School of Education

Return to: Academic Majors and Degrees

www.millikin.edu/education

Chris Cunnings, Director
SOE Office • (217) 424-6244

School of Education Faculty and Staff

Full-Time: Hee Young Choi, Kaitlin Glause, Karen Lauritzen, Denice Love, Apryl Riley
Licensure and Student Teaching Coordinator: Lindsey Waller
Administrative Assistant: Emily Fitzgerald

Accreditation and Approval

The School of Education, in the College of Professional Studies, is an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Approved Program Provider for the Preparation of Educational Personnel in Illinois Institutions of Higher Education.

Illinois requires that all candidates for an initial teacher’s license complete a state-approved program at a recognized teacher education institution. Also, Illinois currently requires the passing of a content test, and may also require the passing of the EdTPA, in the major field. While some courses contain assessment fees to cover licensure tasks and assessments, students must pay for other applicable licensure fees out of pocket (e.g., content test fees, ISBE licensure fees upon program completion).

Mission of the School of Education

Our mission in keeping with James Millikin’s founding vision, seeks to create communities of learners and learning environments that value diversity and that are fair to and equitable for all students. It seeks to prepare educators who live, learn and teach respect for themselves and others and establish caring, empathetic interactions that promote students’ intellectual, social and personal development.

Approved Education Programs

• Art Education (grades K-12)
• Elementary Education (grades 1-6)
• English Language Arts Education (grades 9-12)
• Mathematics Education (grades 9-12)
• Music Education (grades K-12)
• Physical Education (grades K-12)
• Science Education: Biology (grades 9-12)
• Social Science Education: History (grades 9-12)

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The School of Education’s student learning outcomes are aligned to the Illinois State Board of Education’s professional teaching standards and grouped into the following four organizing themes:

The professional educator engages in active learning.

• The learner constructs knowledge of the central concepts, methods of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) by connecting professional, liberal education and life experiences and by connecting theory and practice. From a passion for the knowledge gained, they create learning experiences that engage all students and make the content meaningful to them.
• The learner values reflection, continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.

The professional educator creates communities of learning.

• The learner understands how individuals grow, develop and learn and provides learning opportunities that support-with care and empathy-the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of all students.
• The learner understands how individuals differ in their approaches to learning and creates learning environments that value and appreciate human diversity, how respect for students’ varied talents and perspectives and that are fair and equitable to all students.
• The learner draws on an understanding of individual and group motivation to create effective learning environments that encourage self-discipline, respect for self and others, and responsible problem solving.
• The learner fosters critical thinking, active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom through effective written, verbal, nonverbal and visual communication techniques.

The professional educator facilitates learning for others.

• The learning understands instructional planning and designs instruction based on research that integrates content, pedagogy, and the needs of students.
• The learner understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies that result in active, relevant learning and encourages students’ development as creative, effective lifelong learners
• The learner understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and uses them to encourage authentic learning and continuous development for all students

The professional educator collaborates with others.

• The learner understands the role of the community in education; develops and maintains collaborative relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and the community; and advocates for student learning and well-being.
• The learner understands education as a profession, maintains standards of professional conduct, provides leadership to improve student learning and well-being and shape social change, and demonstrates a willingness to give and receive help.

Academic Advisors for School of Education Candidates

Members of the Elementary Education Department act as advisors for Elementary Education majors.  Students in the K-12 and Secondary programs are officially advised by faculty in their major, with assistance from education faculty and staff.  When adding an education major or additional endorsement area, students must inform the SOE Licensure Officer of the change.

School of Education Policies

Education programs at Millikin draw heavily on offerings of the colleges and schools that comprise the University. These programs are overseen by the Committee on Teacher Education Programs (CTEP) under the leadership of the Director of the School of Education, who has the responsibility and authority for their overall administration and operation. In addition, CTEP sets policy for all ISBE-approved licensure programs offered at Millikin University. The committee has the responsibility to plan, approve, and monitor the educator preparation curricula in accordance with University policies and requirements governing general education, majors, degrees, and graduation. It shall develop policies which govern the admission and retention of candidates in the teacher programs. CTEP works closely with faculty across the university who design, offer, and evaluate the courses and field internships that comprise its programs. The Director of the School of Education, who also assists Millikin’s licensure officer, coordinates the programs among the various colleges, departments, committees, and students, with national and state organizations, and with the Illinois State Board of Education. The Director serves as Unit Head and is responsible to the Committee on Teacher Education Programs and has the final authority for recommending policy, evaluating programs, carrying out CTEP decisions, and reviewing candidate eligibility for (1) admission to teacher education programs, (2) admission to student teaching, and (3) entitlement for licensure. Students, please refer to the School of Education handbook for specific policy guidelines.

Clinical Experiences Requirement

Prior to student teaching, all education majors are required to complete 100 internship hours. In addition, it is preferable/recommended that at least one internship placement should have occurred in a diverse setting (e.g., Decatur Public Schools), as evidenced by the internship evaluation form. 

Additional requirements for student teaching can be found in the Student Teaching Handbook and/or School of Education Handbook. Accounting procedures, policies, and clinical experience records are maintained in the School of Education office.

Admission to Student Teaching

One year prior to the expected student teaching semester, the candidate must complete an application for student teaching. Student Teaching Applications are typically due in November and April of each academic year, shortly after Advising Day. The candidate must complete the application for student teaching. This application must be signed by the academic advisor in the education licensure program and turned into the School of Education’s Licensure Officer/Student Teaching Coordinator.  Student teaching candidates must meet all the following requirements for admission to student teaching:

1. Admission/retention in the School of Education
2. A cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher
3. A major GPA higher than the listed minimum set by the department/School (see below)
4. A passing score on the Illinois Content Area Test required for the program, passed no later than the end of the ED420 semester
5. Successful completion of the pre-student teaching clinical experience and ED420
6. All courses in the major on file with the Illinois State Board of Education have grades of C- or higher
7. Approval of the SOE Director if necessary (e.g., one course for licensure/graduation needs to be completed over an immersion term)

Timeline for Completing the Illinois Content Area Test

The Illinois State Board of Education requires that all education licensure candidates must pass their respective content test prior to student teaching.  A passing score must be received–from the ILTS score reporting system–by the SOE’s Licensure Officer and/or Director no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching. Should a candidate not have a passing Content Test Score on record with ISBE by this time, they will be dis-enrolled from student teaching and their placement will be cancelled/deferred. Student teaching candidates are encouraged to register for (and attempt) their content tests between Junior and Senior year, and prior to (or very early in) the ED420 semester.

Student Teaching Experience

As the culminating requirement for educator licensure programs, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a fourteen-week (560 hour) student teaching experience. Students must have been admitted to the student teaching semester (and met all requirements specified above) and pay a student teaching fee of $400, which is billed with tuition.  This fee directly supports cooperating teachers and field supervisors.

Student teaching placement sites are typically local placements within a 40-mile radius of Decatur (but public and private/parochial).  Other site offerings may be available; students should reach out to the Millikin University Licensure Officer/Student Teaching Coordinator for additional information about approved student teaching placement sites.

Major Grade Point Averages for Admission to Student Teaching

• Art Education 2.7
• Elementary Education 2.7
• English Language Arts Education 2.7
• Mathematics Education 2.5
• Music Education 2.7 (no grade less than C- in ME 251 , ME 341 , ME 450 /ME 451 , ME 460 /ME 461 )
• Physical Education 2.7
• Science Education: Biology 2.7
• Social Science Education: History 2.7

Program Completion/Entitlement for Licensure

Candidates are approved for licensure when they have met the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of student teaching experience (grade no lower than a B-)
2. Successful completion of all coursework for degree program (cumulative GPA 2.7 or higher)
3. Successful completion of all Embedded Signature Assessments
4. Satisfactory dispositions
5. Passing score of all ISBE requirements

Return to: Academic Majors and Degrees