Academic Policies - Undergraduate
School of Education Standards and Regulations
The School of Education prepares men and women to work in a variety of educational and professional occupations. At the undergraduate level, the school offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed).
Requirements for Teacher Preparation Programs
Honors
Interdisciplinary Honors Program
Dean’s List
Laudatory Status
Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society
Kappa Delta Pi
Academic Standing
Academic Warning
Probation
Continued Probation
Dismissal for Poor Scholarship
Review of Teacher Candidates
Requirements for Teacher Certification
Criminal Background Checks
Graduation
Requirements for Teacher Preparation Programs
1. General Education
Since all teachers should embody the qualities of the educated person, the degree programs in the school involve a substantial component of coursework in the disciplines that help a student become articulate, informed, and cultured. A specially selected sequence of courses in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education ensures that students realize the dynamic linkage of theory, content, and practical classroom experience.
2. Specialized Studies
In addition to being generally well educated, teacher candidates are also expected to have special expertise in at least one field of study.
3. Professional Studies
Because good teaching is a highly skillful activity, deliberate attention is given to the acquisition and application of pedagogical knowledge required for work in this profession. Varied research programs conducted by the faculty support courses that accomplish this.
4. Access To Technology
The program enables students to use the full range of technological tools that will support education in the 21st century, and to learn how to creatively and effectively use the latest technology to improve teaching and learning.
5. Clinical Experience
The School of Education opens the classroom door for candidates to gain authentic clinical in-school experiences. Students have opportunities to engage with children in various learning activities in both suburban and urban environments.
6. Middle Grade Endorsement
The School of Education prepares all teacher candidates to teach middle grade students (6-8) in a subject area, where fifty percent or more of the teaching assignment is to a position comprised of a single subject of instruction. The Middle Grade Endorsement can be attached to either the Standard Elementary Certificate or the Standard High School Certificate.
All courses for the middle school endorsement are integrated into the existing elementary/secondary curriculum. Students interested in teaching middle school mathematics are required to take CIEP M80, Materials and Methods for Middle School Instruction Mathematics.
7. Program Goals
These teacher preparation goals are derived from the NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) Program Standards and specific specialty area studies standards.
Interdisciplinary Honors Program
The Interdisciplinary Honors Program integrates a challenging academic program with service-learning opportunities. Taking a series of interdisciplinary courses, students learn to perceive unexpected convergences among discrete facts, to synthesize information from many sources, and to use their knowledge to benefit society.
The School of Education’s Dean’s List is a semester by semester acknowledgment of those full-time (12 or more graded semester hours) students who obtain at least a 3.5 grade point average in any given academic semester. Students on the dean’s list receive a personal acknowledgement from the dean.
A student who earns a cumulative Loyola GPA of at least 3.50 will be graduated cum laude (with honors); of at least 3.70, magna cum laude (with high honors); of at least 3.90, summa cum laude (with highest honors). For the purpose of calculating the grade point average (GPA), averages are NOT rounded, i.e., 3.49 is not rounded to 3.50. Laudatory status requires exactly 3.50 or better.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 64 graded Loyola hours (excluding pass-no pass hours) to be eligible for academic honors. Work completed at a program or college not formally affiliated with Loyola will not be counted. The computation is based on the student's entire academic career at Loyola.
Laudatory status for the degree will be based on certification of all requirements and may differ from the status announced at graduation ceremonies if degree requirements are not certified at the time of the ceremony.
Alpha Sigma Nu is the national society of Jesuit colleges and university throughout the world. Its purpose is to acknowledge the Jesuit ideals of the intellectual excellence, community service and integrity. Invitations to apply for Alpha Sigma Nu are extended to candidates who have demonstrated those Jesuit ideals in their lives.
NOTE: A student in the School of Education may not take any more than 25% of their total hours in courses from the School of Business Administration. A student in the School of Education wanting to take more than 25% of their total hours in courses from the School of Business Administration will need to earn dual degrees. See section on dual degrees for further information.
Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education is committed to recognizing excellence and fostering mutual cooperation, support, and professional growth for educational professionals. School of Education candidates must be nominated for this honor society. For information, contact Jane Hunt.
Academic Standing
Academic Warning
Any student who does not achieve a term GPA of a 2.5 but has a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher will be placed on academic warning. Any student who has been placed on academic warning and does not achieve a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 in his/her next academic semester will be placed on academic probation.
Any student who does not achieve a term content area and/or major GPA of a 2.8 or higher but has a cumulative content area and/or major GPA of 2.8 or higher will be placed on academic warning. Any student who has been placed on academic warning and does not achieve a content area and/or major GPA of a 2.8 in his/her next academic semester will be placed on academic probation.
Probation
Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 will be placed on academic probation.
Any student whose term content area and/or major GPA falls below 2.8 will be placed on academic probation.
Any student who fails to show timely progression toward completion of his/her degree requirements, may at the discretion of his or her dean, be placed on probation. A contract defining the terms under which the student can remove him/herself from probation must be completed by the end of the second week of classes in the next semester.
Continued Probation
Any student who achieves a term GPA of 2.5 during their probationary semester, while not yet achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.5, will be continued on probation.
Any student who achieves a content area and/or major GPA of 2.8 during their probationary semester, while not yet achieving a content area and/or major GPA of 2.8, will be continued on probation.
Dismissal for Poor Scholarship
Any student who fails to achieve a term GPA of at least a 2.5 for the probationary semester will be dismissed for poor scholarship from the School of Education. Students who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 may be academically eligible to submit an application for transfer to another school/college within the university.
Any student who fails to achieve a content area and/or major GPA of at least a 2.8 for the probationary semester will be dismissed for poor scholarship from the School of Education. Students who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 may be academically eligible to submit an application for transfer to another school/college within the university.
Requirements for Teacher Certification
Students must apply to the Office of Student Academic Services for certification (i.e., it is not automatically conferred at graduation), and students are bound by the certification requirements of the state of Illinois at the time of their application. Therefore, students should apply for certification as soon as possible after graduation to avoid being liable for additional coursework should the state modify its requirements. Students are responsible for meeting requirements necessary for certification.
Illinois requires passing scores on state tests of basic skills, competency in the certification areas, and assessment of professional standards of teaching. Procedures and form for Certification
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Criminal background checks are required prior to initial field or practicum/internship experience in the schools.
GRADUATION
The requirements for graduation from the School of Education may differ from other schools/colleges in the university. Students must complete a minimum of 128 hours to graduate. Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA. They must also have a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA in their Core Curriculum and a minimum GPA of 2.8 in their education major and content area major (College of Arts and Sciences).
Students must file an Application for their Degree Conferral on or before October 1 for degrees to be awarded in May/August and on or before April 1 for degrees to be awarded in December.
Students must take their final, uninterrupted 45 hours of instruction or a minimum of 64 hours in residence at Loyola University Chicago. In-residence hours refers to the course credit hours taken at Loyola University, the Rome Center, or taken from any of the Loyola sponsored study abroad programs through the Office for International Programs.
