Approval to student teach is a multiple-step process, including earning "Departmental Approval to Student Teach." The College of Education will send the applying student's name to the major department for Department Approval to Student Teach. Students must complete courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.65 GPA and a 2.65 cumulative GPA. In addition, students must document passage of Illinois Certification content-area test in their discipline(s) no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching.
Every student planning to student teach must complete an application. Failure to complete the application materials by the deadline may result in a one-year delay in student teaching.
Every student planning to student teach must formally apply. You will apply a year before you student teach. Look for an email from the Dean's Office concerning that application process.
In addition to completing a packet to meet requirements for the Student Teaching Department, each student must also meet requirements established by their major department.
You and your advisor will complete this process during the semester before student teaching.
Attention: ALL professional education coursework must be completed with a "C" or better prior to student teaching. Plan ahead. If you have any questions, please consult with your academic advisor come to the Teaching, Learning, & Foundations department office for additional information.
All students graduating with a teacher certification major must receive a grade of "C" or better in all courses, regardless of where they are taken, used toward graduation including general education, professional education, major and minor courses, all university required courses, and electives. Furthermore, any course used for the purpose of adding endorsements to a teaching certificate must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Students are required to pass the content-area test in their discipline(s) no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching. Contact the Certifying Dean in the College of Education for deadlines.
Students should begin the process of applying for their teaching certificates early in the term in which they will graduate or complete all requirements. Forms and instructions will be distributed by the Student Teaching Coordinators.
To be eligible for a student teaching assignment, a student must attain 90 semester hours or more toward graduation and must have complied with all regulations and qualifications relative to "University Approval to take Teacher Education Courses" and "University Approval to Student Teach." Registration and fees are required as with regular course work. Students are assigned to student teach in public schools in one of the student teaching centers located throughout the state. Assignments are made by the Student Teaching Coordinators. The public-school cooperating teacher to whom each student is assigned holds licensure consistent with the licensure the student teacher is seeking, and the setting and subject area assignment are appropriate to the license.
Students are guests of the host school district. A school district and/or the University retains the right to terminate a student teaching placement. A subsequent conference to examine options will be held with the student and the Student Teaching Coordinator and/or Student Teaching Chair, with input from the major department as needed or appropriate.
For more information on student teaching please visit https://www.eiu.edu/clinical/.
Buzzard Hall
1920 9th Street
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-5728
coe@eiu.edu