Springfield. Unfortunately, fingerprint checks done through other agencies will not be acceptable. Download the directions for the fingerprint check.
