Undergraduate Catalog

Teacher Education

Office of Teacher Education
Licensure Officer: Ms. Jill M. Bisbee
Interim Coordinator of Field and Clinical Experiences: Dr. Katrina M. Daytner
Office: Horrabin Hall 40
Telephone: (309) 298-2117
Website: wiu.edu/teacher

Program Information

The Teacher Education Program (TEP) is the overarching entity that prepares and licenses candidates for a career in Birth–Grade 12 educational settings in the State of Illinois. The program enrolls undergraduate students from across the University and is overseen by the University Committee on Educator Preparation (UCEP) faculty committee in conjunction with Office of Teacher Education staff under the direction of the Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

UCEP has oversight of all Teacher Education Programs approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) offered by Western Illinois University. UCEP determines all procedures, requirements, and student discipline protocol for the Teacher Education Program as a whole. It also approves unique requirements for discipline-specific programs.

UCEP works in conjunction with the Office of Teacher Education, which provides services to undergraduate and graduate students, and current professionals seeking teaching, school administration, and school support personnel licenses and endorsements for the Birth–Grade 12 setting. The Office houses academic advising, field and clinical supervision, and licensure preparation.

Accreditation

Western Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and all of its Teacher Education Programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

State Approved Teacher Licensure Programs

Western Illinois University meets the licensure mandates issued by ISBE and the State Licensure Board. State Licensure Board requirements take precedence over the catalog-of-record for candidates seeking teacher licensure recommendation, and can change at any time in accordance with legislation.

To be recommended for teacher licensure, candidates must complete all University and Teacher Education requirements as a part of our State-approved Teacher Education Program. This includes abiding by the Illinois School Code of Ethics (Section 22.20) and School Code Physical Fitness requirement (105 ILCS 5/24-5 [from Ch. 122, par. 24-5] Sec. 24-5, physical fitness and professional growth), the professional standards of practice, and the relevant laws and policies that govern Illinois teacher education. Candidates must also be legally present and authorized for employment in the United States. Early and continuous consulting, advising, and planning with the Office of Teacher Education are essential for candidates seeking initial teacher licensure.

Western Illinois University has been approved by ISBE to offer the following licensing areas:

  1. Secondary (Grades 9–12)
    Agriculture Education (Grades 5–12)
    English Language Arts
    Mathematics
    Science/Biology
    Science/Chemistry
    Science/Physics
    Social Science/History
  2. Middle Grades (Grades 5–8)
    Language Arts
    Mathematics
    General Science
    Social Science
  3. Elementary Education (K–6)
  4. Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 2)
  5. Special (PreK–Grade 12)
    Bilingual Education
    English as a Second Language endorsement
    Learning Behavioral Specialist I (K–Age 22)
    Music
    Physical Education
    Visual Art
    World Languages—French
    World Languages—Spanish
  6. Reading Specialist (graduate program)
  7. Alternative Teacher Licensure Program
    Master of Arts in Teaching (graduate program)
  8. Administrative (graduate programs)
    School Principal
    Superintendent
  9. School Support Personnel (graduate programs)
    School Counseling
    School Psychology
    Speech Language Pathology

Information about these individual academic programs, including coursework and student success resources, is available at wiu.edu/teacher.

Teacher Education Program (TEP)

Admission and Continuation

Admission to the University does not automatically constitute acceptance to TEP. Candidates for baccalaureate degrees who plan to complete licensure requirements for teaching must complete a special application for admission to TEP. Application and requirements for full acceptance are available in the online Teacher Education Program Handbook at wiu.edu/teacher.

Candidates consult with the Education Academic Advisor to determine the appropriate time for formal admission to the Teacher Education Program. This should occur after the completion of 30 semester hours (s.h.) and prior to the completion of 60 s.h. of college-level coursework.

All applicants will be screened according to the following criteria:

  1. Completed a minimum of 30 s.h. of college-level coursework, including the following courses:
    1. ENG 180 with a grade of C- or better.
    2. A General Education Mathematics course with a grade of C- or better. (Please note: Math Competency does not satisfy this Teacher Education requirement.)
  2. Earned the minimum WIU cumulative and WIU major grade point averages (GPAs) listed below, with a C- or better in all directed General Education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the option. This rule does not supersede course prerequisite requirements in the catalog that specify a letter grade.
    1. Early Childhood Education: 2.0
    2. Agriculture, Art, Elementary, English, English as a Second Language Education, French, Mathematics, Middle School, Multilingual, Music, Physical Education, Science/Biology–Chemistry–Physics, Spanish, and Special Education: 2.5
    3. History: 2.75
  3. Completed and submitted a Reflective Paper, which was positively evaluated by their academic program.
  4. Successfully completed required online modules:
    1. English Language Learner (ELL)
    2. Safety Training
  5. Created an account in the State of Illinois Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
  6. Received a positive recommendation from the major department.
  7. Cleared all applicable background registries (* see below).

Candidates must be formally admitted to TEP prior to enrolling in any field experience that requires teaching (see program requirements), EDS 401, and applying for student teaching as outlined in the Teacher Education Program Handbook. Once admitted, the student becomes a teacher education candidate and must conform to all requirements and regulations of TEP, including ISBE requirements as listed below (subject to change in accordance with legislation).

  • General Education
  • Academic Major
  • Professional Education and Supporting Coursework (including core courses)
  • Licensure-Required Content
    • Reading Methods
    • Reading In The Content Area
    • Exceptional Child Instructional Methods
    • Instructional Strategies for English Learners
    • Educational Technology Competency
    • Safety Training
  • Field Experiences (pre-student teaching clinical, student teaching)

Candidates must continue to maintain good standing in the Teacher Education Program once admitted, including exhibiting professional dispositions at all times during their enrollment at Western. Additional Good Standing requirements include collaboration, commitment to learning, valuing diversity and equity, responsibility, and respect. Failure to adhere to these professional dispositions is grounds for dismissal from the program.

A prospective teacher must be able to perform the essential functions of teaching, with or without a reasonable accommodation, as approved by the Western Illinois University Disability Resource Office in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Services.

* Prior to any field work in schools/agencies, candidates must provide documentation of a completed fingerprint background investigation to each school/agency assigned. In addition, the National Sex Offender Registry, the National Registry of Violent Acts Against Children, and the Illinois Methamphetamine Manufacturer Registry are checked for each candidate. Candidates may be prohibited from completing field work if the background checks or registry checks disclose arrests and/or convictions deemed problematic.

Candidates are responsible for expenses related to program and/or licensure requirements.

State-Approved Curriculum

The Illinois State Board of Education establishes the curriculum requirements for teacher licensure programs to ensure the coursework meets legislative requirements. In addition to the category of Professional Education courses (teaching candidates how to be teachers), each academic program includes the following content:

  • Exceptional Child Instructional Methods
  • Reading In The Content Area
  • Reading Methods
  • Educational Technology Competency
  • Instructional Strategies for English Learners
  • Safety Training
Professional Education

The professional education sequence offered by the School of Education includes EDS 202, 301 or 306, 305, and 401*. (Exception: Students in the Early Childhood Education program should consult their Education Academic Advisors.)

Full acceptance to the Teacher Education Program is required to enroll in EDS 303/304 or any field experience requiring teaching, including minimum grade point average, and earning a grade of C- or better in all professional education courses, whether completed at WIU or transferred from another institution. All courses in the professional education sequence completed at other institutions must be evaluated by the School of Education for equivalency. See Pre-Clinical Teaching Field Experience section and the TEP Handbook for details.

Exceptional Child Instructional Methods

All persons seeking an Illinois professional educator license must satisfy a State mandate which requires coursework in the identification, psychology, and methods of teaching the exceptional child including, without limitation, the learning disabled child. Courses at Western Illinois University which satisfy this requirement are listed below:

  • LA 250—Language Development
  • SPED 300—Characteristics of the Learner
  • SPED 390—Characteristics and Methods for Teaching Students with Special Needs
  • SPED 392—Characteristics and Methods for Teaching Students with Special Needs Ages Birth to Five
  • PETE 393—Adapted Physical Education
  • PETE 395—Assessment in Adapted Physical Education
  • MUS 334—Music for the Learner with Exceptionalities

Candidates should check with their Education Academic Advisor to determine the course required for their program.

Reading in the Content Area

All persons seeking an Illinois professional education license must satisfy a State mandate which requires coursework in reading in the content area. Courses at Western Illinois University which are applicable to this requirement are listed below:

  • ENG 366—Reading Instruction in Middle and High Schools (Agriculture, Art, English, History, Mathematics, Science)
  • LA 382—Literacy Development: Birth through Preschool (Early Childhood)
  • LA 383—Literacy Instruction in the Early Grades (Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Special Education)
  • LA 384—Literacy Instruction in the Intermediate Grades (Elementary Education, Middle Level, Special Education)
  • LA 387—Literacy Instruction in Content Areas (Agriculture, Art, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, World Languages)
  • LA 388—Disciplinary Literacy Instruction in the Middle Grades (Middle Level)

Candidates should check with their Education Academic Advisors to determine the course(s) required for their program.

Reading Methods

This content is incorporated into the coursework for the Reading in the Content Area requirement.

Educational Technology Competency

This content is incorporated into the coursework for each teaching major.

Instructional Strategies for English Learners and Safety Training

Candidates complete these two requirements through training modules in Western Online. Details are available in the TEP Handbook.

Field Experiences

Field experiences connect classroom concepts to everyday professional practice in a variety of settings and situations ranging from observations, small group work, one-on-one assistance, leading a lesson, teaching half-day, to teaching a full day.

Pre-Clinical Field Experiences

Teacher Education Program candidates complete college-supervised, pre-clinical field experiences in their major. A successful fingerprint background investigation and clearance of applicable registries are required prior to participating in any pre-clinical field experience. Field experiences will typically be provided in the following courses:

  1. EDS 303/304
  2. Program-Specific Methods Course(s)
  3. Program-Specific Pre-Clinical Field Experiences

Candidates who transfer courses with a required field experience will need to provide verification of pre-clinical experiences completed or supplement the transferred course with comparable pre-clinical experiences at Western.

A grade of C- or above or S (satisfactory) is required for all field experiences completed.

Clinical Experience (Student Teaching)

The clinical experience semester provides direct teaching experience in a public school under the supervision, and with the guidance of, a highly qualified classroom cooperating teacher and a University field supervisor. Candidates complete a minimum 12 s.h. full-day student teaching experience (80 days). Some programs necessitate split assignments at two grade levels for a total of 80 days. A maximum of 12 s.h. of STCH (student teaching course prefix) may be included in the minimum total of 120 s.h. required for graduation.

Requirements for Illinois licensure may include passing an edTPA (teaching assessment), which must be completed during the student teaching experience.

Candidates are discouraged from participating in campus-based extra-curricular activities and are discouraged from working while student teaching because of the immersive and rigorous nature of the clinical experience. Those wishing to enroll in additional coursework during the clinical experience must appeal to the Selection, Retention, and Appeals Committee prior to the student teaching term. More information is available in the TEP Handbook.

Application

It is the responsibility of the candidate to apply for a student teaching assignment one year prior to the semester in which it is anticipated that the student teaching assignment takes place. In addition to the requirements for being admitted and retained in the Teacher Education Program, candidates are responsible for meeting the student teaching requirements listed below:

  1. Submit Student Teaching Application including a positively evaluated resume and cover letter.
  2. Earn the minimum WIU cumulative and WIU major grade point averages (GPAs) listed below with a C- or better in all directed General Education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the option. This rule does not supersede course prerequisite requirements in the catalog that specify a letter grade.
    1. Early Childhood Education: 2.0
    2. Agriculture, Art, Elementary, English, English as a Second Language Education, French, Mathematics, Middle School, Multilingual, Music, Physical Education, Science/Biology–Chemistry–Physics, Spanish, and Special Education: 2.5
    3. History: 2.75
  3. Complete EDS 202, 301 or 306, 305, and 401 with a grade of C- or better. (Exception: Students in the Early Childhood Education program should consult their Education Academic Advisors).
  4. Complete all pre-clinical field experiences as described above with a grade of C- or better or a grade of Satisfactory.
  5. Meet all academic program prerequisites for student teaching.
  6. Receive and submit a positive recommendation from the academic program.
  7. Complete the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) mandated reporter training and Status Form.
  8. Successfully complete the required Illinois State-mandated licensure assessments, including the applicable content tests.
  9. Successfully complete a criminal fingerprint background investigation and clear all applicable registries.
  10. Complete a State-mandated physical if requested by placement site per legislation.

The candidate must continue to exhibit the dispositions and professional behaviors needed to perform the essential functions of teaching, with or without reasonable approved accommodations. Failure to adhere to these professional dispositions is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Placement

Providing student teachers with quality clinical field experiences in school districts with outstanding teaching reputations is the primary objective of the student teaching semester. There are four regional sites for clinical (student teaching) experiences: the Quad Cities area, Western Illinois area, Chicago, and Suburban Chicago area(s). Specific student teaching sites are determined by the field supervisors charged with the responsibility for placement and supervision of student teachers in each region. Students who wish to be placed outside these regions must submit an appeal and meet with the Field and Clinical Coordinator.

Housing arrangements and transportation during the student teaching semester are the responsibility of each candidate.

Grading

The clinical/student teaching experience is evaluated on an S/U grading system. Candidates must have satisfactorily completed all specific departmental/program requirements to successfully complete student teaching.

Appeal Procedure

The Selection, Retention, and Appeals Committee, a subgroup of UCEP and the Office of Teacher Education, considers appeals for candidates enrolled in the Teacher Education Program. Should an appeal be necessary, candidates contact their advisor to learn about and prepare for the process. The appeal form is available in Horrabin Hall 40 or on the website at wiu.edu/teacher.

Teaching Licensure

Candidates who complete all graduation, major department requirements, and teacher education assessments (including successfully passing applicable ILTS Content Tests) will be recommended to the Illinois State Board of Education for the Professional Educators License (PEL). Candidates who are pursuing licensure in other states should pay careful attention to those requirements.

Additional information about the licensing process is available in the TEP Handbook.

Program/licensure requirements are subject to change without notice. Any new State-mandated requirements will supersede program requirements identified herein.

Course Descriptions

Student teaching is the process whereby a prospective teacher candidate demonstrates competence as an effective beginning teacher. Each student teacher is expected to possess, or develop, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to successfully manage a classroom teaching-learning situation. The successful completion of an approved student teaching experience is documented through one or more of the following courses.

STUDENT TEACHING (STCH)

430 Student Teaching—Special Needs—Elementary Level. (1–16) Kindergarten through the sixth grade.

431 Student Teaching—Special Needs—Secondary Level. (1–16) Grades 7–12.

437 Student Teaching—Bilingual. (1–16) Bilingual student teaching in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

459 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (PK–K). (1–16) A pre-school through kindergarten level student teaching experience. Open only to persons in the Early Childhood program.

460 Student Teaching—Primary Grades (1–3). (1–16) Student teaching in grades 1, 2, or 3.

461 Student Teaching—Intermediate Grades. (1–16) Student teaching in grades 4, 5, and 6.

462 Student Teaching—Middle Level. (1–16) Student teaching in middle level departmentalized settings, grades 5–8.

480 Student Teaching—Secondary. (1–16) Student teaching in grades 9–12.

481 Student Teaching in Music. (1–16) Grades kindergarten through the sixth grade.

482 Student Teaching in Art. (1–16) Grades kindergarten through the sixth grade.

483 Student Teaching in Physical Education. (1–16) Grades kindergarten through the sixth grade.

485 Student Teaching in Elementary Foreign Languages. (1–16) Student teaching in a foreign language in grades K–6.