Policies - General

Licensure

To be recommended for Illinois State Board of Education licensure, candidates must complete an approved program, pass the required state tests, and demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills and dispositions identified by the School of Education.  In addition, the candidate must meet any other requirements specific by the Illinois State Board of Education.  In some cases, the ISBE may enact new rules or legislation that result in changes in certification requirements.  Should changes occur, the School of Education is bound to adhere to the new regulations.  As a result, candidates may be required to meet new requirements other than those that were identified in the viewbook, online or other School of Education publications a the time they began their program at Dominican. 

Course Registration

At the time of initial registration, each candidate will be assigned a graduate faculty advisor.  Candidates should consult with their advisors as they plan and develop their programs.  Candidates in the School of Education must secure the approval of an advisor to complete registration.
 
Well in advance of the term, the dates for each registration period are posted on the Registrar's page on MyDU.  Candidates may register in person or online after the scheduled registration period begins.  No registrations will be accepted after the published late registration date.
 
Dominican University reserves the right to cancel any course for which the registration does not warrant the organization of a class.

Degree Completion

Candidates have five years to complete their degrees.  In exceptional circumstances a one year extension may be granted with approval of the dean.  Those wishing to exetend program completeion beyond that timeframe will need to reapply to the School of Education and fulfill any additional requirements necessary. 

Dispositions

A candidate's status in the School of Education is subject to ongoing assessment to determine that each candidate is progressing in the attainment of the knowledge, skills and dispositions of an effective educator.  In cases where a candidate's dispositions in class or while participating in field hours or clinical practice raise concerns about his or her ability to perform satisfactorily in an educational environment, an intervention/remediation plan is put into place.  The plan is meant to support the candidate in demonstrating the expected dispositions.  A similar process is put into effect when a candidate's performance indicates that academic expectations are not met.  Following implementation of the intervention plan, an assessment is conducted to determine whether the dispositional or academic concerns have been addressed and whether an additional plan needs to be developed.  A candidate whose dispositional or academic concerns continue despite the supports and expectations provided through the intervention plan will be dismissed from the university. 

English Proficiency

Students whose native language is other than English are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 (paper) or 250 (online).  They also must pass the Illinois Basic Skills Test prior to registration for a course.

Graduation

In the desired semester of graduation, a candidate must submit an application by the date published by the Registrar's Office on MyDU.  Applications for graduation are available in the Registrar's Office or online on their MyDU page.  A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required for graduation.

ISBE Tests for Licensure

In addition to passing scores on the  the TAP (or ACT/SAT qualifying scores) and content tests, all candidates seeking initial licensure are responsible for completion of the edTPA, which is completed during the student teaching/clinical practice semester, and for meeting State of Illinois testing requirements as specified for their specific programs.  The state administers tests several times each year at locations throughout Illinois in both paper-based and computer-based formats.  Registration materials and information about the tests are available online at il.nesinc.com.
 

Residency Requirement

Once candidates (including those approved conditionally) are matriculated into a School of Education graduate program, they must take all required courses and electives at Dominican University's main campus or one of its off-site campuses.  Any exception to this policy requires the written approval of the dean prior to the candidate's registration for the course(s) at another college or university.

Transfer Credit Policy

Up to six semester hours of appropriate  graduate-level credit from an accredited college  or university may be accepted in transfer at  the time of matriculation into the School of  Education. The applicant seeking such a transfer must provide:

1. A copy of the course description as printed in the catalog of the institution attended;

2. An official transcript demonstrating an earned grade of B or better and that the course was completed within the previous five years.