Education Major: Multi-Age Licensure Track

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Description

Education offers educator preparation programs that lead to licensure in the State of Ohio. It is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). While specific elements of educator licensure vary from state to state, there is sufficient similarity so that the programs offered at Heidelberg will satisfy requirements in many states. Licensure candidates must apply for the appropriate Ohio Department of Education license within one calendar year of earning the Education degree.

Ohio teaching licenses are awarded to Education Majors in the following areas:

Primary Education-Pre-K through Grade 5
Middle Childhood Education-Grades 4 through 9
Adolescent to Young Adult-Grades 7 through 12
Multi-Age- Music Education, Theatre Education (concentration in Theatre major)- Pre-K through Grade 12
Intervention Specialist-(Special Education) Grades K through 12

Candidates may receive a four-year Resident Educator license in one of the first four areas listed. In addition, candidates may add Intervention Specialist to the Primary, Middle Childhood, or Adolescent to Young Adult license, (this is not a stand-alone program at Heidelberg). Note that this will require additional coursework and will take additional time above and beyond the Four-Year Graduation Guarantee. Candidates seeking licensure in two areas must student teach in each area for at least six weeks.

Entering first-year students are classified as Conditional Education Majors (EDC) and take first-year courses EDU 110 (MUS 110 , MUS 115 , Music Education only), EIS 200 , and PSY 101 . Upon successful completion of these courses (C-or higher) and achievement of a minimum 2.85 GPA, EDC majors enroll in EDU 220 and apply for admission into the Educator Preparation Program. Admission into the EPP is by application only and is subject to the following requirements:

A cumulative grade point average of 2.85 or higher
Demonstration of general education proficiency in mathematics, reading, and writing as determined by the Educator Preparation Program (e.g., current accepted passing rates on nationally normed assessments such as: ACT; SAT). See specific details in the Educator Preparation Program Student Handbook.

Once accepted into the Educator Preparation Program, Conditional Education majors will be classified as Education Licensure Candidates (EDL). Education majors must be classified as EDL to enroll in 300-level professional education classes. They also must maintain a 2.85 cumulative GPA in order to enroll in any professional education courses at the 300-level or above.

Education Licensure Candidates (EDL) must earn passing scores on all state-mandated tests required for their licensure area before they will be permitted to register for student teaching (EIS 426 , EIS 427 , EIS 428 , EIS 429 , EIS 430 ).

All Education majors must complete the education licensure core courses. Beyond these, candidates need to complete the courses required for their specific licensure area. Any EDU or EIS course that is a prerequisite for any other EDU or EIS course must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

Background Check Requirement

Ohio law requires that all persons working in schools with students must complete both an Ohio criminal background check and an FBI criminal background check annually, conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Identification Investigation (BCII). This applies to all education majors who are registered for any course with a field experience component. Background check fees are the students’ responsibility.

Multi-Age Licensure Track

The goal of the Multi-Age track is to prepare Music or Theatre teachers for Pre-K through grade 12 licensure. Music Education candidates are Bachelor of Music majors and licensure candidates, not Education majors. Refer to the Music section to see course requirements. Students wishing to obtain licensure from the state of Ohio to teach theatre/drama to any age group may add the Theatre Education Licensure Track to the Theatre major (any concentration). While specific elements of educator licensure vary from state to state, there is sufficient similarity so that this program will satisfy requirements in many states.

Please refer to Music Education Major or Theatre Major (Licensure) .