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Education, Middle Level

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Academic Programs

Education, Middle Level - Associate in Arts (682)

To teach in Illinois public schools (grades 6-9), teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. Students in middle level education complete a core of required methods courses, and then complete discipline-specific courses to be licensed in one or more pathways. Pathways include English Language Arts, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Science.

Since admission is competitive, completion of the recommended course does not guarantee admission. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is generally required. 

Information regarding Illinois standards for Professional Educator License is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at www.isbe.net.

General education and pathway requirements vary significantly by intended transfer institution. Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. Transfer guides for some universities are available at svcc.edu/transfer.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.

Follow this link for career information.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

  • Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
  • Amanda Eichman, Professor of English and Education, 815-835-6319

Total Hours Required - 64 Hours

Suggested Program

First Semester - 14-15 Hours

  • Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Mathematics 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • *Social/Behavioral Science 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU105 - Preparing for Careers in Educa ( 2 Semester Hours)

    This course introduces the student to licensure standards, course sequences, and skills required for education majors. Students will be introduced to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and will become familiar with the roles and responsibilities of teachers and the dispositions of effective teachers. Students will be exposed through observation activities to varying grade levels/ classrooms with the purpose of aiding in choosing the correct licensure path. 2 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lecture/week

  • ENG101 - Composition I ( 3 Semester Hours)

    This course (1) develops awareness of the writing process; (2) provides inventional, organizational, and editorial strategies; (3) stresses the variety of uses for writing; and (4) emphasizes critical skills in reading, thinking, and writing. Prerequisite: Required placement score on approved English placement test, high school unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, or a grade of C or higher in ELA 099. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C1 900 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

  • FYE101 - First Year Experience ( 1 Semester Hours)

    The focus of this course is how to be successful in college. Study skills, goal setting, academic planning, time and money management, and information research skills are among the core topics included in this course. Within a supportive environment, students will share their college experiences and develop connections with fellow students and SVCC staff. 1 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 1 lec/week

Second Semester - 16-17 Hours

  • *Humanities 3 Semester hour(s)
  • **Life Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • Personal Development 1 Semester hour
  • *Social/Behavioral Science 6 Semester hour(s)
  • ENG103 - Composition II ( 3 Semester Hours)

    An advanced course in essay writing with emphasis on formal research, ENG 103 serves to develop a proficiency in the collection and selection of data as applied to the completion of a formal research paper. In addition, students receive instruction in logic and reasoning, including the fundamentals of argumentative and persuasive writing. Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in ENG 101 or its equivalent or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C1 901R Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

Third Semester - 16 Hours

  • *Humanities/Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ***Pathway Electives or additional requirements 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Personal Development 1 Semester hour
  • *Social/Behavioral Science/Humanities 3 Semester hour(s)
  • COM131 - Intro to Oral Communication ( 3 Semester Hours)

    This course combines communication theory with the practice of oral communication skills. This course: (1) develops awareness of the communication process; (2) provides inventional, organizational, and expressive strategies; (3) promotes understanding of and adaptation to a variety of communication contexts; and (4) emphasizes critical skills in listening, reading, thinking, and speaking. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C2 900 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

  • EDU220 - Educ of the Exceptional Child ( 3 Semester Hours)

    An introductory overview of the field of special education and the educational and evidence-based strategies that support children with exceptional cognitive, social, physical, and emotional needs. Services and interventions will be examined, including federal and state requirements for eligibility. Students will be introduced to the various exceptionality categories that occur in the population including an overview of characteristics of individuals in each category, with emphasis on category-appropriate interventions and teaching strategies. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): ECE 913 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

Fourth Semester - 16-18 Hours

  • ****EDU elective 3 Semester hour(s)
  • *Humanities/Social Behavioral Sciences 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ***Pathway Electives or additional requirements 6-7 Semester hour(s)
  • **Physical Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU276 - Clinical Exper in Education ( 1 Semester Hours)

    This minimum 26-clock hour experience is offered to help meet clinical and/or observation requirements for education programs in Illinois. Seminar students will work one-on-one with students in support positions (tutoring, small group instruction, individual aid) and attend accompanying seminars focused on exploration of individual characteristics of learners and professional standards for teachers. Emphasis will be on teaching techniques, classroom dynamics and the effects of student developmental status on behavior and learning. A journal noting these factors will be kept by each seminar student. 1 Semester hour Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lab/week Notes: This class contains an observation component and requires an Illinois State Police and FBI background check in order to complete requirements for course credit.

Footnotes

  • *Social Science Pathway should select from GEO 122, HIS 221, HIS 222, PSC 163, PSY 103. English Language Arts Pathway should select ENG 225, 226 and additional English Literature courses
  • **One course must include a lab
  • ***Student's pathway (intended area of teaching) and transfer school will guide the selection of pathway/elective coursework
  • ****Suggested Education electives include EDU 210, 222, 224, 275