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I already have my degree but I'm interested in coming back to school to get a teaching license.

Thank you for your interest in the Coe College Teacher Education program.  This information is general information. If, after reading this information, you have unanswered questions, feel free to send a letter of inquiry, along with a copy of your transcript and a brief explanation of why you are interested in teaching to: Post-BA Evaluation, Teacher Education Department, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA  52402.

If you are interested in determining exactly what courses you will need to obtain licensure from Coe, please send the Teacher Education Department a copy of transcripts for all of the college courses you have taken; a letter explaining the endorsements you wish to obtain; whether you intend to enroll full or part time; and an email address to which we can send our analysis. (Unofficial transcripts may be used for planning purposes; official transcripts are required prior to admission).  One of our faculty members will respond in writing, and we can decide at that point whether or not to schedule a meeting to follow up. 

Please note that the faculty will not review transcripts the one week prior to a new semester and the first week of a new semester. Therefore, do try to submit your letter of interest in a timely manner in order to ensure you have access to courses.

Following are the requirements for completion of licensure for elementary education at Coe.  These are the requirements for licensure only, and assume that you have already completed a bachelors degree.  Admission to Coe is separate from, and does not guarantee, admission to the Teacher Education Program.  The courses indicated with an asterisk cannot be taken prior to admission to the Teacher Education program.  In order to be admitted, you must receive a B- or better in at least two courses at Coe, successfully complete the CBASE basic skills test, and submit an application to the Teacher Education program.  Also, Practicum must be taken prior to all Methods courses.   In most cases, this means attending Coe for at least one semester before being admitted to the TEd program.

Elementary Education Core courses:

Education Foundations (offered fall and spring terms)

Human Relations (offered fall, spring and summer terms)

Exceptional Learners (offered fall, spring and summer terms)

Educational Psychology (offered fall and spring terms)

Elementary Practicum (offered fall and spring term)

Children's Literature (offered fall term)

Language Arts Methods (offered spring term)

Reading Methods (offered spring term)

Mathematics Methods (offered fall term)

Physical Science Methods (offered fall term)

Social Studies Methods (offered spring term)

Any two of Health Methods (spring), Music Methods (spring) , Art Methods (fall) or PE Methods (fall)

Student Teaching (full time in fall or spring semester)

For the typical student attending classes part time year-round (2 classes each term), the complete sequence of courses will take approximately 3 1/3 years.  Note that student teaching is a  full time commitment. 

 For a student beginning coursework in the summer, the courses can be completed in less total time. 

For students wishing to complete the requirements in two years, a summer start is necessary.  The schedule for completing the core courses would look like this: 

For a student wishing to obtain secondary licensure, the amount of time required will depend on the endorsement subject area.  The required courses are: 

Secondary or K-12 Core Courses:

Education Foundations (offered fall and spring terms)

Human Relations (offered fall, spring and summer terms)

Exceptional Learners (offered fall, spring and summer terms)

Educational Psychology (offered fall and spring terms)

Secondary Practicum (offered fall and spring term)

Secondary Methods (offered on the following schedule):

Social Studies--every fall

Science--fall of odd-numbered years

Language Arts/English--fall of even-numbered years

Business--spring of even-numbered years

Foreign Language--fall of even-numbered years

Mathematics--spring of even-numbered years

Art--fall of odd-numbered years

Student Teaching (full time in fall or spring semester)

There is also a state requirement that all Iowa teachers have coursework in Mathematics, the Natural Sciences, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences.

As you can see, planning a program for students desiring secondary licensure is complicated by the need to take at least two courses before Practicum, and Methods after Practicum.  Further,  many secondary students need to take additional courses to become endorsed in a particular area.  For this reason, such planning must be done on a case by case basis.

Again, if you are interested in determining exactly what courses you will need to obtain licensure from Coe, please send the Teacher Education Department a copy of transcripts for all of the college courses you have taken; a letter explaining the endorsements you wish to obtain; whether you intend to enroll full or part time; and an email address to which we can send our analysis. (Unofficial transcripts may be used for planning purposes; official transcripts are required prior to admission).  One of our faculty members will respond in writing, and we can decide at that point whether or not to schedule a meeting to follow up. 

Again, we appreciate your interest in Coe College, and your willingness to follow these procedures.   

Terry McNabb

Associate Professor and Chair

Teacher Education