Undergraduate programs within the Department of Education prepare students to transform schools and communities in the pursuit of knowledge and social justice. Through the continuous evaluation and refinement of academic programs and courses, offerings are kept current and relevant to real-world contexts and professional standards of quality. Experienced, dedicated, and culturally diverse faculty work collaboratively with students to foster knowledge and skills with respect to diverse learners, instruction, assessment, and research. Talent and resources from a variety of disciplines are integrated and used, as are cutting-edge technologies. All programs require a variety of field and clinical experiences that augment and integrate academic studies.

Undergraduates may earn teacher licensure in the State of Illinois in the following areas: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education. Most undergraduates receive a BA degree in education. Secondary teacher candidates choose a major in History, Math, Biology, Biochemistry, or English and a minor in Secondary Education. The Department of Education also works with the Chicago College of Performing Arts to prepare teachers in Music Education. Music teacher candidates major in Music Education. Information about this program is located in the CCPA section of this catalog.

In addition, the Department of Education offers a major and minor in Education and Youth Studies for students who wish to develop foundational knowledge and skills in education without earning teacher licensure.

All programs are offered at the Chicago campus on Michigan Avenue; some courses are offered remotely and online. Elementary Education is also offered at the Harper College Campus in Palatine, IL.  The Department of Education has a history of serving nontraditional as well as traditional undergraduate students, and schedules are designed to meet the needs of full-time as well as part-time students.

Accreditation

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approves all undergraduate teacher preparation programs in the Department of Education.

Admission Requirements

Most undergraduates complete all of their general education requirements prior to formal program admission. Grades below C- are not accepted for these courses. Because general education requirements are subject to change and are different by program, undergraduates must frequently consult with their advisors in the Department of Education.

To be admitted to a teacher preparation program in the Department of Education, all students must present evidence of their capabilities and potential to implement high quality teaching practices informed by the conceptual framework of the Department of Education. At a minimum, students must have achieved a 2.7 grade point average for all collegiate work, inclusive of all courses and grades from other institutions attended by the student (Early Childhood Education Major only: A minimum GPA of 2.0). A minimum of 24 credit hours at Roosevelt University or another higher education institution is required to earn admission.

Professional advisors in the Department of Education will guide students with respect to general education courses, teacher preparation admission requirements, and courses leading to the Education and Youth Studies major or minor. Education courses outside of the Education and Youth Studies major or minor are open only to students who have earned admission to a teacher preparation program.

Endorsements

As undergraduates complete their teacher preparation program, they may earn a special education (LBS I) endorsement, a middle school endorsement, and/or bilingual or ESL endorsements. Students interested in the above endorsements should consult with their advisors and complete application forms through the Department of Education Licensure Officer during the last semester of study. For all licensure and endorsement application forms and information, please contact the Licensure Officer of the Department of Education.

Clinical Experiences

Extensive contact with classrooms and/or community centers and first-hand experience in dealing with everyday problems are critical components of all undergraduate programs. Through its Office of Field Placements, the Department of Education offers a wide variety of field and clinical experiences. Experiences in clinical sites entail observation, tutoring, small-group interactions, and large-group instruction, as well as participation in school and community activities. Field sites range from the city to the suburbs and enable students to interact significantly with culturally diverse learners.

The Office of Field Placements approves all clinical placements taking into consideration the needs and interests of faculty, programs, clinical partners, and students. Under no circumstances should students contact schools or other sites without explicit permission from the Office of Field Placements. Requests for student teaching placements must be submitted two semesters in advance. Applications for student teaching, and other clinical experiences, are available from faculty advisors and from the Office of Field Placement. Orientations and other meetings related to clinical experiences and student teaching are required of all students.

Only students who have successfully completed all required general education, academic concentration, academic major, and state-mandated tests and documentation will be admitted to student teaching. Procedures for Student Performance Reviews, available on the COE website, will be followed if significant behavioral issues are documented during field experiences. Orientations and other meetings related to field experiences are required of all students.

Continuing Enrollment

All candidates for teacher licensure must maintain a minimum 2.7 comprehensive GPA in order to qualify for student teaching and their degrees. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in the education majors and Secondary Education minors. Some programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA in an academic concentration or major.

Grades below C-  are not acceptable for meeting either degree or licensure requirements. Students also must demonstrate the core professional dispositions outlined in the Department of Education conceptual framework and in course syllabi; failure to do so may result in a hearing, remediation, and/or dismissal from the program. Because requirements for continuing enrollment are subject to change, undergraduates must consult frequently with their education advisors. The advising plan developed by the education advisor provides the most up-to-date and authoritative information with respect to all program and licensure requirements.

Education and Youth Studies

The Education and Youth Studies program is not a teacher preparation program and it does not result in teacher licensure. The minor is an 18 credit hour concentration of education courses that prepares students for graduate school in education and school counseling, as well as for work with children and families in government, private industry, adult education, and social service agencies. Students with majors in other colleges at Roosevelt University may choose the Education and Youth Studies minor and obtain advising assistance from professional advisors in the Department of Education.

The major in Education and Youth Studies requires 36 credit hours of study and provides students with employment credentials just short of teacher licensure in the area of early care and education. 

Graduation

When students meet with advisors before registration for the final semester, they should confirm that all requirements for graduation have been met. Students must make a formal application for graduation to the Graduation Office, and completed applications must be on file in the Office of the Registrar by the posted deadline.

Grievances

Faculty and staff in the Department of Education are dedicated to the mission and vision of the college and the university. In the event of a grievance or complaint, students should consult the procedures that the college and university have established for the resolution of such matters. For information about these procedures, consult the Department of Education website and the Student Handbook available on the Roosevelt University website.

Transfer Credit

No more than 70 credit hours will be accepted in transfer from a two-year institution. The final 54 credit hours toward the BAE degree or secondary education minor must be earned at a regionally accredited four-year college or university. No more than 18 credit hours in the major transferred from another college will be allowed in the teacher licensure programs. The student's final 30 credit hours must be earned at Roosevelt University, or students need to take a minimum of 60 hours in-residence at Roosevelt University. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit will be accepted toward the Educational Studies minor. No transfer credit for a course in education will be accepted unless an official course description is submitted and it is determined that the work completed was equivalent in level and content to a Roosevelt University course required for a degree in education. A grade of C- or higher or an acceptable evaluation of the student’s performance is required. Once a student is enrolled, all subsequent coursework must be taken at Roosevelt University.