Education

Admission to Education Programs

If you’re interested in a teaching career, you’ll have to go through a series of admission procedures and tests before you can be certified—and even before you’ll be admitted to a teacher certification program. Remember: admission to Elmhurst College does not guarantee admission to a teacher certification program.

Admission to a specific teacher certification program requires:

• Passing the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) (For more information including study guides, students may call (800) 239-8107 or (413) 256-2870, or visit the Illinois Certification Testing System web site.)
• Sophomore status (32 earned semester hours)
• Attainment of C (2.0) or better in a minimum of six semester hours of English composition (equivalent to ENG 106 or higher)
• A cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or above from all institutions of higher education
• A major grade-point average of 3.0 for art, foreign language, history, or physical education
• A major grade-point average of 2.75 for biology, early childhood education, elementary education, English, geography and environmental geosciences, music education, political science, special education, sociology, and theatre arts
• A major grade-point average of 2.5 for chemistry, mathematics, and physics
• A completed application with recommendations, a personal statement, and copies of current transcripts.
• Evidence of an Illinois State Police criminal background fingerprint check (information is available in the Education Office, at the Regional Office of Education, or for certified and non-certified school personnel from the Illinois State Board of Education's Guidance Document. To download a PDF of the Elmhurst College policy, click here.
• Passing the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) (For more information including study guides, students may call (800) 239-8107 or (413) 256-2870, or visit the Illinois Certification Testing System web site.) Instructions for substituting an ACT Plus Writing or SAT score for TAP.

All courses taken to meet certification requirements, including general education courses, must be completed for a grade of C (2.0) or higher. Education courses completed more than 10 years before admission to the program will not be accepted.

Students who wish to change teacher education programs after they have been admitted must file a request with the director of teacher education admissons. Admission is program specific.

For admission information and applications, contact Mr. William Slodki.