HELP Undergraduate Bulletin 2022-2023 Archived Bulletin Secondary Education Print this Page Facebook this Page (opens a new window) Tweet this Page (opens a new window)

Julia S. Omarzu, Ph.D., Chair

The Teacher Education Program offers more than twenty licensure and endorsement programs in Elementary and Secondary education. In these programs, students will meet and work with a blended faculty of full-time professors and outstanding practitioners from area schools and agencies.

All Loras College Teacher Education programs incorporate a mediated and supported induction into the profession of teaching in the form of multiple Teacher Education program partnerships with area schools, including participation in Professional Development Schools at both the elementary and secondary levels prior to student teaching. These experiences offer students opportunities to work with partner faculty in their classrooms and other settings and provide the chance to develop skills prior to student teaching.

Beginning with their first education courses students demonstrate their clinical performance, essential knowledge, and critical dispositions based on the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards. The demonstrations of performance, knowledge, and dispositions throughout the program set the foundation for the comprehensive portfolio which is completed during student teaching.

Accreditation of the Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program is approved by the State of Iowa and holds membership in the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Teacher Licensure Programs

Students must work closely with their advisors and the licensure officer in designing an appropriate program of study. All professional education courses that support the various teaching specializations are offered through the Teacher Education Program. The following table lists State of Iowa approved teaching licensure programs available at Loras College.

Admission & Retention Policies & Procedures

The Teacher Education Program screens all students applying for and retained in its programs and advises students to modify their career goals when necessary. Students should submit applications to the Teacher Education Program no later than the end of their sophomore year; otherwise an above average course load or additional semesters may be necessary. The initial “Application for Admission to Teacher Education” is generally submitted after students have successfully completed L.EDU 200 - Foundations of Education , L.EDU 205 - Foundations of Inclusive Education , and L.PSY 121 - Lifespan Development . Loras programs are aligned with Iowa licensure requirements, which can be found at https://boee.iowa.gov/. As most states offer reciprocity for Iowa license holders, students seeking licensure outside of Iowa should contact the teacher licensing authority in the respective state to determine current licensure and testing requirements for an out-of-state candidate.

In order to enroll in Developing Level Education courses beyond L.EDU 200 , L.EDU 205 , L.EDU 221 , and L.EDU 260 , a student must have either (a) previously received admission to Teacher Education, (b) be currently enrolled in L.EDU-200 at the time of registration, or (c) have had his or her academic advisor gain special permission from the Director of Teacher Education for enrollment in a Developing Level education course.

Probationary Period

Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires a GPA of 2.750 which must be maintained until graduation. If a student’s GPA falls below this minimum requirement after admission one probationary semester will be allowed to achieve the required GPA.

Conduct Policy

When students violate the Loras College student conduct code or any laws, particularly those related to drug, alcohol or child safety, they fail to model the professional dispositions associated with teaching. As a result, the Teacher Education Program will suspend any student from field work (course or non-course related) at least until the infraction has been adequately addressed/resolved. The Teacher Education Program may choose to take additional action beyond suspending the student from the field. Suspension from the field may negatively impact a student’s course grade, result in the student needing to drop education courses, and/or may impede continued progress in the Teacher Education Program.

Grievance Policy: The Grievance Policy of the Teacher Education Program follows the Student Grievance Policy found in the Undergraduate Bulletin and in the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual (Academic Affairs).

Admission Categories

Admission probationary: To the student who minimally meets and maintains admission requirements but displays academic or dispositional performance that raises concern for faculty or staff.

Admission Pending: To the student who gains special approval from the Screening Committee to enroll in Developing Level Education Courses.

Admission: To the student who meets and maintains all admission requirements.

Admission Denied: To the student whose deficiencies in admission criteria do not indicate a readiness to be successful in the program.

Admission Revoked: To the student who has failed to maintain or progress in meeting all admission requirements and/or violated the standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior.

Student Teaching Admission Pending: To the student who has met and maintained admission requirements, is making adequate progress towards major and endorsement requirements, and has submitted the application for Student Teaching by March 1st of the academic year prior to Student Teaching.

Student Teaching Admission: To the student who has met and maintained admission requirements and has satisfactorily completed all Introducing and Developing Level professional education courses, as well as required courses in the teaching major (if any), by the conclusion of the semester prior to the semester in which he or she intends to student teach.

Admission Requirements

To receive and maintain Admission to the Teacher Education Program, a student must:

1. have a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.750 in all coursework attempted;
2. declare a major in Elementary or Secondary Education with the Office of the Registrar, and declare specific teaching endorsement(s);
3. complete the online “Application for Admission to Teacher Education”;
4. complete L.EDU 200 - Foundations of Education , L.EDU 205 - Foundations of Inclusive Education ; L.PSY 121 - Lifespan Development , and any other professional education courses attempted with a grade not less than a C (2.000);
5. document a minimum of 10 preadmission clinical hours;
6. document completion of Safe Environment training;
7. have a clean conduct record;
8. be cleared by the Iowa Department of Human Services Child Abuse Registry or other background check;
9. complete each course attempted in the major, relevant general education courses, and teaching endorsement with a grade not less than a C (2.000);
10. gain approval of the Teacher Education Program Screening Committee (which includes a review of the student’s growth in the professional dispositions, the student’s clinical evaluations, shared faculty perspectives, attendance and conduct record).

Denying or Revoking Admission

The Teacher Education Program and its Screening Committee reserve the right to deny or withdraw admission to Teacher Education and/or Student Teaching based on a student’s unprofessional behavior, inadequate clinical performance, or failure to maintain admission requirements as outlined above.

Student Teaching Admission Requirements

To gain admission to student teaching, a student must submit his/her application by March 1st in the year preceding the year in which he/she plans to student teach, and receive approval from the Teacher Education Program Screening Committee. Student teaching is a full-time experience so students may not be enrolled in courses during the student teaching semester beyond L.EDU 490 - Capstone Seminar & Portfolio-PJ, IN .

To be eligible for consideration for student teaching admission, the student must:

1. attain and maintain all of the requirements for admission;
2. complete 80 clinical hours and achieve senior status prior to the beginning of the student teaching semester, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.750;
3. complete the appropriate prerequisite professional education courses for student teaching, including all Introducing and Developing Level courses;
4. complete each course in the content major prior to student teaching, with a grade no less than C (2.000);
5. complete the general education courses required for licensure with a grade no less than C (2.000);
6. submit verified logs of hours of a minimum of 80 clinical hours as required by endorsement area for licensure;
7. demonstrate personal and professional attributes consistent with that of a classroom practitioner;
8. have a clean conduct record;
9. complete the online “Application for Admission to Student Teaching” by March 1; and
10. receive approval of the Screening Committee to obtain Student Teaching Admission status based on a review of the student’s growth in the professional dispositions, the student’s clinical evaluations, shared faculty perspectives, attendance and conduct record.

Requirements for Recommendation for Iowa Licensure

In order to be eligible for licensure from the State of Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, a student must:

1. Submit electronic licensure application and fees to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) during the semester of student teaching.
2. Pass the FBI background check by submitting fingerprints to the BOEE.
3. Have an overall cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.750.
4. Earn a grade of not less than a C (2.000) in each course required for professional education core and teaching endorsement(s).
5. Acquire a core of liberal arts knowledge including, but not limited to, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. For those having enrolled as first year students at Loras College, this requirement must be met by completing the College’s general education curriculum with a grade of at least C in each course that meets licensure requirements. For those enrolling as transfer students, the requirement can be met by completing courses with a grade of not less than a C (2.000) in: English composition, lifespan development, communication arts, mathematics, literature, U.S. history or U.S. government, biological sciences or physical sciences.
6. Present passing scores on the specified Praxis II exams in both content and pedagogy.
7. Meet all institutional graduation requirements.
8. Successfully complete the portfolio requirement.
9. Receive the recommendation of the Licensure Officer.

Attainment of all course, program, and graduation requirements must be verified by an official Loras College transcript. Conviction for any criminal offense other than traffic violations may be sufficient grounds for the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to delay or deny licensure.

Admission to Teacher Education for Individuals Holding a Bachelor’s Degree

Individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Science (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics), Social Science (Geography, Government, History, Psychology, Sociology, and the All Social Science Endorsement), or Spanish are able to pursue the coursework and field experiences required for teacher licensure through Loras’ Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program. Please see this webpage for more information: https://www.loras.edu/secondary-education-teacher-licensure-program/

An individual who wishes to pursue Elementary Education licensure and holds a bachelor degree from a regionally accredited institution must initially seek admission as special student taking coursework required for licensure.

All Teacher Education Program admission requirements will apply.

Advising First Year Students

Students typically do not begin coursework in the Teacher Education Program until their second or third semester. The Teacher Education Program advises students interested in Teacher Education to take the following requirements during the first year:

1. Foundational general education courses with no grade lower than a C (2.000) in the following courses:
   1. Written Communication
   2. Oral Communication as Critical Inquiry (L.COM 110 )
   3. Quantitative Reasoning (L.MAT 105 , L.MAT 114  or L.MAT 115 ) for Secondary Education majors or; L.MAT 110  and L.MAT 111  Math for K-8 Teachers I and II for Elementary Education majors
   4. Lifespan Developmental (L.PSY-121)

2. Additional courses that are appropriate for first year students pursuing an elementary education major including: L.EDU 200 - Foundations of Education , L.EDU 205 - Foundations of Inclusive Education , L.EDU 221 - Learning Environment & Collaborations .

Programs

• Secondary Education, B.A.

Print this Page