Undergraduate Education Programs

The School of Education offers majors in early childhood education, elementary education, and special education, as well as undergraduate licensure programs in secondary education and kindergarten to 12th grade. The school also offers a five-and-a-half- to six-year combined bachelor’s and master’s program in special education, as well as an education minor for students who are not seeking licensure.

These programs are grounded in the values of scholarship, leadership, and service. University courses and early field experiences at school sites provide opportunities designed to enable the undergraduate candidate to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective teaching in today’s diverse classrooms.

All undergraduate programs meet the licensure requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education. Candidates who plan to teach in other states should consult the licensure requirements for those states and should elect courses within their undergraduate program that meet the special requirements of those states.

Requirements, regulations, and procedures outlined in this bulletin govern teacher licensure programs at Dominican University. Candidates wishing to work toward teacher licensure should study this bulletin and consult with advisors from the School of Education early in their college careers.

The undergraduate teacher education programs are designed to foster a commitment to research, reflection, and inquiry in the classroom; collaboration among individuals, institutions, and communities; a blending of theory and practice; consideration of multiple perspectives; and the effective use of technology as a teaching and learning tool. The overarching aim of the program is to cultivate teachers who share a set of core values that includes a commitment to social justice, an understanding of the strengths and needs of a diverse student population, and a dedication to equity and excellence for all students.

Dominican teacher education program graduates have the unique opportunity to experience a comprehensive program that includes the liberal arts and sciences core curriculum courses, content courses in the various liberal arts disciplines, professional and pedagogical education courses, and extensive supervised clinical experiences that focus on the development of practices essential to beginning teachers. As our graduates become successful educators, their work reflects the mission of the university, and their responsibility as educators to provide compassionate service, and promote a more just and humane world.

Field experiences begin in the first year of the program. Students pursuing secondary or K-12 licensure select an academic major from one of the university’s departments ensuring that candidates attain competence in the academic content that they plan to teach.

Applying to Teacher Education

Upon admission to the university, the first step for moving forward in the teacher education program is submission of a completed teacher education program application following the steps below.

Criteria for Admission

Achieve a C- or better in your first education class at Dominican or in transfer
Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75
Meet the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) test score requirements:
- ACT: Composite score of 22 or higher and a minimum score of 6 on the Writing portion
- SAT: Composite score of 1110 (evidence-based reading and writing + mathematics = 1110 or higher) and a minimum score of 26 on writing and language

Note: ISBE will no longer require educators to have a passing writing score and a passing composite score on the same ACT or SAT score report. For more information, visit ACT Plus Writing or SAT Score in Lieu of the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP).

A clear finger print and background check is required. All candidates must complete the Chicago Public School (CPS) Registration form, which includes finger printing and background checks. Please follow the steps outlined in the CPS Field Experience Guide. You will receive an email Approval Notice from CPS. Please save that email and know that when you do field experience at a CPS school, you may need to show your Approval Notice to the school.

Application Process

Set up a licensure account at the Illinois State Board of Education website to obtain an Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN).

Obtain a copy of the test page from your licensure account to show that you have passed the TAP or that your ACT or SAT was accepted by ISBE.
Request that your scores be sent to ISBE in a sealed envelope directly from ACT or SAT. If requesting an ACT Plus Writing score report use ACT code 3001 when ordering. If requesting an SAT score use SAT code 6773 when ordering.
Check your ELIS account to verify that your ACT/SAT score report has been accepted in lieu of TAP. Please upload a screenshot of this page in the spot indicated on your online application.
Complete the Teacher Education Program Online Application. When you are finished with the application, a copy will be sent to your email for your records.

Upon Submission of your Application

Following review of your application, you will be notified when you are accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Once accepted, you become a candidate for licensure and will receive a formal letter of acceptance via U.S. mail from the Dominican University School of Education. After receiving notification of your acceptance into TEP, you should complete a Declaration of Major form which can be obtained from the Undergraduate Advising Office. Students may register for or take no more than three professional education courses until they have been formally accepted into the TEP.

Continuation in the Teacher Education Program

The following criteria are required in order to continue as a candidate in the Teacher Education Program:

A cumulative GPA of 2.75, as well as a GPA of 2.75 in professional education courses and in courses presented for the major
A minimum grade of C- in all courses presented for licensure (see the Teacher Education Program Manual for a complete list of courses)
Acceptable dispositions ratings

A candidate who does not meet the above requirements is subject to the School of Education’s candidate intervention/remediation process. As part of that process, candidates and their advisors will develop an intervention/remediation plan for the candidate. The plan is designed to support candidates in addressing the criteria above that are not satisfied. If the plan is not successfully met, the candidate may be withdrawn from the program.

Transfer Students

Undergraduate students may enter the licensure programs by transferring specific credits from a two-year or four-year approved institution. Each program specifies courses that must be taken at Dominican. See the program descriptions below for more information. Transfer students are urged to pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System’s Test of Academic Proficiency or meet the ISBE requirements for the ACT or SAT prior to coming to Dominican. Transfer students are also encouraged to meet with an education advisor prior to their first registration at Dominican to review program and course requirements.

Admission to Clinical Practice

Clinical practice is the culminating experience of the licensure program. Teacher candidates must apply to the School of Education and be formally accepted for clinical practice. Acceptance into clinical practice is determined on the basis of the candidate’s written application and the criteria listed below.

The criteria for acceptance are:

Evidence that all education courses up to clinical practice will be completed prior to the beginning of the clinical practice semester
Minimum grade of C- in all courses presented for licensure
Evidence of a passing score on the appropriate state content test by the time of application
Documentation that 100 clock hours of field experience will be completed no later than the semester prior to clinical practice
Cumulative education and major GPA of 2.75
Approval of the candidate’s education advisor, and for secondary candidates, the academic advisor
Dominican University background check
Successful completion of the Student Teaching Application

These criteria must be met by the time of application to clinical practice, which is the beginning of the semester prior to clinical practice.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Dominican Bachelor/Masters Programs

Special Education - B.A./M.S. or B.S./M.S. with Licensure

Other Programs

Courses

Early Childhood Education

Elementary, Secondary, K-12 Education

Special Education

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR