Candidates seeking initial licensure in either elementary or secondary education may apply to the Teacher Education Program at any time. However, admission to a 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.
- Have an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher to be conditionally admitted; 2.75 or higher to be fully admitted.
- Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency or ACT+Writing (with a minimum score of 22) and request that official scores be sent to ISBE per instructions found at http://www.isbe.net/licensure/requirements/act-sat-testing-in-lieu-of-tap.pdf. The TAP/ACT is required for full admission; conditional admission is possible prior to testing.
- Submit official transcripts from all higher education institutions to the Department of Teacher Education. Faxed copies will not be accepted.
- Successfully complete a Fingerprint Background.
- Schedule an advising appointment with the Initial Adviser.
- Participate in a mandatory TEP Orientation.
- Provide writing sample (may be requested and evaluated by Department personnel)
When all admission criteria have been completed successfully and submitted, the program considers applications for approval. An email of acceptance or non-acceptance will be sent to each applicant. Criteria for full admission other than GPA will be outlined in the advising appointment with the Initial Adviser.
Retention in the TEP Program
Once admitted to a program in the Department of Teacher Education, a candidate must maintain a grade-point average of 3.00 in teacher education course work, a grade-point average of 2.75 in his/her disciplinary concentration (elementary) or major / area of specialization (secondary), and a grade-point average of 2.75 overall. Courses required by the TEP major / minor or the academic content major / concentration must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better. A candidate 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.
What you need to know about General Education Requirements in the Department of Teacher Education:
1. The Initial Adviser will meet with potential candidates to identify general education requirements that have been fulfilled and which general education requirements still need to be satisfied.
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:
- Science (at least one lab)
- Social / Behavioral Science
(An American history or government course is required for secondary social science candidates or elementary candidates completing a middle school endorsement in social studies.)
- Third World – Global Perspective
3. The candidate and the Initial Adviser will collaboratively create a plan for addressing any general education areas in which the candidate is deficient.
4. 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 the Initial Adviser in determining which courses will fulfill TEP general education requirements.
All candidates must successfully complete a fingerprint check through Accurate Biometrics in Springfield. Unfortunately, fingerprint checks done through other agencies and for other institutions will not be acceptable. The Department also checks the following Illinois State Police Databases: Sex Offender Database, Murder and Violent Offenders Against Youth Database, and the Meth-Amphetamine Manufacturers Database.
Candidates will be required to complete another background check prior to student teaching at the discretion of the school district with which they are placed.