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Admission to Teacher Education Programs

All students who wish to complete a teacher education program for certification, including clinical practice (student teaching), at Saint Xavier University must be officially admitted to the School of Education as a teacher education candidate. A teacher education program is a four benchmark process. It starts when a student is admitted to the University and completes pre-candidacy requirements, continues through admission to the School of Education as a teacher education candidate and admission to clinical practice, exit from clinical practice, and finally program completion (certification).

Note: Requirements in teacher education, including portfolio and other assessment requirements, are subject to change within the time span of one’s University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.

Benchmark I: Candidate Status -- Admission to the School of Education    

Candidate status is achieved by being approved for admission to the School of Education (SOE). Admission to candidate status is required of all undergraduate students majoring in a program in the School of Education or the College of Arts and Sciences that leads to teacher certification. Admission is based on a student’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Admission must be approved by the Office of Teacher Education and Certification (OTEC) before, and as a prerequisite to, enrollment in level 2 coursework, including all teaching methodology courses. 

Online Application Process 

Application Deadlines

All students must apply for admission to the SOE no later than the semester before they are scheduled to enroll in level 2 coursework, including all teaching methodology courses. Applications for admission will be accepted according to the following deadlines:

Fall Admission: for enrollment in level 2 courses offered in the fall term:

Spring Admission: for enrollment in level 2 courses offered in the spring term.

Summer Admission: for enrollment in level 2 courses offered in the summer term.

Admission Requirements

Student's who apply according to the established deadlines will receive a decision letter by e-mail from the Office of Teacher Education and Certification and an official updated education plan identifying the coursework completed and the requirements to complete prior to student teaching. If a student has not met all admission requirements and been approved for admission to the School of Education by the established deadline, enrollment in level 2 coursework will not be permitted.

Benchmark II: Admission to Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

The process and requirements for reaching this benchmark include:

  1. Minimum cumulative SXU GPA of 2.5;
  2. Successfully complete all professional education courses except EDU 345 (Seminar) or Senior Seminar, all general education courses, and all requirements in the major or in the area of concentration. A minimum grade of C must be earned in all courses;
  3. Proof of passing the ICTS content-area test(s) appropriate to the major at a time that assures reporting of results prior to the start of student teaching according to the deadlines established by the Office of Teacher Education and Certification;
  4. Submission of the electronic LiveText portfolio to the Office of Teacher Education and Certification, and successful completion of an Educators Symposium the semester prior to student teaching;
  5. Submission of an online application for student teaching placement by January 15 for a fall or spring placement the following year;
  6. Completion of all required health screenings;
  7. Completion of all required field experience hours;
  8. Submission of an updated CBI, if requested.

Benchmark III: Exit from Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

The process and requirements for reaching this stage include:

  1. A minimum cumulative SXU GPA of 2.5;
  2. Satisfactory ratings by supervisor and cooperating teacher on Office of Teacher Education and Certification instructional feedback forms;
  3. Grade of C or better in clinical practice;
  4. Successful completion of EDU 345 (Seminar) appropriate to the program;

Benchmark IV: Program Completion

The process and requirements for this benchmark include:

  1. Minimum cumulative SXU GPA of 2.5;
  2. Successful completion of the clinical practice experience and EDU 345 with a grade of C or better;
  3. Completion of all degree requirements as required by the program and University;
  4. Proof of passing the appropriate ICTS assessment of professional teaching test (required for certification, but not graduation);
  5. Submission of all required documents and fees to Office of Teacher Education and Certification and attendance at a certification workshop during the semester of student teaching to formally request a recommendation for certification from the SOE certification officer.

Transferability of Professional Education Courses

Level 2 courses in Professional Education must be completed at Saint Xavier University. PSYCH 201 must be completed at Saint Xavier University, or its equivalent at a 4-year institution if it is on the Illinois State Board of Education’s approved list of middle school courses and accepted for comparable content by SXU’s certification officer in the School of Education.

( ) = credit hours / / = classroom hours

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