Literacy Education (LTIC, LTLA, LTRE, TLEE)

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Admission to the major in elementary education is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in this catalog.

The Department of Literacy Education offers course work pertaining to elementary education, and literacy, intercultural, and language education across the lifespan, including work in reading, the language arts, children’s literature, bilingual education, English as a second language, and multicultural education.

The department offers the B.S.Ed. degree with a major in elementary education. State of Illinois approved and NCATE accredited programs leading to certification is offered in elementary education. Viewing teaching both as an art and a science, learning as a reciprocal process, and service as a responsibility, the department provides certification grounded in theory, research, and best practice.

The B.S.Ed. degree in elementary education qualifies students for an Illinois Elementary Teacher’s Certificate which enables them to teach in kindergarten through ninth grade. The elementary education program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and is designed to help preservice teachers learn theoretical constructs and practice appropriate role functions in the classroom with children. Students may also earn middle grades endorsement by successfully completing EPS 419 and TLCI 422. Transfer students who wish to major in elementary education should plan their program of study during their scheduled orientation session with an elementary education adviser.

As part of teacher certification, students must pass three competency examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education, one in basic skills and one in the subject-matter knowledge that corresponds most closely to the Illinois field for which they are seeking certification (e.g., early childhood education, elementary education, special education), and one for the assessment of professional teaching. Additional tests may be required before applying for Illinois teacher certification.

Advisement services are provided the student from freshman year through graduation. Students are responsible for utilizing these services by responding to the periodic posted notices of deadlines for professional semester applications and schedules for advance registration advisement. A permit to register for all professional semesters of the elementary education program must be secured from the department.

Literacy Education Faculty

Jennifer Berne, Ph.D., Michigan State University, associate professor, chair
Sonya L. Armstrong, Ed.D., University of Cincinnati, assistant professor
Chris L. Carger, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, professor 
James A. Cohen, Ph.D., Arizona State University, assistant professor
Mayra C. Daniel, Ed.D., Illinois State University, associate professor
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D., University of Akron, Distinguised Teaching Professor, Presidential Engagement Professor
Mary Beth Henning, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, associate professor
Sheryl L. Honig, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, assistant professor
Paul Kelter, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Board of Trustees Professor
Melanie D. Koss, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, assistant professor
Susan L’Allier, Ed.D., Harvard University, associate professor
Michael Manderino, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, assistant professor
Eui-Kyung Shin, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, associate professor
John Evar Strid, Ph.D., Northwestern University, assistant professor
Donna E. Werderich, Ed.,D., Northern Illinois University, assistant professor
Corrine M. Wickens, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, assistant professor
C. Sheldon Woods, Ph.D., Kansas State University, associate professor

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