Secondary Education, Minor and Professional Educator License (PEL)
Students seeking the Professional Educator License (PEL) in Secondary Education for grades 9-12 with the Education minor must complete the following requirements. These align with the University’s Basic Skills and Distribution Requirements for an undergraduate degree at Benedictine University with specific course requirements for licensure.
- The Basic Skills core with at least a “C” in each course. This core includes WRIT 1101 Writing Colloquium, WRIT 1102 Research Writing, COMM 1110 Speech Communication, and MATH as required by the major department (i.e., MATH 1105 College Algebra with Business Applications, MATH 1108 Mathematics for Everyday Life, or MATH 1110 College Algebra).
- The Arts and Humanities distribution area requires 15 semester credit hours, must include HIST 1111 American History to 1865 or HIST 1112 American History since 1865 for the Historical (QHT). QHT and QLR must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
- The Natural Sciences distribution area requires 9 semester credit hours, must include a Life-Scientific (QLS) course and a Physical-Scientific (QPS) course, one of which must be a lab course; and a Computational, Math and Analytical (QCM) course.
- The Social Sciences I and II distributions require 6 semester credit hours, which must include American Government PLSC 1102 American Government for QPE.
- An approved multicultural/non-western culture course (3).
Students must also complete an academic major in an approved area for secondary licensure outside the School of Education. The approved majors are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Music, English Language and Literature, Spanish, and History/Social Science. The major must include a minimum of 36 semester credit hours. (Note: The program in Spanish provides for licensure in grades K-12).
Students may not declare the Business major with Education minor after the Fall 2018 term.
The professional education requirements are:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2100 | Physical Development and Health for Educators | 2 |
| EDUC 2200 | Preclinical Experience Level 1 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 2205 | Educational Foundations | 3 |
| EDUC 2207 | Introduction to Education Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 2210 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 2215 | Technology for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 3234 | Preclinical Experience Level 2 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 4236 | Preclinical Experience Level 3 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 2260 | Educating Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDUC 4308 | Creating An Inclusive Learning Environment | 3 |
| EDUC 3310 | Assessment in Action | 3 |
| EDUC 4364 | Methods of Reading & Reading/Writing in the Content Area for Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Methods of Teaching Physical Science - Middle/Jr. and High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching Chemical Science - Middle/Jr. and High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching Biological Science - Middle/Jr. High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching Mathematics - Middle/Jr. and High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching English - Middle/Jr. and High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching Spanish-Elementary, Middle/Junior, and High School | ||
| Methods of Teaching History, Political Science and Economics-Middle/Jr. and High School | ||
| Select one of the following: | 12 | |
| Student Teaching (w/ Seminar) Education Minor | ||
| Student Teaching 6-12 Secondary Music Education (w/ Seminar) | ||
| Student Teaching, Physical Education-Elementary, Middle and High School (w/ Seminar) | ||
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Other Licensure Requirements:
All coursework for licensure must be completed with grades of “C” or better. Grades of C minus (C-) are considered to be below a “C”. “C-“ grades for equivalent courses received from another institution will need to be retaken at Benedictine and passed with a grade of “C” or better. Teacher prep candidates must also have a GPA of 3.000 or higher, in the major/minor coursework with an overall 2.750 or higher GPA.
Students must also pass the ISBE (Illinois State Board of Ed), and content area test to complete their degree with license. If a student has not completed all license requirements at the time the degree is awarded, the transcript will show that the degree/program was completed “Without License.”
Completion of the subject area major and the Education minor with licensure test requirements entitles the candidate to the Professional Educator License (PEL) with the endorsement for grades 9-12 in the teaching field of the major. Student must work with the Licensure Department, School of Education, to ensure all requirements are met to graduate “with licensure”.
Most requirements on this list are mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education. Changes in the state licensure requirements must be met at the time they go into effect. This could change program requirements, requiring different/added courses than those listed. See your education advisor with questions.
Students in the Education programs will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Teacher candidates in the Education Program will have pass student teaching.
• University SLO: 1; Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Teacher Candidates will pass the content area test in their major
• University SLO: 9; Personal Development
Student Learning Outcome 3: Teacher Candidates will successfully pass edTPA
• University SLO: 2; Critical and Creative Thinking Skills