Education

Steps to Becoming a Teacher

Students who wish to major or minor in education at Carthage, and complete the Teacher Education Program, must complete a series of steps during their four years at Carthage. The following pages outline the steps to becoming a teacher.

Education students should purchase the Carthage publication Steps to Becoming a Teacher from the Carthage Bookstore.

Program Checklist
Step 1: Getting Started
Developing Your Portfolio
Step 2: Teacher Education Program
Sample Schedules
Clinical Experience
Step 3: Student Teaching
Step 4: Certification Applications


Carthage Education Program Checklist


Freshman Year

  • Declare your major/minor.
  • Take and pass the PPST.
  • Take Core sequence (must earn a grade of C or better in all Core courses).
  • Take education foundations courses (EDUC 101, 105 or 201).
  • Begin working on the portfolio.
  • Begin dispositions review through designated classes.

Sophomore Year

  • Continue working on your minor for elementary/major for secondary.
  • Take the third education foundations course.
  • Apply to the Teacher Education Program.
  • Get three positive recommendations for the TEP application. (Two must be from education professors.)
  • Continue working on the portfolio and complete EDUC 222.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Take other 200-level classes.

Junior Year

  • Successfully complete the Praxis II subject area test(s) before student teaching application and have records on file with the education office.
  • Continue adding to the portfolio to prepare for its review at the time of application to student teaching.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Attend mandatory student teaching meeting.

Senior Year

  • Complete all pre-student teaching clinical requirements with report forms placed on file in the education office.
  • Continue with appropriate dispositions review through designated classes.
  • Complete application for student teaching and hand in by deadline.
  • Sign up for a student teaching interview (dates and times will be announced).
  • Hand in portfolio for review, due at the same time as student teaching application.
  • Attend mandatory student teaching interview.
  • Register for EDUC 430 (if in special education).
  • Student teach.
  • Revise portfolio with materials from student teaching.

Steps to Becoming a Teacher

Student Voices

"The experience I am getting in the field is far beyond what I had expected. When I am finished with my courses, I know I will feel well-equipped to student-teach because of the experiences Carthage has provided for me."

— Katie Crimmins, '12, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Hear what students have to say about studying education at Carthage.

Inspiration & Ideas

The Center for Children's Literature at Carthage, co-directed by education professor Marilyn Ward, offers future teachers valuable resources, lectures, workshops and seminars. Read more.