Education Studies, Elementary, B.A.

The Education Department provides a path to a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Education Studies for students who seek to work in education settings that do not require Illinois State Board of Education licensure. In many cases, students will seek the B.A. in Education Studies when indicators are that licensure is no longer attainable or desirable. Others may seek the B.A. as a career path to working with children and young adults in education-related careers.

Like the B.A. in Education, the B.A. in Education Studies is an experience-oriented program based on the liberal arts. The faculty of the education department is committed to the serious study of education and the promotion of professional standards to foster innovation in professional preparation. This commitment encompasses social issues such as equity and capacity-based learning.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Education .

Major Requirements

Progression Points - Elementary

The Department of Education has established the following Progression Points as ways for department faculty to ensure students are undertaking experiences needed to prepare them for the profession of teaching. Each checklist is designed to be met by teacher candidates at important points along their journey to becoming a teacher. Once all experiences of a Progression Point are met, a teacher candidate is ready to move forward in the program.

Progression Point 1: Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Course Requirements:

Complete EDUC 101, PSYC 100, EDUC 228, 260, and EDUC 235 with a grade of C- or above
Complete EDUC 291 with a grade of P

GPA Requirements:

Earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in all courses taken at and transferred to North Central College
Earn a GPA of 2.75 or better in all courses taken for and transferred in to the Elementary Education major

Evaluation Requirements:

Dispositions:

Recommendation from candidate’s EDUC 101 instructor
Self-evaluation of Dispositions from EDUC 101
Dispositions Recommendation from candidate’s EDUC 228 and EDUC 260 instructors

Field Experiences:

Field Experience Recommendation from EDUC 101
Mentor Teacher Recommendation from EDUC 291
Supervisor Recommendation from EDUC 291
Transfer Students Only: Complete EDUC 196 Internship and Field Experience Evaluation if an equivalent of EDUC 101 is transferred in to North Central College

Note: Teacher candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) to take EDUC courses at the 300- or 400-level.

Progression Point 2: Progression to Student Teaching Residency

Course Requirements:

Complete of all professional education courses for the Elementary Education major with a grade of C- or better with the exception of EDUC 492, 494, and 496, the Student Teaching Residency course package

GPA Requirements:

Earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in all courses taken at and transferred to North Central College
Earn a GPA of 3.00 or better in all courses taken for and transferred in to the Elementary Education major

Recommendation Requirements:

Mentor Teacher Recommendations from EDUC 391 and 491
Supervisor Recommendations from EDUC 391 and 491
Practitioner Interview Recommendation (e.g., teachers and administrators)
Receive a recommendation from the Department of Education for Student Teaching Residency

Additional Requirements:

Complete the practice edTPA as required for EDUC 362 Elementary Methods-Literacy II and EDUC 401 Elementary Assessment of Learning
*Earn a passing Score on the ILTS Elementary content test (#197, 198, 199, and 200)

Progression Point 3: Licensure

*Pass EDUC 492 Pre-Residency Seminar, EDUC 494 Student Teaching Residency Seminar, and EDUC 496 Student Teaching Residency with a grade of C- or better
*Earn a passing Score on the edTPA teacher performance assessment
*Complete all other necessary requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree

* Illinois State Board of Education requirement enforced by North Central College

Additional Requirements for the B.A. Degree

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

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