Originally founded as the Addison Teachers Seminary in 1864, the University has prepared teachers for over 150 years for the classrooms of the world. More than a dozen CUC graduates have been recognized by the highly prestigious Golden Apple Foundation for outstanding teaching, which speaks volumes about the level of training students receive.

The College of Education prepares candidates to teach early childhood and Kindergarten through grade 12. In addition to public and private school teaching, we also prepare candidates to teach in Lutheran schools and congregations in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. There are two areas of preparation programs offered by the College. The first area of preparation includes the College’s approved Professional Educator Licensure programs that lead to the Illinois Professional Educator License for various grade levels and endorsements. The second area of preparation programs do not lead to Illinois Licensure but are for educators who wish to serve in alternative educational settings in the United States and internationally. See a full description in the Education Studies Degree section below.

Students are trained by experienced educators who themselves are teachers with years of practical classroom experience. College of Education faculty understands the day-to-day challenges students encounter because they have been in classrooms themselves. Concordia-Chicago faculty strive to thoroughly prepare their students for the realities they will face as a teacher in 21st-century classrooms. CUC’s location near Chicago provides access to a rich socio-economic learning environment at the crossroads of urban and suburban communities.

Degree programs focus on the latest techniques, using the latest technology. Students also benefit from specialized classroom resources dedicated to teaching the content of a specific discipline.

The College of Education is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and all Concordia-Chicago degrees are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

New Grade Requirement

A minimum grade of C or higher is required for all courses taken in the major at CUC.

Professional Educator Preparation 

Concordia University Chicago was established in 1864 for the training of teachers for the parish schools of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Today, the College continues to be central to the mission of the University. The College of Education prepares public, private, and parochial educators and Directors of Christian Education to serve the church and society. 

The College of Education faculty supports the formation of professional educators through integrating the concepts of integrity, competence and servant leadership into the curriculum. The CUC teacher graduate is prepared to enter public and private school classrooms and parishes as servant leaders to serve with integrity and demonstrate competence. These competencies manifest themselves in professional dispositions marked by concern and care graduates afford every pupil in the service and leadership they provide for school and community.

Technology Requirement

The use of mobile computing technology, including tablets, laptops, and netbooks, is common in  many American classrooms. Teachers entering into classrooms need to be prepared for a rich one-to-one computing environment. Education majors are encouraged to bring their tablet or laptop to campus for use in their courses, clinical experiences and student teaching Internships.  

Professional Education Programs 

The College of Education prepares educators for careers in early childhood (birth to grade 2), elementary (grade 1 to grade 6), middle school (grade 5 to grade 8), special education (ages K-21) and secondary school classrooms (grade 9 to grade 12). Specialty K-12 programs are offered to prepare teachers in the areas of Music, Foreign Language–Spanish, Physical Education and Art. 

The College of Education at Concordia University Chicago has been accredited since 1962 by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)/Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP). This accreditation covers the institution’s initial teacher preparation and advanced educator preparation programs. These programs also are approved by the State of Illinois Board of Education (ISBE) and have been since 1919. CUC graduates receive the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music Education degree according to their area of preparation for Illinois Professional Educator Licensure.

Teacher Education Licensure Programs Requirements

The State of Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensing Board (SEPLB), and accreditors, Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP) require teacher preparation institutions to have a continuous assessment policy in force to evaluate teacher candidates throughout their programs. The College of Education meets these requirements with formative and summative assessments of teacher candidates integrated throughout the curriculum. Teacher candidates must also earn a grade of C or higher in every course that leads to entitlement to be licensed to teach. Concordia-Chicago has established an assessment system with four transition points to meet these mandates. The Transition Points and their requirements are listed below.

Transition Point One: Acceptance to Teacher Candidacy

Education majors move from education major status to Teacher Candidate status at this first transition point. Teacher candidates are eligible to begin their specialized training in methods, classroom management, assessment of learning, and other professional clinicals and coursework. To become a teacher candidate, the education major must submit an application to the College of Education. 

Teacher candidacy is a prerequisite for Professional Program (methods) courses in each Education Program. Each potential candidate must submit an application to the College of Education  by November 15 or May 15. The admission requirements that make up a complete application include:

Undergraduates:  

• Submit the completed Application and supporting documentation to the Office of Field Experience in the College of Education.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher for coursework completed at Concordia-Chicago
• Required prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Hours
  ENG-1100	English Composition	3
  COM-1100	Speech Communication	3
  MAT-1412	Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers: Geometry, Statistics, Functions (or above)	3
  EDUC-1050	Introduction to American Education	3
  or EDUC-1060	Intro to American Education for Public & Lutheran Teachers
  EDUC-1070	Media and Technology in the Classroom	3
  EDUC-2020	Human and Cognitive Development	3

Bachelor of Music Education students must also:

• Pass MUS-3650 Piano Proficiency test ( Must attain a passing score on piano proficiency test prior to admission to the College of Education Teacher Candidacy.)
• Achieve a minimum of 2.75 GPA in the major.

Undergraduates:

• Fingerprint Criminal Background Check results on file with the Office of Field Work Experience
• Minimum of 20 pre-professional hours on file in the Office of Field Experience
• Completed Dispositional Assessment of CUC Conceptual Framework complete by candidate
• Successful completion of the Admission Interview (offered each fall and spring)

Following each deadline, a candidate’s Completed Application with all admission requirements and documents will be submitted to the Teacher Education Admission Committee (TEAC) for review. TEAC will review all applications and determine teacher candidacy. Candidates will receive a letter from the College of Education informing him or her of admitted status.

Transition Point Two: Acceptance to the Student Teaching Internship Semester

The Semester of Internship is classroom teaching with a mentor cooperating teacher. Candidates must be accepted to the Internship before they are given a placement in student teaching. The Office of Field Experience publishes deadlines for applications to the internship semester.

The Teacher Education Admission Committee approves candidates for acceptance to the Student Teaching Internship.

To be considered for admission to the student teaching internship, the candidate must:

• Submit the completed Application to the Student Teaching Internship and supporting documentation to the Office of Field Experience on or before the deadline date.
• Pass the appropriate Content Area Test for your program from the State of Illinois Testing System (www.icts.nesinc.com).
• Complete a minimum of 80 hours of the required 100 hours of Field and Clinical Experiences and submit field experience documents to the Office of Field Experience for approval. The entire 100 hours must be completed prior to beginning the internship.
• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
• Complete all Content and Methods course(s) in the program of study with a grade of C or higher.
• Have earned a grade of C or higher in all coursework applied to their professional program requirements.
• Meet requirements of a valid Fingerprint Criminal Background Check to the Office of Field Experience.
• Complete First Aid/CPR Certification training and submit documentation of completion to the Office of Field Experience.

Transition Point Three: Completion of the Student Teaching Internship Semester

Successful completion of the internship requires:

• Satisfactory completion of the Internship by meeting or exceeding all required benchmarks.
• Prepare and present documentation of positive impacts on student learning from your internship teaching (PIP). 
• Complete all state-required assessments enforced at the time of the internship.
• Receive a passing score on the edTPA assessment of teacher performance.
• The College of Education Student Manual provides details and guidelines for the meeting the criteria for successful completion of the Internship Semester.

Transition Point Four: Completion of Program

To complete the Teacher Preparation program and be eligible for educator licensure in the state of Illinois, the candidate who has completed all program requirements and the internship must:

• Meet the requirements of the edTPA Portfolio at the time of program completion.

Placement/Career Services

Concordia University Chicago maintains two offices that provide placement/career services to all students planning to enter the profession of teaching.

• The Synodical Placement Office manages placement into all programs offered by the University leading to professional work in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
  • Candidates must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.75 for all prescribed Theology requirements, with a grade of C or better in all courses used for the calculation, and no course taken under the Pass/Fail grade option.
• The Career Services Office offers job assistance to students in public education.

Education Minor (18 hours)

Students studying in other disciplines often find a minor in Education to be of value. To serve these students, the College of Education offers a minor in Education. The 18-hour minor provides basic grounding in education practices while encouraging students to explore more focused areas in the professional coursework. This minor does not lead to licensure or endorsement.

Bachelor of Science in Education Studies (120 hours)

The Bachelor of Science in Education Studies degree is available for education majors experiencing difficulty in meeting the state requirements to achieve a state of Illinois teaching license or deciding not to teach but still desire to work in alternative education settings. Student will follow the same path to meet the education program requirements for their area of concentration. Students complete all program requirements with exception of the state content tests, edTPA and internships. The Bachelor of Science in Education Studies does not lead to state licensure. See the specific program descriptions to learn about the specific concentration requirements as listed in the previous sections.

Students will follow a similar path to meet the Education program requirements for one of the following areas of concentration in education studies:

• Early Childhood Education Studies
• Elementary Education Studies
• Middle School Education Studies
• Secondary Education Studies
• Special Education Studies 
• Music Education Studies
• Physical Education Studies
• Spanish Education Studies

Teacher candidates deciding to switch to Education Studies must submit a letter of request to the Dean of the College of Education. Upon approval, the student will continue to pursue the program requirements for the area of concentration they have chosen with exception of the student teaching internship. See the specific education program to learn about the specific concentration requirements as listed in the program areas.

Electives

Students in Education Studies will choose additional elective coursework from any disciplinary content area to earn the 120 credit hours to meet graduation requirements.

Returning Candidates for Initial Professional Educator License

Alumni who have completed an Education Studies degree at Concordia University Chicago within the last 4 years and who desire to return to earn Illinois Licensure may attend Concordia University Chicago as a guest student to complete a current approved licensure program in the area of concentration completed. Candidates will have 2 years to complete all requirements, including the Student Teaching Internship. Alumni must receive faculty advising and permission to enter the program from the coordinator of the program in which they seek licensure. Note, all state requirements, tests, internships and program requirements, in force at the time of re-entry, must be met to be entitled. Schedule an appointment with The College of Education program coordinator for the full details and paperwork. Below is the written policy and procedure. 

Policy and Procedures:

1. The candidate will submit the Education Studies Return Form to the Office of Field Experience (OFE).
2. Once the form is submitted, the OFE will notify the College of Education (COE) Faculty Advisor.
   1. Audit Form will be provided by the Office of Field Experience to the Faculty Advisor.
   2. A review and audit of the candidate’s program will be completed by the COE Faculty Advisor.
   3. The COE Faculty Advisor will review the completed program to determine if all current Illinois State Board of Education requirements are met.
   4. The COE Faculty Advisor will provide the Compliance Coordinator a copy of the audit and the candidate’s comprehensive plan.
   5. The COE Faculty Advisor will meet with the candidate to discuss the results of the audit. Each candidate will receive a comprehensive plan, for planning and tracking purposes.
   6. A copy of the audit and comprehensive plan will be returned to the Office of Field Experience.
3. The Candidate will apply to Concordia University to obtain “Guest Student” status.  
4. It is recommended the candidate schedule a meeting with Financial Aid to determine eligibility.
5. The Candidate will be required to apply for the Student Teaching Internship**
   1. **Candidate cannot enter internship until all ISBE requirements are met.
6. The candidate will meet with the Office of Field Experience to discuss placement options and hand in the required paperwork.
7. Please be aware, depending on timeframe and availability, returning students might not be placed in the next available semester of student teaching.
8. **Students previously referred to the Teacher Candidate Counseling and Review Board (TCCRB) will remain under the conditions of any established remediation plan until successfully completing coursework and student teaching.

Transferring to Concordia University Chicago’s Teacher Education Programs

Concordia University Chicago’s College of Education has transfer opportunities for students to complete teacher preparation for candidates who hold the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) from community college programs approved by the state of Illinois and students who wish to enter with coursework completed at other colleges and universities. Transfer options for area community colleges can be found on the College of Education’s web page on the Concordia University Chicago website. Concordia University Chicago has articulation agreements with some local community colleges that provide seamless transition from ATT degrees to Concordia-Chicago’s professional education programs in the areas of Early Childhood and Elementary education. Check with an admission counselor for details.

Advanced Placement (AP) and CLEP Credit

The University grants credit for the General Examination of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students may receive 3-15 semester hours of credit based on the score achieved on the exam. The University normally will grant credit for above-average scores on the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board.

• A score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Examination for the College Board (AP) will be considered equal to a grade of C or better for General Education.
• A score of 50 or higher on the General Examination of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will be considered equal to a grade of C or higher.

Professional Education Degree programs available through the College of Education:

Students qualifying for the Elementary or Secondary Illinois Educator Licensure may complete additional requirements to be eligible for:

• Middle Grades Endorsements in specific subject areas
• Special Education Endorsement
• Secondary  Endorsements in the Content Areas
• ESL Endorsement

Concordia University Chicago Education programs are listed on the State of Illinois Directory of Approved programs offered at Colleges and Universities at www.isbe.net/profprep/PDFs/directory.pdf.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the College of Education must meet all University requirements found in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Specific requirements of the College of Education include the following:

• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all college-level coursework completed at CUC.
•  Earn a grade of C or higher for courses serving as prerequisites for other courses.
• Earn a grade of D- or higher for general education courses that are not prerequisites for other courses. 
• Earn a grade of C or higher in coursework applied to Professional Program requirements.
• Earn a grade of C or higher for Professional Instructional (Methods) course(s).
•  A passing score on the Illinois State Licensure Test(s) (taken prior to student teaching for those seeking licensure).
•  A passing score on the EdTPA (for those seeking licensure).
•  A passing grade for the Student Teaching Internship and a passing grade for both semesters of the DCE internship.

The College of Education Initial Licensure Program has a stipulation indicating that students in the COE may not take any course as Pass/Fail without permission of the Division Chair or College Dean. Students may not take a course as Pass/Fail if the course is mandated by their licensure program through ISBE. Students may not take a course as Pass/Fail including courses with the following course codes - EDEC, EDEL, EDMG, EDSC, EDSP, EDKS and EDUC.  The student teaching internship course and the edTPA course are excluded from this policy because they are automatically Pass/Fail.  General education courses outside of the required licensure programs may be taken as Pass/Fail if they are in alignment with the University policy.

In addition to the overall minimum credits for the degree major, minor, endorsement, and special programs (Honors Program for example) requirements are also necessary if they have been declared. Deficiency in any area of the program will delay awarding of the degree and will require filing of a new intent to graduate. Students may elect to drop minors, additional endorsements, or other special programs if they present an obstacle to graduation.