School of Education, Health and Human Behavior
The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior offers undergraduate and graduate programs in higher education, foundations of education, educational administration, teacher education, psychology, exercise science, public health, nutrition, and speech-language pathology and audiology.
The Department of Educational Leadership offers graduate programs in educational administration, higher education, diversity and equity in education, and instructional technology; it also offers the University's only research doctorate. The Department of Teaching and Learning offers teacher education programs that prepare students for teaching positions in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education (9-12 and PK-12), and special education. The award-winning Department of Psychology offers a comprehensive major that prepares students for a wide variety of careers and graduate programs. The Department of Applied Health offers options for students interested in exercise science, nutrition, public health and speech-language pathology and audiology.
All educator preparation programs are accredited and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Other programs within the school are accredited by appropriate professional organizations.
Admission and Advisement
Procedures vary for admission to different programs in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. Therefore, students should consult with the appropriate program academic advisor for specific information.
Students interested in teacher education may contact the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s Student Services office. Admission to the University or to a degree program in an academic department does not necessarily constitute acceptance into a teacher-licensure program. Teacher education students must be officially admitted to a teacher education major to secure a student teaching assignment, complete all teacher education requirements, and qualify for a teaching license. For admission into any program in teacher education, a student must present a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5, must receive a grade of C or better in English 101 and 102, and meet other program specific admission requirements. Students apply to teacher education programs in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s Student Services office in the semester prior to their first semester in their chosen program. Attaining the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission and program-specific criteria may change due to state policies, program resources, and the size of an applicant pool.
Degrees
The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior grants the bachelor of science degree with majors in early childhood education, elementary education, exercise science, nutrition, public health, and special education. The bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees with majors in psychology and speech-language pathology and audiology also are offered.
Teaching Licensure
Upon successful completion of a teacher education program and passing the appropriate content test/s (required for the student teaching placement), the CPAST and other applicable tests, qualify students for a teaching license in the State of Illinois and may apply for teaching licensure in other states. Students seeking degrees in other majors may qualify for a 9-12 secondary or a PK-12 special licensure by completing an approved program in teacher education. The following undergraduate teacher education programs are available:
- Art Education
- Biology Education
- Chemistry Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- English Education
- Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish) Education
- Geography Education
- History Education
- Mathematics Education
- Music Education
- Political Science Education
- Special Education
- Theater Arts Education
The State of Illinois does not allow grades lower than C in any professional education, endorsement, or specified general education courses to count towards licensure.
Please note that the State of Illinois is in the process of making significant changes in teacher education that may result in revised standards, programs, testing requirements, and teaching licenses. It is very important that all prospective and current candidates work closely with their advisors to remain current about course and curriculum changes affecting progress through the programs.
Criminal Background Checks
Prior to any field placements, candidates must pass a criminal background check and be free of any offenses which would prohibit one from receiving licensure from the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law prohibits the employment of any person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include, but are not limited to, first degree murder, any Class X felony; juvenile pimping, soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; criminal sexual abuse; aggravated criminal sexual abuse; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and /or conviction occurred inside or outside Illinois.
Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experiences
Pre-student teaching clinical experience is required in the area for which a student seeks licensure. This experience, which must be completed and documented prior to student teaching, is arranged through the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Educator Preparation office. Before being placed, candidates must pass the criminal background check and complete Illinois requirements for safety education. There may also be additional district requirements. The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Educator Preparation office will notify candidates of these requirements.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the culminating experience in professional teacher education programs. It is required to complete the licensure requirements of Illinois, and program accreditation standards.
Student teaching requires full-day involvement in a public school. Accordingly, students should avoid taking other courses or employment during student teaching and should schedule it at a time when they will be free of other demands on their time and energy. Requests for course overload or exceptions to the employment policy during student teaching must be approved by the director of the program. Student teaching is not available during the summer term.
The student teaching application procedure begins during the year prior to the assignment. Students must pass the appropriate Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Content Test before they can begin their student teaching placement. Students must pass the CPAST assessment during the student teaching semester in order to earn teacher licensure in Illinois. In addition, each department that has a program leading to teacher licensure has established policies regarding the application for student teaching. Students should secure student teaching information from an advisor in the appropriate department. Junior and senior transfer students should contact an advisor for application information during or before orientation. Student teaching application packets will be available online the first week of the semester prior to the semester before student teaching (not including summer). For example, the deadline for student teaching applications for spring semester is two weeks from the first day of the fall semester. Students should contact their advisor or [email protected] for additional information about the student teaching application process.
The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior maintains the responsibility for student teaching assignments. Most pre-student teaching clinical assignments and student teaching placements are identified partner schools and school districts within 40 miles of the university. Pre-student teaching clinical experiences and student teaching will provide teacher candidates with a breadth of experiences in diverse settings.
The SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior shall determine the start and end dates for all student teaching assignments. Students who are student teaching in the fall semester are expected to attend all start of the school year district and school meetings/workshops with their cooperating teachers prior to the start of the first day of student attendance. Students who are student teaching in the spring semester are expected to begin their student teaching experience on the first day of student attendance after the winter break of their host school. The student teaching experience will end the week prior to finals. Students wishing to continue in their host classroom during or after finals week should consult with the cooperating teacher and SIUE supervisor. During the SIUE student teaching semester, all SIUE student teachers must adhere to the school calendar (i.e. vacations, school holidays, etc.) of the school to which the student has been assigned to student teach by the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.
Prerequisites for receiving a student teaching assignment:
- All teacher candidates, regardless of teaching field or academic major, must be admitted to and follow an approved teacher education program. Students must, therefore, consult with a School of Education, Health and Human Behavior advisor to make certain they are meeting requirements of an approved program well in advance of student teaching.
- Student teaching assignments are made after admission to the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior and the completion of at least 96 credit hours. Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 in advance of the student teaching assignment.
- Students must have a 2.5 grade point average or higher in professional education coursework. No grade lower than a C is acceptable in professional education, endorsement or specified general education courses.
- Students must have completed all required major and professional education courses, as well as all pre-student-teaching clinical experiences.
- Students must have a background check clear of all enumerated offenses on file with the Madison County Regional Office of Education.
- Students must complete an online safety module provided by the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.
- Students must set up an ELIS account.
- Student teachers must also acknowledge their role as DCFS-Mandated Reporters.
- Students may not be placed in a school from which they attended, regardless of the date of last attendance.
- Students may not be placed in a school in which a close relative is currently employed or attending. Additionally, students may not be placed in a school where a potential conflict of interest might exist.
- The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Educator Preparation office will work with the program faculty in locating suitable cooperating teachers. Good faith efforts are made to ensure that candidates in field experiences or student teaching are provided with experiences that include:
- Male and female P-12 students from different socioeconomic groups and at least two ethnic/racial groups as reported in the U.S. Census
- English language learners
- Students who have disabilities
Placement schools may have additional requirements for which the student is financially responsible (e.g. TB test, drug test, additional background check, physical).
Exceptions to the above requirements are only made by disclosure of hardships or through an appeal process. Students are responsible for disclosing information to the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Educator Preparation team at the time of the application to the various field experiences or student teaching semester. Students must disclose a hardship when they are filling out their student teaching application if any of the below situations apply to them.
- Driving distance from home
- Distance from daycare, etc.
- Transportation issues
- Health and access issues
- Other challenges
School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Denial of Recommendation for Teacher Licensure Grievance Policy
In compliance with the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/21-21.1), no SIUE student shall be denied the opportunity to receive the institutional recommendation for teacher licensure for reasons which are not directly related to the candidate’s anticipated performance as a licensed employee. Any SIUE candidate who has completed a teacher education program and who is denied teacher licensure shall be afforded a means for grieving the denial by the following procedure.
- Within 10 days of the denial, the program director shall notify the candidate, in writing, of the reasons for the denial of recommendation for licensure using the disposition alert form.
- Within 30 days of notification of the denial, the candidate may request the licensure officer review the denial. This request shall be in writing and should be directed to the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Licensure Officer.
- After an additional 30 days to complete the review, the candidate shall be notified in writing of the decision to uphold or change the denial.
- Within 10 days of notification, the candidate may appeal the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior's decision to the Illinois State Teacher Licensure Board.
This SIUE teacher licensure grievance policy applies only to denial of licensure for candidates within the approved School of Education, Health and Human Behavior teacher licensure programs. All other grievances should proceed through the SIUE Student Grievance Code. SIUE’s current Student Grievance Code provides all students with a grievance procedure as a means for students to grieve faculty and staff members for violations of their student rights as set forth the in the SIUE Student Grievance Code.
Appeal Process
Students wishing to appeal a pre-student teaching and/or student teaching placement decision are expected to follow the steps outlined below, in accordance with University policy:
- The student has the option to file an appeal to the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Educator Preparation Director of Field Placements. The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Director of Field Placements will consult with the appropriate departmental faculty, supervisors, and/or P-12 school personnel to make a final recommendation about the placement. This decision will be made within 10 business days of receipt of the student's appeal form.
- Students have the right to formally appeal the decision rendered by following the SIUE Student Grievance Code as outlined in the Student Rights and Conduct.
General Education Waiver
Undergraduate programs leading to initial licensure of early childhood education, elementary education, special education, and mathematics education have agreed to accept an associate’s degree (associate of arts, associate of science, associate of science and arts, and associate of arts in teaching) from an approved community college in accordance with SIUE’s general waiver policy (please refer to SIUE catalog for current policy). The completion of any degrees specified above will waive general education requirements for early childhood, special education, and secondary mathematics education program. However, it must be noted that the candidate cannot be licensed in Illinois unless all professional education courses and courses required by the major are earned with a grade of C or better. Students receiving a general education waiver must complete all university requirements for graduation. Please see graduation requirements for more information.
