Commonly Used Terms
Bilingual:
The term “bilingual” refers to the teaching of content to K-12 students in their native language. Loyola offers Bilingual/Bicultural Education as a major, which results in an elementary teaching certificate with approvals to teach bilingual and ESL students. We also offer a minor in bilingual education that can be added to an elementary or secondary certificate major.
Blocks:
This refers to a block of courses taken together that compliment theory and learning in the classroom. Teacher candidates spend several weeks in a K-12 classroom during this semester. The first block is scheduled for the sophomore or junior year depending on your course sequence. Consult the course sequence under your declared major for specific courses included in the block(s). The Director of Clinical Services (312-915-7402) or your course instructor will arrange your placements.
Clinicals:
Clinical experiences are designed to give students an opportunity to become involved in off campus educational experiences. Clinical experiences include guided observations such as tutoring, attending school board meetings, observing classroom activities, conducting small group or whole class instruction and judging academic contests. Teacher candidates are encouraged to keep a copy of the clinical hours in their portfolio. The professional education classes provide clinical experience hours for teacher candidates. The Director of Clinical Services (312-915-7402) or your course instructor will arrange your clinical placements.
Dual Degree:
Refers to completing a bachelor degree and a master degree as one program, i.e. Bachelor of Science, Biology and Master of Education, Secondary Education.
English as a Second Language (ESL):
Students can receive an ESL approval added to a certificate (elementary, secondary, special education, or early childhood) that would allow them to teach non-native English speakers intensive English language instruction. We offer a minor in ESL that can be added to an elementary or secondary certificate.
Major/Content Area:
Refers to the teaching subject for secondary education majors.
Middle Grade Endorsement (or Area of Concentration):
Refers to a sequence of courses (6- 7) that lead to a middle-grade endorsement on a teaching certificate.
Multiple Degrees:
Refers to completing majors in two different schools within the university. Secondary education students complete both a bachelor degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education.
Self-contained general education classroom:
A self-contained general education classroom is one in which all students are at a similar academic level. A teacher with a Type 03 certificate who teaches in a self-contained general education classroom has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects.
Student Teaching:
Student teaching is the capstone experience of the Loyola University Chicago teacher education program. The primary goal of student teaching is to provide opportunities for prospective teachers to strengthen skills and competencies needed to become effective teachers. This is achieved by allowing student teachers to engage in “hands-on, minds-on” experiences that help them bridge the theoretical and practical dimensions of teaching.
Testing (Certification tests):
The Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) is a three-part examination: a test of basic skills, a test in your specialty area, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Test (APT). The basic skills test must be completed prior to taking any methods courses. Students should take this test their freshman or sophomore year. The specialty test can be taken when the professional education courses are almost completed. The APT test must be taken before a student can receive his/her certificate.
Type 03:
The Type 03 certificate allows you to teach in an elementary school, specifically in kindergarten through 9th grade classrooms. You may obtain an endorsement in self-contained general education, or an endorsement in middle grades 5-8 specific to your area of concentration or minor.
Type 04:
The Type 04 Early Childhood certificate allows you to teach children from birth through grade 3. Additional coursework is required that provides a special education endorsement for birth to age 5.
Type 09:
The Type 09 certificate allows you to teach students in grades 6 through 12. It also provides a middle school endorsement for grades 6-8 and a high school.
Type 10 (K-12):
There are two Type 10 certificates: the Learning Behavioral Specialist I and the Modern Languages certificates. The Learning Behavioral Specialist I (Special Education) certificate permits you to teach students 3 through 21 years of age for all disabilities except Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Blind and Partially Sighted. The Modern Languages certificate allows you to teach students in a specific modern language (French, Italian, and Spanish or Latin) grades K-12.
Type 73:
School Service Personnel K-12 includes School Counselor, School Nurse, School Psychologist, or School Social Worker.
Type 75:
Administrative Certificate provides endorsements in Director of Special Education, General Administrative, Chief School Business Official, and Superintendent.
