Undergraduate Education Programs

The School of Education offers majors in early childhood education, elementary education, and special education, and 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, and an educational studies major and an education minor for students who are not seeking licensure.

These licensure 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 student 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.

Education Program Requirements

Teacher candidates must pass two IL State Board of Education (ISBE) approved assessments:

1. IL Content Area Test (prior to student teaching)
2. edTPA Teacher Performance Assessment (during student teaching)

All education courses presented for licensure must be passed with a C- or better and an overall GPA of 2.75 is required.

Criteria for Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program

Teacher candidates must apply to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before taking more than three education courses. Admission to the TEP takes place 3 times a year. While candidates may apply all year round, applications are specifically due by: March 15, July 15, October 15

Decision notices from the School of Education will be sent by March 30, July 30, and October 30.

The following criteria are required for acceptance:

1. Grade of C- or better in your first education class at Dominican or in transfer.

2. Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.

3. Clear finger print and background check following the steps outlined in the CPS Field Experience Guide .

The CPS Field Experience Registration requests the following information:

Field Placement Coordinator Name: Bridget Burns

Field Placement Coordinator Contact Number: (708) 524-6806

Field Placement Coordinator E-mail Address: brburns@dom.edu

Name of CPS Placement School: Unknown

~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.

~Upload a screenshot of the CPS Approval Notice at the spot indicated on the online application. If you have any questions about your application, please email Monica Halloran at mhallora@dom.edu.

Applying to the Teacher Education Program

1. Click here to set up a licensure account (ELIS) at the Illinois State Board of Education website to obtain an Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN).

2. Complete the Teacher Education Program Online Application. When you are finished with the application, a confirmation will be sent to your email for your records.

3. After receiving notification of your acceptance into the TEP with a formal letter, you should complete a Declaration of Major form which can be obtained from the Student Success and Engagement Office or here (scroll down on the right column).

Continuation in Teacher Education Program

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

Cumulative GPA of 2.75; Education GPA of 2.75
A minimum grade of C- in all courses presented for licensure
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.

Admission to Clinical Practice Student Teaching

Admission to clinical practice is determined on the basis of the candidate’s written application and other records as measured against criteria established by the Dominican University Teacher Education Committee.

Students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for clinical practice:

The Content Test(s) for your licensure area must be taken and passed by August 30 for Spring Clinical Practice and by January 30 for Fall Clinical Practice. You can register and get more information at ICTS Testing Service: http://www.icts.nesinc.com/
In addition to a passing score by the required date on the appropriate Content Test, the following prerequisites for placement are necessary:
- Completion of education courses specified in your program
- Minimum grade of C- in all courses presented for licensure
- At least 75 field experience hours are completed and no more than 25 hours are in process during the term in which you are applying
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75; Education GPA of 2.75
- Approval of your education advisor

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

Undergraduate Education Programs

Education Program Requirements

Programs

Courses