Welcome to the Chemistry with Teacher Education Sequence Program
The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Chemistry with teacher education sequence provides a strong background in the basic concepts of analytical, organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry for the student who is interested in a career in science teaching at the secondary level.
Teacher Certification
This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Initial High School Certificate qualifying students to teach chemistry. Students who major in Chemistry with a sequence in Secondary Education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours in the psychology of early adolescent development and three hours in curriculum instruction and methods related to the middle school. Students should contact the Office of Secondary Education for specific course numbers.
To be recommended for certification, the student must present evidence of having passed the basic skills and subject matter knowledge examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education to issue the Initial High School Certificate Endorsed in Chemistry.
Students must meet other requirements for certification through approved programs listed in the Teacher Education and Certification section in this catalog.
Admission to Chemistry Teacher Education
In addition to meeting all university admission requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:
- have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher in all lower division course work applied to the degree program;
- submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
- submit evidence of having passed the Basic Skills Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System;
- submit scores from the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP); and
- complete EDUC310 (Foundations of Education, or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better.
All candidates for Illinois teacher certification at Governors State University are required to submit to an Adam Walsh fingerprint-based criminal background check by Accurate Biometrics prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information on this testing and available test sites, please visit accuratebiometrics.com. Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.
Student Progress
The faculty monitors and evaluates student progress continually. The section, Teacher Education and Certification, in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the secondary education faculty is available in the Secondary Education Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Conditional Continuation
The faculty may permit a student to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the student’s records identify evidence that the student will likely be successful in the program. The status of all students allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each trimester, and the students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the student is informed in writing of the transfer to good standing status. A student may not be admitted to student teaching without being in good standing status.
Admission to Student Teaching
Students must apply for admission to student teaching before enrolling in EDUC499: Student Teaching. An application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the director of Field Experiences in the Division of Education. The application must be submitted by December 1 for the fall trimester and January 31 for the winter trimester preceding the academic year in which the student intends to teach. Student teaching is not offered in the spring/summer trimester. This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:
- completed at least 59 hours of general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in courses taken at Governors State University;
- completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including a minimum of 100 clock-hours of field experience with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “C” or better in each course, and EDUC433 and EDUC434 with a grade of “B” or better;
- must have completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
- have no more than six hours remaining to be completed in the major in which he/she is enrolled with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, completing all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
- met all state requirements applicable to the subject matter area(s) in which he/she will teach as outlined in Section IX, Staff Qualifications of the Illinois State Board of Education publication, Minimum Requirements for State Certificates;
- submit evidence of having passed the Chemistry Content Area examination of the Illinois Certification Testing System; and
- receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.
Secondary Education Handbook
