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Requirements

Academics / Majors and Minors / Education / Requirements
Requirements for the Major in Education
Requirements in brief

All students in the teacher education program fulfill four sets of requirements to graduate with a recommendation for licensure:

  • Completion of the Lake Forest College FFC – see an advisor in the Department of Education for recommended courses
  • Completion of the course requirements within the Department of Education
  • Completion of a major outside of the Department of Education
    • for secondary education – a major in the content area of licensure
    • for elementary education – any content major at the College
  • Additional courses as necessary to meet Content Area Standards in broad fields for licensure
Required Courses

The following courses are required for majors in secondary/K-12 education:

  • Education 210: Observing the School Process
  • Education 215: Instructional Communication
  • Choose 1 of the following:
    • Education / Philosophy 220: Philosophy of Education
    • Education / Sociology & Anthropology 244: Anthropology of Education
    • Education 239 / History 239: History of Education in American Society
  • Education 313: Reading Methods in the Content Areas
  • Education 314: Inclusive Learning Environments
  • Education 315: Middle School Fieldwork
  • Education 419: General Secondary Methods / Senior Seminar
  • Education 420: Discipline Specific Secondary Methods / Senior Seminar (only for those seeking Secondary licensure)
  • Education 421: Secondary Student Teaching
  • Education 422 Discipline-Specific K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Design / Senior Seminar (only for those seeking K-12 licensure)
  • Psychology 110: Introduction to Psychological Science
  • Psychology 210: Developmental Psychology

 

The following courses are required for majors in elementary education:

  • Education 210: Observing the School Process
  • Education 215: Instructional Communication
  • Choose 1 of the following:
    • Education / Philosophy 220: Philosophy of Education
    • Education / Sociology & Anthropology 244: Anthropology of Education
    • Education 239 / History 239: History of Education in American Society
  • Education 303: Elementary Reading Methods
  • Education 304: Elementary Fieldwork
  • Education 312: Arts in the Learning Process
  • Education 314: Inclusive Learning Environments
  • Education 406: Teaching Adolescent Students (only for those seeking middle school endorsement)
  • Education 416: Elementary Content Area Literacy and Social Studies Methods / Senior Seminar
  • Education 417: Elementary Math and Science Methods / Senior Seminar
  • Education 418: Elementary Student Teaching
  • Physical Education 126: Concepts of Health Education
  • Psychology 110: Introduction to Psychological Science
  • Psychology 210: Developmental Psychology
Requirements for the Minor in Educational Studies

At least 6 credits

  • Education 210: Observing the Schooling Process
  • 1 of the following courses:
    • Psychology 210:  Developmental Psychology
    • Psychology 318:  Psychology Applied to Education
  • 2 of the following courses:
    • History 239: History of Education in American Society
    • Philosophy 220:  Philosophy of Education
    • Sociology & Anthropology 244:  Anthropology of Education
    • Education 215:  Instructional Communication Theory and Practice
  • 2 of the following courses:
    • Education 309: Immigration and Education: Race, Language, and American Schools
    • Education 310: Equity and Social Justice in Schools
    • Education 312: Integrating the Arts in the Learning Process
    • Education 314: Inclusive Learning Environments
    • Education 320: Comparative and International Education: Education as the Practice of Freedom
    • Education 344: Africa in Films: Language, Education, and Development
    • Education 346: Africa in Films: Gender, Education, and Development
    • Education 450: Special Studies in Education (including the option for an approved internship)
    • International Relations 322/Education 322: Education and Development in Developing Countries
    • Linguistics 300: Second Language Learning and Teaching
    • Politics 327: Democracy and Our Schools
    • Psychology 318: Psychology Applied to Education
    • Sociology & Anthropology 350: Sociology of Knowledge
    • Sociology & Anthropology 385: Intellectuals and Society
Requirements for the Minor in Education

Only students who have been accepted into the 3-2 MAT program are eligible for the Education Minor.

6 credits:

  • EDUC 210: Observing the Schooling Process
  • PSYC 210: Developmental Psychology
  • EDUC 215: Instructional Communication: Theory and Practice
  • 1 of the following courses:
    • HIST/EDUC 239: History of Education in American Society
    • PHIL/EDUC220: Philosophy of Education
    • SOAN/EDUC 244: Anthropology of Education
  • EDUC 403: Elementary Reading Methods (for elementary candidates) OR EDUC 413: Reading Methods in the Content Areas (for secondary or K-12 candidates)
  • EDUC 404: Elementary Fieldwork and Seminar (for elementary candidates) OR EDUC 415: Middle School Fieldwork and Seminar (for secondary and K-12 candidates)

Additional requirements:

  • Student must be an officially admitted candidate in an elementary, secondary or K-12 teacher licensure program and in good standing at time of graduation.
  • Students must have been accepted into the 3-2 MAT program.
  • All courses must be completed with a B- or better and instructor’s recommendation for continuation in the program.

At the time of completion of the BA degree, candidates who have been admitted to the 3-2 MAT program and have successfully completed all required work in their licensure program at the undergraduate level would receive the designation of Education minor on their transcript.

 Stages of the Teacher Education Program at Lake Forest:

Students wishing to complete the teacher education program will complete four stages:

Stage 1: Becoming an Education Major

Meet with a faculty member in the Department of Education to:

  • declare the major
  • plan a tentative 4-year course of study to meet program requirements
  • learn about necessary state licensure exams
  • learn about other program requirements, including portfolio requirements
  • Enroll in Education 210: Observing the School Process – introductory course in the major
Stage 2: Becoming a Teacher Candidate: Entering a Teacher Education Program
  • Apply for entrance to the teacher education program – while enrolled in or after successfully completing Education 210 with a grade of B- or better (The course may be repeated only once to achieve this grade.)
  • Submit materials to the Department of Education at the time of interviewing for program entrance
    • A copy of the student’s Lake Forest College transcript that indicates: 
      • A GPA of 2.75 or higher
      • A B- or better in Education 210
    • Successful completion of a portfolio of artifacts at Checkpoint #1 as described in the Developmental Portfolio Handbook
    • Evidence that he/she has adhered to the Lake Forest College Statement of Respect and Responsibility and has not violated any College policies in ways that call into question the candidate’s readiness for teaching as outlined in the Identifying Dispositions of a Lake Forest College Educated Teacher. This will be demonstrated through the following materials collected by the Education Department:
      • Academic advisor’s evaluation form
      • Dean of Students evaluation form
      • Education 210 instructor’s positive recommendation
  • Successfully pass an interview with members of the Department faculty. At the interview, students will be assessed on:
    • Seriousness of purpose/commitment
    • Oral communication skills
    • Academic skills including flexibility, maturity, and independence
    • Relevant experiences with targeted age group
  • The Department Chair will invite majors to interview based on readiness for program entry.  Readiness indicators include:
    • Grade point average
    • Performance in Lake Forest College courses required for education majors
    • Demonstrations of responsibility on campus, in the classroom, in field experiences, and in advising situations

To maintain teacher education program candidacy, students must continue to sustain the above requirements.  Students will be exited from the program and will need to reapply if not all of the above requirements are sustained or if evidence is obtained that brings into question the candidate’s readiness for teaching as articulated in the Identifying Dispositions of a Lake Forest College Educated Teacher. 

Students must become candidates before they can enter the pre-student teaching fieldwork practicum courses (Education 304; Education 315) in any of the teacher education programs.

Stage 3: Becoming a Student Teacher: Application for Student Teaching

Teacher candidates who successfully complete (with a B- or better) required education department pre-student teaching fieldwork practicum and methods coursework (EDUC 215 and all 300 and 400 level courses) may apply for a student teaching placement. All other courses (including FFC requirements) applied toward licensure or endorsements must be completed with a grade of C or better.

The following evidence must be presented by the Director of Clinical Placements to the Education Advisory Council:

  • Fieldwork supervisor’s recommendation for continuation in licensure program upon completion of pre-student teaching fieldwork practicum.
  • Evidence of completion of content-area or second major course of study before student teaching.
  • A transcript with a 2.75 GPA.
  • Successful completion of a portfolio of artifacts at Checkpoints #2a and #2b as described in the Developmental Portfolio Handbook
  • Passing score on content-area exam mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Education Advisory Council can ask for additional evidence such as recommendations from course instructors, cooperating teachers, college personnel or additional portfolio artifacts.

Following approval by the EAC, candidates will meet with the Director of Clinical Placements for further instructions on the placement process.

Stage 4: Becoming a Licensed Teacher: Application for Recommendation for Licensure

The Licensure Officer will recommend student teachers for Licensure when the following is completed:

  • Application for License
  • Successful completion of edTPA portfolio at the ISBE passing score Checkpoint #3 as described in the Developmental Portfolio Handbook
  • Successful completion of the exit interview presentation (Checkpoint #4) as described in the Developmental Portfolio Handbook
  • Passing grade in student teaching and supervisor’s recommendation for licensure

For more details on course sequences and developmental checkpoints, see the Education Department Policies and Procedures Handbook and the Developmental Portfolio Handbook and the Education Major Planning Sheets.

Grade Policies

A student must earn a B- or better grade in any Education (EDUC) course for the course to count toward the Education major and licensure. A student must earn a C or better grade in all non-Education licensure course requirements, including cross-listed courses, for the course to count toward the licensure program. No course that counts towards the Education major and licensure may be taken with the Pass/Fail grade option. All Pass/Fall grades earned toward the Education major and licensure must be converted to the actual (A-F) grade equivalent and factored into the GPA. All other courses are subject to the College’s grade policy. See the Education Department Policies and Procedures for additional information.

Academic Grievances for Teacher Education Students

Teacher education candidates have the same academic rights and responsibilities as all Lake Forest College students. There are, however, specific situations in the teacher education program when decisions may be cause for student grievances. These situations include the following:

  • Admission to or dismissal from the teacher education program, a clinical experience, or student teaching
  • Evaluation of the candidate’s performance in courses, clinical experiences, or student teaching
  • Recommendation for state licensure or for employment

Students who wish to appeal any of these teacher education matters should first confer with the chairperson of the Education Department. Appeals must be made in writing to the Education Advisory Council through the chairperson of the Education Department. Students may have personal, academic, or legal support in hearings concerning teacher education matters. If an issue remains unresolved, the student may take his or her grievance to the AAB or the Dean of Faculty, depending on the nature of the grievance, and, finally, to the President of the College.

Navigating Requirements and Teacher Licensure

To help students navigate all of the requirements, processes, and procedures for the major, the Department of Education has assembled these resources:

Handbooks for Majors
Planning Forms for Coursework & Licensure (BA & MAT)

Elementary Education

Secondary Education 

K-12 Education

Planning Forms for Coursework & Licensure

Education