Welcome to Music Education at Eastern Illinois University. This handbook is designed to provide you with information regarding standards and procedures for admission to the music education program at Eastern Illinois University as well as receiving Teacher Certification. Please read it carefully.
You are ultimately responsible for seeing that all of your requirements are met. It is your responsibility to become knowledgeable about the music education program, catalog requirements in your specific option, departmental admission requirements, university admission to teacher education policies, as well as retention, graduation and certification requirements. Check the Daily Eastern News (DEN) for official announcements regarding Teacher Certification at EIU.
Your advisor will supply you with a course requirement checklist for your option. Make every effort to follow this plan. Your advisor and those in the Music Education Area will assist you in every way possible. The music department standards meet Illinois State Certification demands as well as those of other accrediting agencies. Attention to all these details will result in a valid certificate for you. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
University Admission to Teacher Education is a multiple step process which includes:
Application for Admission to Teacher Education takes place after you have completed 29 semester hours, established a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and have taken and passed the TAP (Test of Achievement and Proficiency). You must attend a mandatory Admission to Teacher Education meeting to fill out the initial paperwork. This meeting is held early in each semester and is offered through the College of Education. It is at this meeting that the process toward Teacher Certification is explained. Once you have completed these steps, your scores (GPA and TAP scores) are weighted and entered into a selection pool. If you are not selected, you may remain in the pool and try to raise your GPA or retake the TAP (once) to improve your scores, thereby increasing your likelihood of selection. You must pass all three parts of the TAP. If you fail the TAP, you must find tutoring help from either the Reading Center or the Math Diagnostic Center before retaking the TAP. Call 581-5986 for TAP administration dates. You may not move forward toward Teacher Certification unless you are first admitted to Teacher Education.
University Approval to take Teacher Education Courses is granted after the student has been admitted to teacher education and met the following requirements:
*C or better
Sophomores should enroll in MUS 2440. Transfer students should enroll in MUS 2440 during the first semester at EIU. To wait will impede your progress toward Certification.
Departmental Approval to Student Teach is granted no sooner than two (2) full semesters prior to student teaching and no later than midterm of the semester prior to student teaching.
The following professional courses must be completed with a C or better.
ASEP Option - See catalog for details about this option.
In addition to the course requirements listed above, you must:
The entire Music Department Faculty will review your (a) professional commitment, (b) personal suitability for the teaching profession, and (c) musical skills and understandings. If the faculty review indicates an inadequate level of achievement or suitability in any of these areas, the Music Education faculty will (a) require additional professional involvement and/or study during the following year or (b) request removal from the music education program.
You must have credit for all required music courses in your option prior to student teaching.
University Approval to Student Teach must be granted to you by the Office of Clinical Experiences no later than the mid-term of the semester prior to student teaching. If you have questions about this process, contact Dr. Patricia Poulter or Ms. Anne Johnson in the Music Department, or Dr. Brian Reid in the Student Teaching Department.
Student Teaching Placements are done through the Department of Student Teaching Area Coordinators, according to the geographical area in which you hope to student teach. However, the Music Education faculty are able to assist you in finding a placement which we believe best suits your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. In order to do so, we must meet with you at least one full year prior to the semester you wish to student teach. We will do our best to locate a positive student teaching placement for you. All recommended placements will then go through the office of Ms. Anne Johson. Note that these placements will not be official until finalized through the COEPS Student Teaching Coordinators.
You will prepare an autobiographical sketch and resume to present to your cooperating teacher at the initial visit prior to student teaching.
You should enroll for 14 hours of Student Teaching (STG 4001) and 1 hour of STG 4000 .
Certification Exams
1. You must pass the State of Illinois Basic Skills Test
2. You must pass the State of Illinois Music Education K-12 Subject Area Test which is a prerequisite to obtaining teacher certification. This test can be taken shortly before Student Teaching, but may also be taken after Student Teaching. A study session is held for Music Education Students every semester. Get test booklet and application forms for State Certification tests in COEPS.