Chemistry Education Certificate

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This is a post-baccalaureate certificate to prepare graduates of Chemistry programs for teacher licensure in Chemistry at the secondary education level offered through the College of Arts and Sciences.

Teacher Licensure

This sequence of courses is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Initial Secondary License in Chemistry. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, students must earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone: Chemistry.

Recommendation for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license, requires passage of the Subject-Matter Knowledge examination of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and the national education Teaching Performance Assessment (edTPA).

Students must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in this catalog. This requirement is likely to include additional general education and content courses.

Students may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students choosing to pursue the middle school endorsement must take three credit-hours in methods related to middle school. Students should contact their academic advisor for specific course requirements.

Admission to Chemistry Education

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements, applicants for the Chemistry Education license must meet the following requirements:

1. have a bachelor’s or higher in Chemistry from a regionally accredited college or university;
2. have a cumulative average G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program; and
3. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher.

Continuation in the Certificate

In order to continue in the certificate after the first term of enrollment, students must complete EDUC-2310 (or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better.

All candidates for Illinois teacher licensure at Governors State University are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information on this testing visit www.certifiedbackground.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 Licensure, 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 Student Handbook available via the student portal on the GSU website.

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 semester, 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.

Student Handbook

The Student Handbook Undergraduate Degrees in Secondary Education referred to in this catalog is available online at http://www.govst.edu/Academics/Colleges_and_Programs/College_of_Arts_and_Sciences/Secondary_Education_Programs_in_Biology,_Chemistry,_English_and_Mathematics/

Admission to Student Teaching

Before enrolling in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone, an application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the Director of Educator Preparation in the College of Education. The application must be submitted by December 1 for the fall term and March1 for the spring term preceding the academic year in which the student intends to teach. Student teaching is not offered in the summer term. This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:

1. 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;
2. 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 EDUC-6330, EDUC-6340, and BIOL-6080 with a grade of “B” or better;
3. must have completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
4. have no more than six hours remaining to be completed in the major in which the student is enrolled with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and completed all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
5. met all state requirements applicable to the subject matter area(s) in which the student will teach as outlined in Section IX, Staff Qualifications of the Illinois State Board of Education publication, Minimum Requirements for State Licensure;
6. submitted evidence of having passed the Chemistry content area exam of the Illinois Licensure Testing System; and
7. received a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a license, and in addition, students must complete the general education requirement for teacher licensure Initial High School License listed in the Teacher Education section of this catalog.

In addition, students must:

1. have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
2. earn a grade of “C” or better in all general education courses;
3. have a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher for all general education courses;
4. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in chemistry, biology, earth/space sciences, and physics courses with a grade of “C” or better;
5. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for EDUC-3440 and SPED-6101, with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
6. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-2310, EDUC-6330, EDUC-6340, and BIOL-6080;
7. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999;
8. complete a minimum of 100 clock-hours of supervised pre-student teaching experiences;
9. provide evidence of successful completion of the Illinois and U.S. Constitution examinations;
10. complete at least one three-hour course in non-western or third world cultures;
11. show evidence of having passed the edTPA;
12. meet any additional requirements listed in the Teacher Licensure section of this catalog; and
13. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

Professional Education (minimum of 30 Hours)

The following courses can be taken at either the lower-division or upper-division level:

• EDUC - 2310 Foundations of Education (3)

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• SPED - 2100 Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3) /
• SPED - 6101 Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3)

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The following courses must be taken at the upper-division level:

• EDUC - 3440 Educational Psychology II: Learning, Assessment and Classroom Management (3)
• EDUC - 4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone (12)
• EDUC - 6330 Principles of Science Education (3)
• EDUC - 6301 Secondary Microteaching 1 (1)
• EDUC - 6340 Teaching Secondary School Science (3)
• EDUC - 6302 Secondary Microteaching 2 (1)
• BIOL - 6080 Special Topics in Biology (3)

Additional Requirements

Students may need to complete additional general education or Chemistry courses if their bachelor degree requirements do not meet the requirements of the approved Governors State University program for the endorsement in Chemistry Education.

Minimum Total of 30 Hours

A minimum of 24 credit-hours must be earned at Governors State University.