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-Pre-K through Grade 12
- Intervention Specialist-(Special Education) Grades K through 12
Candidates may receive a two-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 , 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.
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.
Reading Core Requirement
The state of Ohio requires that all Primary and Middle Childhood majors, as well as those adding Intervention Specialist, complete a reading core curriculum of 12 credit hours. A passing score on a state-mandated test of principles of researched-based reading instruction is also required.
For Education Majors in the Adolescent to Young Adult Licensure Track this in only required if they add the Intervention Specialist Licensure.
The required courses are: