Curriculum for the Secondary Minor in Teacher Education
All candidates will fulfill the General Education requirements of the Teacher Education Program. Every general education course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. At the Initial Program Adviser appointment, applicants will receive advice as to courses that will fulfill TEP General Education requirements. Secondary candidates are also required to complete at least two content courses in the area of their licensure. These courses should be chosen collaboratively with a TEP adviser. All general education and content courses must be completed prior to full admission into methods courses.
Teacher Education Introductory Courses/Requirements
- TEP 227 Educational Psychology for Teachers, PSY 327 Educational Psychology, or an equivalent approved course in educational psychology, 3 hours
- TEP 223 Adolescent Development for Teachers, PSY 323 Adolescent Development, or an equivalent approved course in adolescent psychology 3 hours
- TEP 207 Foundations of American Education, or an equivalent approved educational foundations course, 3 hours
- Potential applicants must also document at least 30 hours of service learning with school aged children in an educational setting. Instructions for appropriate documentation can be found on the TEP web site under “Resources.”
Core Courses for All Teacher Education Candidates
The following courses are taken by all Teacher Education candidates, whether in the Elementary Minor or the Secondary Minor
- TEP 305 Technology for Teaching or an equivalent approved course in technology for teaching 3 hours
- TEP 224 Exceptional Child for Teachers, PSY 324 Exceptional Child, or an approved equivalent course in teaching the exceptional child 3 hours
- TEP 318 Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment
All Introductory and Core courses must be completed successfully before methods courses may be taken.
- TEP 401 Methods of Middle School Concepts and Practices, 3 hours
- TEP 419 Methods of Content Area Literacy, 3 hours
One of the following specific content methods courses, depending on major:
- TEP 435 Methods of Secondary English, 3 hours
- TEP 436 Methods of Secondary Mathematics, 3 hours
- TEP 437 Methods of Secondary Science, 3 hours
- TEP 438 Methods of Secondary Social Studies, 3 hours
All general education coursework, TEP coursework, and coursework in the major area must be completed prior to the Clinical Practice Semester.
Clinical Practice Semester:
- TEP 449 Clinical Practice Seminar 6-12, 3 hours
- TEP 451 ECCE: Clinical Practice 6-12, 9 hours
Important information about methods courses:
- Each methods course includes a 40 hour field placement in a local school setting assigned by the Department.
- Candidates may not take more than two methods courses during one semester.
- Candidates must have their TEP Faculty Adviser’s signature on the Special Approval in order to register for methods courses.
- When the candidate completes the Special Approval for a methods course, s/he also completes a form to request the preclinical placement.
- The Director of Clinical Practice determines field placements based on these requests and availability.
- At least one preclinical field placement will be completed in a diverse setting.
- At least one preclinical field placement will be completed in a middle school, and at least one preclinical field placement will be completed in a high school.
- Candidates will not be placed for field experience in a school where they have children or siblings in attendance, have been employed, or have spouses or siblings employed.
- Content Area Methods courses (TEP 435, 436, 437, 438) are offered during fall semesters only.
Important information about the Clinical Practice Semester:
- TEP 449 and TEP 451 constitute the entire semester (12 credit hours).
- TEP 451 fulfills the ECCE Engagement requirement.
- No other courses may be taken during the Clinical Practice Semester.
- Candidates must apply to Clinical Practice during the first two weeks of the semester prior to the Clinical Practice semester.
- At the time of application to Clinical Practice, candidates must have all required g.p.a.’s and must maintain those g.p.a.’s during the semester prior to Clinical Practice. (2.5 overall, 2.75 in major area, 3.0 in TEP course work)
- Candidates must have passed the appropriate Content Area Test prior to beginning student teaching.
- TEP 449 is a seminar class which accompanies TEP 451, student teaching.
- TEP 449 is currently only offered in an online format. Candidates are required to attend campus conferences on two separate pre-determined dates during the student teaching semester. Failure to attend these conferences will result in a failed grade for the semester.
- TEP 451 refers to the actual Clinical Practice experience itself (student teaching).
- Candidates must provide evidence of passing scores on the Content Area Test (or proof of registration for the test) at the time of application for the Clinical Practice Semester.
- Candidates will not be placed for clinical practice in a school where they have attended, have children or siblings in attendance, have been employed, or have spouses or siblings employed.
Completing the Teacher Education Minor or the course sequence for post-baccalaureate candidates does not automatically license someone to teach. The teacher education program recommends candidates to the State Teacher Licensure Board for K-9 licensure or 6-12 licensure after the completion of criteria required by the program. These criteria include a set of general education requirements set by the program, teacher education course work, passing scores on three tests administered by the Illinois Licensure Testing System (Basic Skills / Test of Academic Proficiency, Content-area, Assessment of Professional Teaching, edTPA), and other requirements outlined by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, which has sole authority for awarding or denying teacher licensure.