Undergraduate Programs

College of Education

The College of Education dates from the founding of Concordia in 1864 and continues to be central to the mission of the University.

The College of Education prepares teachers and Directors of Christian Education (DCEs) to successfully meet the demands of church and society for a liberally educated person with sound pre-professional studies and practice. The Concordia teacher and DCE are prepared as servant leaders who demonstrate integrity and competence. Specifically, the Concordia education graduate is competent in general and specific knowledge, application of the principles of human growth and development, communication, and classroom management. These competencies manifest themselves in the concern and care Concordia graduates afford every pupil and in the service and leadership they provide for parish and/or community.

The College of Education prepares school personnel for early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary schools and K-12 music in public and Lutheran schools as well as parish education in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Graduates are keenly aware of the importance of continued personal and professional growth and are supported through graduate-level offerings, with several options for advanced degrees and certificates in education.

The College of Education at Concordia University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); 201 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20036; phone (202) 466-7496 since 1962. This accreditation covers the institution's initial teacher preparation and advanced educator preparation programs.

These programs are also approved by the State of Illinois Board of Education (ISBE) and have been since 1919. Concordia graduates receive the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music Education degree.

Degree Programs Available through the College of Education

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Music Education
• Director of Christian Education
• Pre-Seminary Program - Education Track

Checkpoints

*Checkpoints are set up to monitor a student's progress through the teacher education program.

Checkpoint 1: Admission to all Teacher Education Programs
Teacher education students must submit an application for admission to the College of Education during their sophomore year. Junior and senior transfer students should apply during their first semester of attendance. All applicants for teacher education must be approved by the Teacher Education Admission Committee. See the Teacher Education Program Handbook for specific details regarding admission criteria and deadline dates.

General Requirements
Students will be responsible for meeting the General Admission requirements for their specific degree program listed with the program below. Students also are eligible to apply to the teacher education program once the following requirements or approved equivalents are met:

• Grade-point average: A minimum Concordia University cumulative GPA of 2.50 must be earned for all University work taken. No courses included in the calculation of the grade point average for entrance into the College of Education or the Professional Semester can be taken under a Pass/DF grade option. These courses include all those designated as the Professional Program Core in early childhood, elementary, secondary, DCE, and BME programs, plus the major in early childhood or elementary education and the prerequisite courses of ENG-1100 English Composition; CTH-1100 Speech Communication; and MAT-1412 Mathematical Concepts II; or their equivalents.
• Course requirements: The student will have successfully completed the required courses in oral and written communication and in mathematics (not including math education) with a grade of C or better in each course (ENG-1000 Basic Writing, when required; ENG-1100 English Composition; CTH-1100 Speech Communication; and MAT-1412 Mathematical Concepts II; or above course). The student will have successfully completed Introduction to Education (EDU-2000) and Educational Psychology (PSY-2400) with a grade of C or better.
• Written Statement: All applicants are to submit a written statement, Philosophy of Teaching and Learning as part of their application.
• The student must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills. This test is administered by the State of Illinois, and given six times a year. Registration is required two months in advance.
• The student must complete of minimum of 20 hours of the required 100 pre-professional hours.
• The student must have a valid criminal fingerprint background check from their home state on file in the office of Field Experience.
• The student's program plan must be obtained from Academic Advising.
• A character verification form must be completed and turned in with the application.
• Applications must be received by the established deadlines printed in the Teacher Education Handbook. The list of students who have applied by these deadlines will be issued to all full-time faculty and staff with a request for comments to be directed to the College of Education by a specified date. The Teacher Education Admission Committee will review all applications and notify students of their status in writing.
• Students who miss deadlines, wish to appeal decisions or have other considerations should present their case in writing to the Dean of the College of Education. Such appeals will follow the appeal process as outlined in the Concordia University Student Handbook.

Specific Program Requirements
All specific requirements are listed with each individual program.

Checkpoint 2: Admission to the Professional Semester (Student Teaching)
Each of the teacher education programs requires student teaching. In order to apply for student teaching, a student must first be accepted into the College of Education. Students are encouraged to apply for student teaching as early as possible (at least two semesters prior to the professional semester), but no later than the deadlines listed in the Teacher Education Handbook.

To be accepted for participation in the Professional Semester (student teaching), the student must meet all of the following requirements:

• Formally admitted to an approved Teacher Education Program in the College of Education or have the permission of the Dean of the College of Education.
• Have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in residence at Concordia University.
• Have attained junior/senior class level standing.
• Have satisfactorily completed the courses prerequisite to student teaching.
• Have recorded 80 of the required 100 hours of clinical pre-professional experiences in specific categories through the Office of Field Experience.
• Have earned the minimum grade point averages:

  Professional Education - 2.75
  Major - 3.00
  CUC Cumulative - 2.50

• Pass the appropriate subject matter test as required by the State of Illinois.
• Have completed a criminal background check in their home state.
• Early Childhood and Elementary majors must have completed 6 hours of methods prior to student teaching. Secondary and BME majors must take the methods course in their major prior to student teaching.

After receiving a student's application, the Teacher Education Admission Committee will take the following actions:

• Distribute a list of potential student teachers to the education departments and to those departments in discipline-related areas with a request for comments to be directed to the College of Education.
• Notify students of their status in writing. The Teacher Education Admission Committee may arrange an interview with applicants who have been referenced by departments.

Students who miss deadlines, wish to appeal decisions, or have other considerations should present their case in writing to the Dean of the College of Education. Such appeals will follow the appeal process as outlined in the Concordia University Student Handbook.

The Assessment of Professional Teaching Exam is required of all initial certification candidates as a condition of program completion and teacher certification, but not of graduation. Candidates have up to one year after graduation to pass the APT in order to be recommended for certification by the College of Education at Concordia University.

Checkpoint 3: Educational Placement

Placement/Employment
Concordia University maintains two offices that provide placement/employment services to all students planning to complete their degrees during the academic year.

• The Synodical Placement Office deals with placement into Lutheran teaching and all programs offered by the University leading to professional work in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

• The Career Services Office offers job assistance to students in Public Education and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Seniors must register with the placement/employment office two semesters before graduation. Workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills are offered as well as opportunities for mock interviews. Seniors can participate in several Collegiate Job Fairs, introducing them to companies that hire college graduates each year. Seniors are encouraged to develop a plan for distribution of cover letters and resumes, with appropriate follow-up. Forms are available for letters of reference to employers.

Full-time job opportunities will be posted through the Career Center Web page and by notices on the bulletin board outside the Career Center. Weekly national job listings from major sources are also available at the center.

Career Services for Public School Teaching
The Career Services Office is committed to assist public education students in locating a teaching position. To that end, the office provides online or hard copy credential forms for the graduate to complete. These are kept on file and should contain all necessary information a prospective employer will need in determining the graduate's qualifications. In addition, individual career counseling is available.

To take advantage of this service, all senior and certification students in public education should register with the Career Services Office. Registration information is available through the office. These forms should be completed and returned as soon as possible. A conference with the Director of Career Service should then be arranged to discuss the file, explain the procedures, and answer any questions.

The office maintains bulletin board and web page listings of part-time and full-time employment opportunities in public and private education reported to the office. All prospective public education candidates, undergraduate or graduate, are invited to access this information.

Placement for Lutheran School Teaching/DCE/Deaconess
Students desiring entry into a public ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.75 for all prescribed Theology requirements. All courses used in the GPA calculations must have a grade of C or better and cannot be taken under the P/DF grade option.

The Director of Synodical Placement serves as an extension of the Board of Assignments of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in bringing candidates and congregations together in accordance with procedures established by the board. He also serves as counselor to each candidate since he plays a role in the selection of the candidate's initial Call, presents it to the candidate and is available to advise him or her concerning it. After giving a Call prayerful consideration, the candidate may either accept it or decline the position and request an alternative placement.

For placement purposes, every University student preparing to enter the Lutheran teaching, Director of Christian Education (DCE), Director of Parish Music (DPM), or Deaconess ministry remains under University jurisdiction until he/she has been granted an appropriate degree and has received and accepted an initial synodical assignment. Such graduates who have deferred placement to pursue graduate study or post-baccalaureate study also remain under the jurisdiction of the University until they have received and accepted their first Call, provided they still hold membership in a Missouri Synod Lutheran congregation. All graduates in the Lutheran teaching, DCE or Deaconess programs enter that office only through the Synodical Placement Director. All Calls must be approved and authorized by the Director of Synodical Placement. Independent negotiations between a student and a congregation or an individual represent violations of the placement guidelines.

The satisfactory completion of academic requirements alone does not necessarily qualify the student for, or automatically assure the student of, placement into the professional service of the church. Each candidate must receive the approval of the Synodical Placement Approval Committee prior to being declared eligible for placement.

All students in Lutheran Education, Director of Christian Education, Director of Parish Music, or Deaconess programs are required to apply to the Director of Synodical Placement at least a semester prior their expected graduation.

During the final semester before graduation each applicant for placement will undergo a final screening by the Synodical Placement Approval Committee composed of the Director of Placement (chair), the Dean of Students and three faculty members. A policy governing the screening process is available from the Director of Synodical Placement. This committee considers each candidate and determines whether or not to approve the individual for synodical placement. Candidates not approved by the committee are notified by interview and letter. Applicants may appeal this decision through the Office of the President.

Students wishing to defer placement for the purpose of further study or desiring to be released from placement must request release in writing to Synodical Placement Office. Deferment is renewable on an annual basis. Students who have withdrawn from placement may petition the Synodical Placement Approval Committee to be reinstated.

Since vacancies occur in classrooms and parishes around the country at various times of the year, the Synodical Placement Office is busy year-round assisting with their staffing needs. The largest amount of staffing occurs, however, during the spring and summer months as schools and congregations are satisfying their staffing needs for the coming year.

The Synodical Placement Office also acts as a credentials depository, if so established by the student. Credentials, consisting of basic information about the individual, student teaching evaluations and letters of appraisal, are maintained for a limited period of time. These credentials are kept on file and may be sent as congregations make candidate requests.

Checkpoint 4: Graduation Approval

All students completing teacher education programs must be approved by the faculty for graduation. Students intending to graduate from the College of Education must meet all University requirements listed under "Graduation Requirements" in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Additionally, all education students must pass the relevant Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) test for Illinois Certification as is required for program completion from a state-approved program. Minimum G.P.A. requirements for graduation include a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.50, a minimum professional education G.P.A. of 2.75, and a minimum major G.P.A. of 3.00.

Checkpoint 5: Professional Education Requirements for Teacher Certificate

The State of Illinois licenses all Illinois school teachers. Concordia University offers several programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree that qualify as state-approved certification programs. Students completing one of these programs may apply through the Registrar's Office for one of the following certificates:

Type 04-Early Childhood Certificate, Type 03-Standard Elementary Certificate to teach in grades K-9, and Type 09-Standard High School Certificate: specific disciplines in grades 6-12.

Candidates completing the Special Education program are eligible for the Type 10 Certificate for teaching in Special Education classrooms, ages 3-21. The Bachelor of Music Education degree will qualify a student for the Type 10-Special Certificate for teaching music in grades K-12. Students qualifying for the Type 03 and Type 09 Certificate may also be eligible for Middle School Endorsements in specific subject areas provided they have completed the required middle school professional education courses and have the completed 18 semesters hours as specified, in the subject matter area of the endorsement. Students who are eligible for Certification by Entitlement should secure the necessary forms and directions for making their application to the state from the Registrar's Office. In order to be certified to teach in the schools of the State of Illinois, a person must be of good character, in sound health, a citizen of the United States, and at least 19 years of age.