Requirements

Requirements for the major - Educational Studies, Elementary (currently grades 1-6)

12 credits as follows:

• Introductory course: EDUC 201
• Foundation courses: EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, EDUC 204, EDUC 208 (.5), EDUC 301, EDUC 310A, and EDUC 323
• Methods courses: EDUC 312A, EDUC 314, EDUC 315(.5), EDUC 316(.5)
• Student teaching: EDUC 340 (3 credits)

Note: EDUC 201, either EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, and EDUC 204 can be taken in any order, but all of these courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to enrolling in more advanced courses.

Requirements for the major - Educational Studies, Secondary (currently grades 9-12)

12 credits as follows:

• Introductory course: EDUC 201
• Foundation courses: EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, EDUC 204, EDUC 205, EDUC 208(.5), EDUC 301, EDUC 310C, and EDUC 323
• Methods course: EDUC 312C, EDUC 318
• Student Teaching: EDUC 340 (3 credits)

Note: EDUC 201, either EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, EDUC 204 can be taken in any order, but all of these courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to enrolling in more advanced courses.

In general, a student may receive secondary certification by completing a major in Educational Studies, Secondary, and completing a major in the teaching area of interest, and passing the relevant state tests. The subject areas in which Knox offers secondary education certifications are: English; mathematics; science with specific designations in chemistry, biology, environmental science or physics; and social science with specific designations in history, political science, psychology, or anthropology/sociology.

Educational Studies, Special Content Areas: Art (K-12), Music (K-12), and Language (K-12)

12 credits as follows:

• Introductory course: EDUC 201
• Foundation courses: EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, EDUC 204, EDUC 205, EDUC 208(.5), EDUC 301, EDUC 310D, and EDUC 323
• Methods course: EDUC 312D, EDUC 319
• Student Teaching: EDUC 340 (3 credits)

Specific coursework in Special Content Areas may vary, specific to the area. As an example: MUS 307, 308, 309 satisfy the methods requirement (replacing EDUC 319).

Note: EDUC 201, either EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, and EDUC 204 can be taken in any order, but all of these courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to enrolling in more advanced courses.

The subject areas in which Knox offers special content area certifications are: Art, Music, and World Languages, with specific designations in Latin and Spanish.

Subsequent Endorsements Added to a PEL

A Knox College teaching candidate who earns a Professional Educator License (PEL), endorsed in a teaching field, may add additional content area endorsements. These endorsements can be added at any grade level even if the underlying teaching endorsement on the PEL is at a different grade range. The PEL serves as a foundation to which any teaching endorsement can be added after applicable coursework and testing are completed. In basic terms, these Subsequent Endorsements may be added by completing 18 semester hours (5.5 course credits) in the specific content area and passing the appropriate ILTS Content Test. The grade ranges for the subsequent endorsements are as follows: Early Childhood: Birth to Grade 3, Elementary Education: Grades 1-6, Middle Grades: Grades 5-8, Senior High: Grades 6-12 or 9-12, and Special Content K-12. Content areas are varied and numerous and available for review either in the Educational Studies Office or online @ https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Subsequent-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx.

Students interested in adding an endorsement are encouraged to discuss this with their Educational Studies Department advisor as early as possible in their program.

Majoring in Educational Studies without Licensure

The Educational Studies Major is for those who want to study education without earning a K-12 teaching license at Knox. An Educational Studies Major may prepare students for futures in graduate studies, community-based education, activism, international teaching, and policy work. Together the student, their advisor, and the department chair will determine 300-level course work and a senior project that best fits the student's interest and goals after graduation from Knox. Senior projects may include experiences such as independent research or community-based internships.

Requirements for the major - Educational Studies without Licensure

11.5 credits as follows:

• Introductory course: EDUC 201
• Foundation courses: EDUC 202 or EDUC 203, EDUC 204, EDUC 205, EDUC 208(.5), EDUC 301
• EDUC 330
• An additional 5 credits from Department offerings which match the student’s career/post baccalaureate ambitions. Appropriate substitutions of coursework from other disciplines will be considered.

Requirements for the minor - Educational Studies

5 credits as follows:

• Foundation courses: Two credits: EDUC 201, 204
• Policy capstone: EDUC 330
• Two credits from: EDUC 202, 203, 205, 207*, 208*, 209, 301, 323*, 327*

*Half-credit courses

As a member of the Associated Colleges of Illinois, the Educational Studies Department participates in a number of programs focused on preparing teachers for high needs schools. For example, majors in the Educational Studies Department have the opportunity to work in the Knox College4Kids Program, a summer enrichment program for children in first through eighth grade. Teacher candidates can also work with Knox College faculty and area master teachers. The Educational Studies Department also offers a course in culturally appropriate teaching which culminates in a summer teaching residency on the Navajo Nation Reservation.