Program Format
IU Indianapolis and the IU School of Education is recognized as a leader in urban education. Students are prepared according to the standards established by the Indiana Department of Education and are prepared for REPA 3 Indiana Teaching licenses. In addition, students are immersed in programs of study that challenge them intellectually with new models of instruction and explorations of diversity.
All students in the an IU Indianapolis Teacher Education Program spend significant time in community schools, where they learn the importance of social justice and democratic practices. They learn to tap the wealth of assets in Indianapolis as they hone their expertise as discipline-based teachers and passionate professionals. The School of Education is committed to preparing teachers who want to make a difference and have the knowledge and skills to do so.
Upon successful completion, teacher education programs leads to a Bachelor of Science in Education and a license to teach in Indiana upon completion of state testing requirements.
The program consists of these parts:
- General Education Core
- Pre-professional Education Courses
- Concentration (elementary and early childhood programs only)
- Teacher Education Courses
- Student Teaching
Prerequisite Courses
Teachers are first and foremost required to be knowledgeable about the subjects they teach. Specific prerequisite courses are required for every different teaching license available through Indiana University School of Education at IU Indianapolis. School of Education advisors and the School of Education Web site provide advising sheets that list the specific courses required to prepare for admittance into each teaching license program.
Elementary education majors complete a program of prerequisite courses that prepares them to be strong generalists. They typically take all their prerequisite courses as freshmen and sophomores, building their skills in written and oral communication, information technology, science, language arts, mathematics, social sciences, and fine arts.
Secondary and all-grade education majors prepare more specifically for teaching in a discipline area like English, social studies, science, mathematics, world languages, visual art, or physical education. Their prerequisite courses focus on the development of core knowledge. These courses help students develop their abilities to think critically and communicate, and prepare them to meet the rigorous content and teaching standards required for middle school, high school, or all-grade teaching.
Teacher Education Courses
IU Indianapolis Teacher Education Programs are a gateway into the profession of teaching. The courses in the programs are carefully aligned with standards and integrate field experiences so students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be professional educators.
Elementary majors enter the program as juniors and spend four full semesters in the teacher education blocks. They learn about the developmental needs of children, the complexities of schools and social systems, and research-based methods of teaching. Secondary and all-grade students also take teacher education courses in sequenced blocks, but their preparation is a combination of continued learning in their discipline and gaining the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for teaching adolescents and young adults or all levels of students.
Student Teaching
Student teaching represents the culminating experience in the teacher education programs.By assuming full responsibility for a class of students, candidates demonstrate their achievement of standards, and reflect both on student learning and on their own effectiveness as teachers.
Indiana Teaching LicensesEvery Indiana Teaching License requires preparation to meet multiple categories of professional standards. Teachers must be prepared to teach both content and children, so each license program is aligned to content standards and developmental standards. In addition to doing well in teacher education courses, benchmark assessments, and student teaching, prospective teachers must also pass ETS licensure tests.
IU Indianapolis offers the following license programs:
- Early Childhood Education (Grades Pre-K - 3)
- Elementary Education (Grades K-6)
- Secondary Education (Grades 5-12) in specific content areas
- All-Grade (Grades k-12) in specific content areas
- Licensure Additions in ENL or Special Education (Grades specific to initial license)
Indiana License Types and Coverage
IU Indianapolis’ educator preparation programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels were developed to meet the REPA 3 Licensure Framework adopted by the Indiana Department of Education. This framework establishes requirements not in terms of courses to be taken, but rather in terms of the standards that program graduates are expected to meet. The license framework addresses the principles set forth by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and includes both content standards for different subjects and teaching areas, and developmental standards associated with particular educational settings (early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school).
Degrees are offered in the following areas:
- Early Childhood
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education in
- English
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Chemistry
- Biology
- World Languages
- All-Grade Education in
- Visual Arts
- Physical Education
Licensure Addition Programs:
Students may complete any of the following programs with one of the licensure programs listed above. The developmental standards and school setting of the license will be the same as the partner license except for all-grade programs where the dual license will be for middle school and high school only. The special education dual program is only available to elementary and secondary majors.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Licensure Addition Program
- Preparation to teach children whose first language is not English
- Content Standard: English as a Second Language
Special Education Licensure Addition Program
- Preparation to teach children with special needs
- Content Standard: Exceptional Needs
The School of Education at IU Indianapolis also offers programs at the graduate level that lead to the following licenses:
- School Services (School Counselor)
- Building-Level Administrator
- District-Level Administrator
