Secondary Education Certification

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Dominican has Illinois state-approved teacher preparation programs in the following areas: biology, chemistry, English, history, and mathematics.

Teacher preparation for secondary certification requires course work in four specific areas.

1. General Education Competencies

The foundation requirements and core curriculum requirements of the university meet this requirement. All of these requirements must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

2. Content Studies

A major in one of the academic disciplines named above.

3. Pedagogical and Professional Studies

A series of professional education courses that focus on the development of pedagogical and professional knowledge to prepare candidates to teach in middle and secondary schools.

4. Field Experiences and Clinical Practice

Dominican requires early field experiences equivalent to 100 clock hours. These experiences must be completed in a variety of school settings providing the candidate with an exposure to different grade levels and teaching styles, as well as to students of diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and students with exceptionalities. At the end of their program of study, candidates participate in a semester-long clinical practice experience.

Professional Education Requirements:

Dominican requires early field experiences equivalent to 100 clock hours. These experiences must be completed in a variety of school settings, providing the candidate with an exposure to different grade levels, teaching styles, and subject areas, as well as to students of diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and students with exceptionalities.

Required Courses:

Additional Requirements:

Courses taken prior to 2004 are accepted only with special permission from the faculty of the School of Education. All professional education requirements must be fulfilled prior to clinical practice. The grading scale for all courses is A-F. EDUC 496 - Clinical Practice: Middle and Secondary is graded on a satisfactory/fail scale.
Courses for secondary certification must be completed in a prespecified sequence that is determined by the candidate’s major. Candidates should meet with their education advisor and their major advisor early in their college careers to plan their course of study.

Major Requirements and Endorsements

The State of Illinois requires a major in a given field to teach a content area at the secondary level. Endorsements/approvals are required to teach additional subjects. Information regarding adding endorsements or approvals to a candidate’s certificate may be obtained from his or her education advisor or from the certification officer.

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

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