The Lutheran Teacher Education (LTE) Program coursework can be added to the Early Childhood Education Studies degree. The required coursework to be certified by the Faculty to enter into the Educational Ministry of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod as a Commissioned Minister of the Gospel must be completed. Successful completion of the courses with a GPA of 2.75 in the LTE courses is required to be eligible to receive a Call to teach in the educational institutions of the Church. Students completing all the prescribed coursework will be identified as having completed a Theology Minor on their transcripts. With this minor and the Early Childhood Education Studies degree, candidates are able to receive positions in preschool and daycare programs where licensure is not required.
For those who complete the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Studies degree and return to Concordia University for Illinois Educator Licensure:
It will be the responsibility of the Associate Dean and Program Coordinator to determine the candidate’s eligibility for student teaching. The candidate will be required to apply for guest student status and must meet the program requirements and state licensure requirements in place at the time of the application. This may involve additional coursework and/or testing.
General Undergraduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago undergraduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into undergraduate degree-seeking programs for online (ADP) and on-campus (Traditional) study in the fall and spring semesters. If you have any questions please work with your admissions advisors.
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.
- A minimum grade of C for all courses taken in a major at CUC.
- A passing score on the Illinois State Licensure Test(s) (taken prior to student teaching for those seeking licensure).
- For your endorsement’s specific test requirement please refer to ISBE’s webpage (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License.aspx) or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu
- 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.
- Payments of all tuition and fees due to Concordia University Chicago. All holds must be removed to receive transcripts and diploma.
Licensure Requirements
This program leads to Illinois licensure with direct University entitlement. The awarding of initial Illinois teaching licensure will require the completion of your academic program, a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), and a passing score on the edTPA. For your licensure’s specific test requirements please refer to ISBE’s webpage https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx) or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.