Communication Teacher Education

Program Highlights

Candidates in the program will have the opportunity to:

• Receive individualized advisement by the program coordinator
• Participate in field trips each year to Chicago Public Schools and other experience-rich teaching sites
• Attend small enrollment seminar style classes for communication teaching methods
• Assist in teaching a basic college communication course
• Participate in co-curricular activities such as speech team, debate, communication honors and more
• Develop competitive speech and debate coaching and judging skills while working with students from local high schools
• Student teach either fall or spring semester at locations throughout the state

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Communication Education is competitive and selective. Due to the individualized nature of the program, candidates need to meet the following criteria for consideration:

Admission from high school
• Apply through the normal university admissions process
• Required: Visit the Office of Admissions website for a complete list of requirements for incoming freshman
• Recommended: Personal interview; pass the Test of Academic Proficiency within the first three semesters of college

Admission from another university or community college (external transfer)
• Apply through the normal university admissions process
• Required: minimum 2.80 GPA
• Recommended: Personal interview; Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency in the first two years of college

Admission from other programs at Illinois State (internal transfer)
• Apply through iCampus
• Required: 2.80 GPA for consideration; 3.00 GPA recommended, personal interview and a passing score on the Test of Academic Proficiency (recommended in the first two years of college work)

Program Requirements

Candidates in this program complete a major in Communication Studies – Teacher Education and a minor in English or English Education. Students also complete a series of professional education courses as offered by the College of Education.

The program encourages candidates to begin the professional education sequence as soon as possible. Students beginning as freshmen or first semester sophomores should be able to complete the program in a traditional four year sequence. Students beginning after that time period will likely have to complete additional academic terms in order to meet all requirements.

All professional education majors, including Communication Education, also must successfully pass three state administered examinations for teachers. Those tests are: The Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly called the Basic Skills Test), the English Language Arts Content Test, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Exam. Each test is administered by the state at various testing centers throughout Illinois. Complete information about those exams can be accessed on-line from the Illinois Certification Testing System.

For a printable listing of Communication Education requirements including the minor and professional education classes, click here.

All candidates are highly encouraged to meet regularly with the coordinator of the program.

Placement

Until 2010, the program boasted a nearly 100% placement rate into desired careers. Recent fiscal constraints in the public schools have made it more difficult for new teachers to find placements, but the Communication Education program continues as one of the highest placing programs at the university.

Communication Education alumni tend to stay in teaching and school administration far better than the national average. Many communication education alumni have won teaching and service awards and excel in the classroom and in their co-curricular activities.

For a personal interview and additional information, please contact the program director, Mr. Douglas Jennings at dkjenni@ilstu.edu.