Aug 19, 2025  
(UNDER REVIEW) 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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(UNDER REVIEW) 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Education Studies, Secondary, 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

Core Courses

One of the following:

Additional Requirements

Eight credits from one of the following:

Progression Points - Secondary

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 and EDUC 200 with a grade of C- or above
  • Complete EDUC 290 with a grade of P

GPA Requirements: 

For full admission to the Teacher Education Program:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.75 or better in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the Secondary Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the content area major (min. 16 credit hours)

For conditional admission to the Teacher Education Program:

Conditional Admission to the Teacher Education Program allows candidates to progress in their plan of study while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure academic success in the Teacher Education Program.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the Secondary Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.50 in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the content area major (min. 16 credit hours)

Evaluation Requirements:

Dispositions:

  • Recommendation from candidate’s EDUC 101 instructor
  • Dispositions Recommendation from full-time faculty member in candidate’s content major
  • Self-assessment of dispositions at time of application to TEP

Field Experiences:

  • Field Experience Recommendation from EDUC 101
  • Mentor Teacher Recommendation from EDUC 290
  • Supervisor Recommendation from EDUC 290

Progression Point 2: Progression to Student Teaching Residency

Course Requirements:

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

GPA Requirements:

For full admission to Student Teaching Residency:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 3.00 or better in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the Secondary Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the content area major

For conditional admission to Student Teaching Residency:

Conditional Admission to Student Teaching allows candidates to progress to student teaching while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure success.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50-2.999 in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the Secondary Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.499 in all coursework taken for and transferred in to the content area major (min. 16 credit hours)

Recommendation Requirements:

  • Mentor Teacher Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Supervisor Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Practitioner Interview Recommendation, if assigned
  • Receive a recommendation from the Department of Education for Student Teaching Residency

Additional Requirements:

  • Complete the practice edTPA as required for EDUC 4XX HS/MS Methods: and EDUC 403 HS/MS Assessment of Learning
  • *Earn a passing Score on the appropriate ILTS content test
    (ENGL: 207; MATH: 208; BIOL: 105 or 239; CHEM: 106 or 240; PHYSICS: 116 or 243; HIST: 246; CHIN: 126 or 251; FREN: 252, GERM: 253; SPAN 260).

Progression Point 3: Licensure

  • *Pass 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.