FAQs about Candidacy
Declaration of Candidacy for Urban Education students
Rules and standards for teacher licensure in Illinois are set by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Requirements for candidacy and licensure may change at the discretion of ISBE or Illinois state legislature at any time, but we try to keep this section as up to date as possible.
Undergraduates who are enrolled in the BA Urban Education - Elementary Education program are closely advised through the process by their student advisors and faculty, as well as UIC's Council on Teacher Education (CTE). Please see the Council on Teacher Education site for further information about what you need for Candidacy and admission to Candidacy.
Deadline to Declare Candidacy for the Fall Semester: April 1
Download the Declaration of Candidacy Checklist
Step 1 to Licensure: Candidacy and Fieldwork Heading link
Frequently asked questions and answers about applying to candidacy and fieldwork can be found below. If you have more questions, contact your academic advisor.
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What are the requirements for Candidacy and licensure?
All students pursuing the BA in Urban Education are required to complete academic and non-academic requirements to obtain licensure. Non-academic requirements include:
- Milestone 1: Admission to Candidacy
- Milestone 2: Admission to Student Teaching
- Milestone 3: Initiate Licensure
Academic requirements can be found in the Academic Catalogue.
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How does the COVID-19 pandemic affect the service requirement for licensure?
Due to the pandemic and the state waiver of certain licensure requirements during this time, the 50 service hours requirement for Spring 2021 candidacy declaration in the BA Urban Education program is waived. You do not have to complete 50 hours for candidacy submission in the spring of 2021. Please note, this is a temporary waiver and only applies to those students submitting candidacy declaration materials for Spring 2021 review.
Any questions about the pandemic-related changes to Candidacy requirements should be directed to the program coordinator Dr. Victoria Trinder at vtrinder@uic.edu.
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What is candidacy?
Candidacy is a process to ensure all students pursuing educator preparation programs meet state and university program requirements.
For Urban Education majors, Candidacy is the professional portion of the Urban Education major. At UIC this is a two-year (4 semesters) course sequence that begins in Fall Semester.
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What requirements do I need to have in order to declare candidacy?
Download our Declaration of Candidacy Checklist.
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What is the deadline to declare candidacy for urban education majors?
The deadline is April 1 in order to begin the following Fall semester.
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When can I declare candidacy?
Candidacy begins only in the fall semesters. Students apply in the spring semester prior to the fall of beginning candidacy.
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Is the ACT/SAT/TAP required to declare candidacy?
No. The state of Illinois no longer requires these tests to be completed for licensure.
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How do I send my scores to ISBE?
You no longer have to send test scores to ISBE.
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Can I apply with courses remaining?
Yes. However, ALL courses must be completed by the end of the summer term. Specific date will be shared with student as available.
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Where can I do my 50 service learning hours?
50 service learning hours must be completed at ONE location, in a school setting (preferably Chicago Public Schools) working with a diverse group of learners between the ages of 6-13. Non-CPS schools should meet the requirement of a Title I school. Work with private schools will not meet this requirement.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, these required hours are being waived. If you have completed any hours, we recommend including these hours with you declaration of candidacy.
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When do the 50 service learning hours need to be completed?
The hours must accompany the declaration of candidacy and are required to be submitted by the deadline date of April 1.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, these required hours are being waived. If you have completed any hours, we recommend including these hours with you declaration of candidacy.
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Where do I find the Declaration of Candidacy?
Please see the UIC Council on Teacher Education (CTE) website and follow the instructions. Use the Milestone Tab at the top of the page. Select Milestone 1. Follow instructions listed.
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What days am I required to be available once I begin candidacy?
- Junior Year Fall Courses are held on campus Monday and Tuesday. You are required to be available from 9:00am to 4:00pm. (Subject to course scheduling changes.)
- Junior Year Fall Fieldwork is held on Wednesday and Thursday. You are required to be available from 7:30am until 3:30pm.
- Junior Year Spring Courses are held on campus Monday and Thursday. You are required to be available from 9:00am to 4:00pm. (Subject to course scheduling changes.)
- Junior Year Spring Fieldwork is held on Tuesday and Wednesday. You are required to be available from 7:30am until 3:30pm.
- Senior Year Fall Courses are held on Monday and Tuesday. You are required to be available from 9:00am to 8:00pm.
- Senior Year Fall Fieldwork is held on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You are required to be available from 7:30am until 3:30pm.
- Senior Year Spring Courses are held on Wednesdays. You are required to be available from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
- Senior Year Spring Student Teaching is held on Monday through Friday. You are required to be available from 7:30am until 3:30pm.
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Where will I do fieldwork?
All students are placed in schools in which we have long standing relationships. We have a number of schools that we place our students to complete the required hours of fieldwork. Program faculty will provide additional information a field work placements are approved.
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Can I complete my fieldwork in a school by my house?
Unfortunately, students cannot self-select the schools in which they are placed. We formulate relationships with our selected community schools and we complete extensive training with all mentor teachers to help familiarize them with our program requirements and goals.
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When is Student Teaching?
Student Teaching is a yearlong experience. It begins as Pre-Student Teaching in fall semester Senior Year (Semester 3 of Candidacy).
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When does the Content Test need to be passed?
The Content Test must be taken PRIOR to submitting the Student Teaching Application. Recommended date to take the Content Test is during Spring Semester of Junior Year (Semester 2 of candidacy).
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When is the Student Teaching Application deadline?
Student Teaching Application information can be found on the Council on Teacher Education’s Website using the following link: https://cte.uic.edu/milestones/milestone-2-admission-student-teaching/