Frequently Asked Questions about English Education at ISU

• How do I get admitted to the English education track?
• What are the GPA requirements for English education?
• What certification tests do I need to take and when do I take them?
• How do I get admitted to professional studies?
• What are teacher education technology orientations (TED) are required for admission to professional studies, and how do I sign up for them?
• How do I get departmental approval for admission to professional studies (gateway one) or admission to student teaching (gateway two)?
• If I already have a bachelor's degree in English, how can I get certified to teach?
• When do I take the English methods courses (ENG 296 and 297)?
• When and how do I apply for student teaching?
• Who do I contact for more information?

How do I get admitted to the English education track?
Students who want to be admitted to English education should fill out an application for English, which can be found on the website or in WIH 315.  Applications are reviewed in September and February of each year, and applicants will be notified by email when they are accepted to the major.  English Education students must meet the GPA requirements in order to be admitted (cumulative GPA of 2.50 and major GPA of 2.75).

What are the GPA requirements for English education?
All English education majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and a major GPA of 2.75.  The major GPA is includes all English courses in the plan of study.

What certification tests do I need to take and when do I take them?

• The Basic Skills Test (# 96) should be taken as a freshman or sophomore, or if you are a transfer student, as soon as you arrive at ISU.  You must have passed it by the time you complete C&I 212 because you will not be allowed to register for C&I 214 and 216 without having a passing score recorded.
• The Content Area for English Language Arts Test (# 111) should be taken during one of the semesters you are enrolled in the English methods classes (ENG 296 or 297).  You must have a passing score recorded before you will be allowed to register for student teaching.
• The Assessment of Professional Teaching Test for Grades 6-12 (# 103) should be taken after you have had some classroom experience.  You may take the APT (or pedagogy) test with your English methods classes, during the semester of student teaching, or just after you complete student teaching.  You must have a passing score on the test before you can apply for a teaching certificate.  (Currently the APT is not an ISU graduation requirement.)

You register for the certification tests through the following website: www.icts.nesinc.com.  Instructions for taking the tests, study guides, and sample questions are also available at this site.

How do I get admitted to professional studies?
Admission to professional studies is based on completion of all requirements in gateway one: reflective essay (written in C&I 212), 30 hours of coursework, cumulative GPA of 2.50, major GPA of 2.75, Technology Passports (ITPS) # 1-4, basic skills test, COM 110, departmental approval, Legal & Ethical Conduct form, Experience with Youth form, ENG 101/145, and two technology orientations (PBA and LiveText).  ITPS # 1-4 instructions can be found at the following website:  www.itps.ilstu.edu.  The forms can be downloaded at http://www.coe.ilstu.edu/teacheredcenter/cecp/teacher_ed_reqs/index.shtml and should be turned in to the Teacher Ed Center in DeGarmo 56.

What are teacher education technology orientations (TED) are required for admission to professional studies, and how do I sign up for them? 
Students must complete two technology orientations: a PBA orientation that explains the performance-based assessment system, and a LiveText orientation that explains the electronic portfolio system used by ISU.  Register for the TED orientations at the following site: www.coe.ilstu.edu/eregistration.

How do I get departmental approval for admission to professional studies (gateway one) or admission to student teaching (gateway two)?
Departmental approval is based on two factors: GPA and passing the state certification tests.  In order to get departmental approval for admission to professional studies, you need to have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 and a major GPA of at least 2.75.  (The major GPA is based on the English courses in your plan of study.)  You also need to have passed the Basic Skills test.  In order to get departmental approval for student teaching, you need to have maintained the same GPA (both cumulative and major) and have passed the content area test.  Contact the English ed advisor to get these approvals.

If I already have a bachelor's degree in English, how can I get certified to teach?
There are two programs for certification: a second bachelor's degree and a certification-only program.  In each program, students must complete all of the required courses for the English ed major at ISU, the three state certification tests, and all of the gateway requirements, and a full semester of student teaching.  To earn a second bachelor's degree in English education, students must also complete at least 32 hours at ISU and meet the foreign language requirement for the BA.  To earn certification only, there is no minimum number of hours that must be completed and the foreign language requirement does not apply.  ISU does not have a teaching certification program in English at the graduate level.

When do I take the English methods courses (ENG 296 and 297)?
The English methods courses (ENG 296 and 297) are restricted to students who have submitted applications for student teaching, and preference will be given to students who have been admitted to professional studies.  You must have completed C&I 216 or concurrently be registered for it in order to take ENG 296, as well as having completed a student teaching application.  ENG 296 is a prerequisite for ENG 297.  You take ENG 296 two semesters before student teaching, and you take ENG 297 in the last semester before student teaching.  The methods courses in English are not taught in the summer.

When and how do I apply for student teaching?
You must apply for student teaching both to the English Department and to the office of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP). 

Applying for Student Teaching at the English Department
You apply for student teaching in English three semesters (excluding summer) before you plan to student teach.  For example, if you want to student teach in fall 08, you would apply to English for student teaching in spring 07.  (The three semesters before student teaching are spring 07, fall 07, and spring 08.)  If you want to student teach in spring 09, you would apply for student teaching in fall 07.  Applications for student teaching in English will be distributed at a mandatory meeting near the start of each semester.  These meetings will be announced over the English Dept listserv, as well as by signs displayed throughout Stevenson Hall. For additional information contact Linda Lienhart llienha@ilstu.edu, Coordinator of Clinical Experiences for the Department of English.

Applying for Student Teaching at the office of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP)
You apply for student teaching with CECP in the fall for the following school year.  For example, if you want to student teach in fall 07 or spring 08, you would apply to CECP for student teaching in fall 06.  Applications and instructions can be found at the teacher education website: www.coe.ilstu.edu/teacheredcenter.  Applications are due by October 15th of each year.  It is your responsibility to complete this application.

Student teachers will not be proposed for placements until they have completed applications for both the English Department and the CECP.

Who do I contact for more information?
For more information, please contact the English Education Advisor.