Secondary Education Minor Application Information

Current University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students may apply to the Teaching of Secondary Education Minor for admission in either their sophomore or junior year. The next application period for spring 2024 admission opens December 1.

• Spring application period runs from December 1 - February 1 (sophomores should apply during this period)
• Summer application period runs from August 1 - August 15 (rising juniors should apply during this period)

Eligibility Requirements

1. Students must have a competitive cumulative, major and institutional GPA. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 (A=4.000) major, UIUC AND cumulative GPA (grade point average) at the time of application.
2. The courses listed here have been identified as prerequisites for entry into the teaching option of each major. Completion of the courses before entry serves two principal purposes: it provides evidence of an applicant's prospects for success in the advanced portion of the program, and it helps to ensure completion of the entire program in a timely manner. Applicants who have not completed or are not enrolled in the prerequisite courses at the time of application may be at a competitive disadvantage for admission to highly selective programs. 

Additional Requirements:

• Applicants must not have earned a bachelor's degree by the term of entry. (Applicants who have a baccalaureate degree may want to contact the appropriate graduate department about the possibility of pursuing teacher certification.)
• 60 hours completed by term of entry.
• Satisfactory completion of Composition I.
• Two years of one language other than English in high school or the second level course in college must be completed by desired term of entry
  • LAS requires through the fourth level in one language or through the third level in two different languages.
    
  • Grainger requires through the third level in one language.
  • level in high school terms equals years and in college terms semesters.
• Demonstration of high-level written communication (quality of writing, thoughtfulness about education, reflective thinking).

Students interested in applying should:

• Review the requirements for the minor

Submit the following:

• Applicants must submit a completed advisor verification form in the application process that verifies their ability to complete their declared major along with the Secondary Education minor coursework.
• Two well organized 2-3 page, typed essays, double spaced with font size no smaller than 10 point. Use your previous learning and teaching experiences, including any tutoring, to provide concrete examples.

Essay #1: Explain why you are interested in teaching your content major to high school students.

Essay #2: Will contain two parts:

2a. Discuss and reflect upon how your experiences (or the lack thereof) have influenced your ideas of cultural/racial/ethnic diversity (language, people with disabilities, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc.).

2b. How does your understanding of and experiences with cultural/racial/ethnic diversity (language, people with disabilities, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc.) impact your understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a secondary teacher?

Please note: Each essay will be read and reviewed by faculty/staff and will be a deciding factor in any admission decisions, regardless of whether an applicant meets the GPA requirements and satisfies content course prerequisites.

• Students in teaching licensure programs must maintain grades of C- or above in ALL content and professional education coursework in additional to maintaining a content (major) GPA of 2.5 or above. If you have completed a grade replacement or have a grade replacement in progress, you must scan and upload it into the Application Manager.
• Begin working on your experience with children of a similar age and stage of development for which you will seek licensure. 

After Admission

1. Students admitted into a teacher education program will be required to attend a mandatory meeting regarding the program and its requirements. Time, date, and location of the mandatory meeting will be provided in your admission letter.
2. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign requires field placement in school districts as part of various educational curricula and certificate programs. Illinois school districts are required by state law to conduct criminal background checks for applicants for licensed and non-licensed positions with a school district. School districts are requiring that applicants for field placements be subjected to a criminal background check prior to placement in the school districts. Certain convictions are a bar to employment with a school district and are fully set out in the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9, as amended. All convictions will be reviewed for compatibility with placement in a school district. As part of this application, you will be required to consent to a criminal background check including submission of your fingerprints. Failure to consent to the background check will result in your not being able to complete a public school certification program and in the cancellation of any admission to the program. For further information on this requirement, call the Council on Teacher Education at (217) 333-2804.