B.A./M.A. in Educational Innovation — Secondary Education
Admission Requirements
Admission into the secondary education track of the major in Educational Foundations requires a total of 30 credits of undergraduate course work. Students planning to teach a single subject must take at least 20 credits of course work in that subject. After taking a sequence of foundational courses in education, students are reviewed for acceptance into the teacher education program.
The following criteria are considered in evaluating candidates:
- General Education Requirement: completed course work in the humanities, mathematics, biological or physical sciences, and the social or behavioral sciences. All students must also successfully complete MATH 152 Elementary Algebra as a prerequisite for entry into the program.
- Demonstration of Competency in Basic Skills: In compliance with State of Iowa standards for teacher education, candidates are required to pass the PRAXIS® I test of basic reading, writing and math skills. This test must be taken either in paper or electronic form prior to their third course in the program. Students must attain a minimum score of 168 on each test and an average of 170.
- Personal Maturity: a written or phone recommendation from a University faculty member who knows the student well. In addition, applicants submit a brief statement of purpose. A personal interview with a member of the faculty of the Department of Education may be requested.
- General Academic Ability: an official record of previous undergraduate work showing a grade point average of 2.5 or better. Candidates are expected to have a 3.0 average or better in their subject field.
- Performance in Education Courses: a GPA of 3.0 or better in education courses taken.
The department may choose to admit provisionally a student who shows particular promise as a teacher, yet who does not meet all of the above criteria. In this case a plan will be developed with the student by which the deficiency can be monitored and remedied prior to student teaching at which time a student will be fully admitted or asked to withdraw.
A teacher education student is expected to maintain a “B” average in all required course work in the department in order to be admitted to student teaching. Students who do not maintain a “B” average may still complete the major in education and even complete an internship in a field placement, but they will not therefore be eligible for recommendation to a license.
Additional requirements for the specialist
Students who wish to specialize in a specific subject must complete a major, which may be a teaching major, in that subject as well as the major in education. A teaching major is either the standard major or a track within an academic major designed to prepare a student to teach that subject in an elementary or secondary school. Teaching majors at the University require 40 to 60 credits of course work. Specific information regarding the requirements for a teaching major may be obtained from the education department office.
The University’s education program prepares students for initial licensure in the following subjects: art, biology (environmental science), chemistry, physics, business, English, and mathematics. We also offer additional endorsements to licensed teachers in all of the above subjects plus general science at the secondary level. Additional endorsements require 15 to 24 credits of course work in the area of specialization.
This program is approved by the Bureau of Practitioner Preparation and Licensure of the Iowa Department of Education and successful completion of it prepares one to gain an Iowa teaching license in one’s chosen field.
NOTE: Students considering a specialization in a single subject should consult the department early in their undergraduate studies to plan to meet State of Iowa requirements for course work in their teaching area and to reserve a position for student teaching.
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