The Division of Education offers programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary and middle school education, instructional strategist I: mild/moderate, physical education, health, athletic training, sports science, wellness, fitness and coaching.

Through cooperation with the Division of Liberal Arts, teaching licensure is available in American government, American history, art, economics, English/language arts, journalism, psychology, reading, social studies, sociology, Spanish, and speech communications.

Through cooperation with the Division of Business and the Division of Science and Mathematics, licensure is also offered in business– general, business–office, business–marketing/management, earth science, economics, biology, chemistry, general science, mathematics and physical science.

Through a unique partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College, Upper Iowa offers a program which can lead to a teaching career in secondary industrial technology.

TEACHER EDUCATION

Upper Iowa University’s teacher education program is committed to preparing teachers who are well-informed, reflective, professional, competent and sensitive to the diverse needs of their future pupils. Each teacher education student is provided with current, practical, applied knowledge and a variety of classroom experiences. The teacher education program is dedicated to the development of teachers with personal education philosophies and systems of beliefs that encourage a lifelong commitment to inquiry and excellence.

Current trends in teacher preparation include performance-based assessment and practical teaching experience. The education curriculum at Upper Iowa University has been designed to meet the changing educational demands of curriculum including: literacy development, integrated instruction, higher order thinking skills and practical skills (flexible management, computer technology and early teaching experiences). Field experience is provided in the Foundations of Education class so that students can serve as observers and participants in the regular classroom to help determine if they wish to continue in teacher education. Each student then follows a sequenced series of courses to acquire the theoretical background, instructional techniques, management strategies, and practical skills needed to be a competent educator.

To obtain desired endorsements and licensure, students will need to plan their program early in their college experience, and work closely with the academic advisors to insure that course work and performance requirements leading to state licensure are being met in a timely manner. Students need to start education courses at the beginning of their sophomore year or late in their freshman year in order to be in sequence for graduation. Students must also successfully pass a basic skills exam (writing, English/Literature, and mathematics) and maintain an adequate grade point in their major, in all education courses, and cumulatively.

Upper Iowa University does not discriminate in acceptance or in placement for field experience and student teaching on the basis of sex, age, race, color, creed, physical disability or national/ethnic origin.

Students seeking initial licensure are strongly urged to re-take education methods courses if these courses were completed prior to ten years from initial enrollment at Upper Iowa. Students must complete their program requirements within seven years or their degree plan will be re-evaluated. In addition, changes in certification requirements of the Iowa Department of Education may affect requirements for students seeking certification to teach.

Upper Iowa University’s Teacher Education Program is approved by the Iowa Department of Education. Individuals seeking initial teacher licensure must complete the approved requirements of the Teacher Education Program to be recommended for teacher licensure.

Note: To obtain licensure from the State of Iowa, individuals need to be at least 21 years of age.

Endorsements

Students may prepare for a teaching license with an elementary classroom endorsement (grades kindergarten through six) by completing an elementary education major and a subject area endorsement. Students may prepare for secondary classroom endorsement (grades 7- 12) in a specific subject area by completing the professional education requirements (the professional education core) and the appropriate subject teaching major (see major requirements in the appropriate department of this catalog; additional requirements may also apply). Contact the Teacher Education Program for the specific requirements of the 7-12 endorsements. A second subject area for endorsement may be added.

The endorsement areas and grade levels in which a student may be prepared at Upper Iowa University are as follows:

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Students must meet three general requirements: (1) gain admission to the Teacher Education Program; (2) meet standards required by the University for licensure and; if seeking initial licensure, (3) take the course EDU 110 Foundations of American Education (this course cannot be transferred in). These standards reflect the fact that teachers are expected, by parents and by boards of education, to attain levels of professional qualification that are above the average in all areas relating to the education of the students entrusted to them. (For additional requirements, contact the Director of Education).

Application for admission to the Teacher Education Program will be made following the successful completion of EDU 110 Foundations of American Education. Applications for admission to Teacher Education are approved by the Teacher Education Committee and forwarded to the Division of Education for formal acceptance.

The requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program are as follows:

1. Must be officially accepted and admitted to the University.
2. Must successfully complete EDU 110 Foundations of American Education and successfully complete the 20 hour field practicum.
3. Must successfully pass the College Basic Academic Skills Exam in English, Writing and Mathematics with the following minimum scores:
   English—235 (score subject to change)
   Mathematics—235 (score subject to change)
   Writing—235 (score subject to change)
4. Must earn an Upper Iowa University cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or above.
5. Must have positive recommendations from two (2) student selected instructional staff members.

Student Teaching

Student Teaching, the teacher education capstone experience, generally takes place in the senior year. Application for admission to student teaching must be filed two semesters before student teaching is to take place.

Requirements for the Student Teaching Sequence:

1. Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
2. Successful completion of field experience with a grade of “C” or above.
3. Professional education core courses must be completed with grades of “C” or above.
4. Competencies required of standards set by the University and State Board of Educational Examiners are met.
5. Two recommendations for student teaching (one from an education faculty, one from a faculty in the student’s teaching major or from a practicing education professional).
6. Complete the following courses with grades of “C” or above:
   1. Basic Composition
   2. Expository Writing or Writing for Business or Writing for the Sciences or English Composition II
   3. Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication
7. If an elementary education major, completion of all requirements for the major and all requirements for at least one specific endorsement area (as required to be eligible for an Iowa teaching license).
8. All EDU department courses completed with grades of “C” or above.
9. G.P.A. of 2.50 Upper Iowa University cumulative and a G.P.A. of 2.50 in the teaching major.

Note: A student may have no more than six general education semester credits of total course work remaining prior to the start of the student teaching experience. The remaining course work may not be in the student’s major, in the professional education core, in the first specific endorsement area, or in the general education requirements of Composition I, Composition II, speech, and computer applications.

Completion of the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee that a candidate will be recommended for a teaching license. The final decision is made by the Teacher Education Committee, which considers pertinent factors leading to successful teaching. Serious deficiencies shown by the candidate in one or more areas of personal or professional development could cause the committee to refuse recommendation or to require additional preparation by the candidate.

Professional Education Requirements

Candidates for an original teaching subject area endorsement in either an elementary or secondary subject area will complete a minimum 30-semester-hour major in a teaching area. In addition, candidates must complete the following approved professional education courses:

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