FAQ
The Hanover College Education Department offers an Elementary Education Major, Certification for Elementary Education Teacher Certification for grades K - 6, nearly twenty Secondary Education Certification programs for Grades 5 - 12 and an optional Secondary Education Major, along with Dual Certification in Special Education for grades K-12
When can I start taking Education courses?
EDU 172 - Exploring the Arts (for Elementary Ed students who have not taken EDU 171 or EDU 216)
EDU 221- Education & the American Culture
EDU 230 - Education Law & Ethics
These are great introductory courses that do not require admission for registration.
All other EDU courses cannot be taken until one has applied for and been formally accepted into one of the Education Department programs. This ideally takes in the beginning of Winter Term of the sophomore year. Late admits may have sequencing issues, but we make every effort to assist students complete coursework needed.
What if I want to teach outside of Indiana?
We have alums teaching in nearly every state in the U.S. and also abroad. The Hanover College Educator Preparation Program is designed to meet Indiana certification requirements. Following graduation from Hanover, we advise out of state students to obtain licensing in Indiana first, and then apply for another state's license. Several states require that initial licensing is obtained in the state the teacher received their degree and certification. Some states will also have different required teacher licensing exams and/or may require all license applicants to have coursework other than what is required in Indiana. Not all state licenses are reciprocal. Our licensing advisor will be happy to help you with licensing issues and procedures. Contact Cheryl Torline at torline@hanover.edu for assistance and advice.
How and when do I apply to the Education program at Hanover College?
Students should prepare their applications during the summer prior to their sophomore year completing the requirements for admission. These include ONE of the following: ACT scores of 24+ or minimum SAT scores of 1100+ or the Indiana CASA exam (see Competency Exams below). Other requirements for application include completion of the application form found under the Academics tab in MY HANOVER, a written 1,000 word essay per the published rubric, recommendations from two of their current or past professors, and a Decision Point One interview. The Teacher Education Committee has set November 1st as the deadline for all applications. Students can apply by appeal anytime thereafter, but need to submit a letter of appeal and may experience course sequence difficulties in completing their Education coursework. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to the Education programs.
What about Competency exams?
The initial admissions test is called CASA which must be passed if the student does not have minimum ACT/SAT scores set by the State of Indiana. This three part exam must be taken by Fall term of the sophomore year. This is a general skills exam (reading, writing, and math) and information and registration can be found at http://www.in.nesinc.com/
The CORE exams are licensing tests that are required in either K-6 or 5-12 pedagogy and also in the teaching content knowledge. Passing scores on these exams are required for certification and licensing. Information and registration for CORE is also available at http://www.in.nesinc.com/
Students pursuing licensing in other states will likely have to take different licensing exams for that particular state. Questions may referred the Education Student Services Coordinator or any of the Education professors. Information is best found on the Department of Education website for the particular state and the Educational Testing Service.
How early in Education coursework am I exposed to a real classroom?
Entry level courses, EDU 211 and 230, both require field experience in real classrooms or with real children/adolescents. Students will have at least 100 hours of classroom experience within their course of study before going into 14 full weeks of student teaching for certification completion.
Do I have an opportunity to be in urban school setting?
Teacher candidates who choose a local student teaching placement complete a three-day urban school experience following their regular student teaching assignment. Teacher candidates can choose to do their 14 weeks of student teaching in an urban school in Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis or via The Philadelphia Center.
What is the Special Education program?
Hanover now offers a dual certification program for K-12 Special Education (Mild Intervention) that is completed in conjunction with either K-6 or 5-12 certification. Licensed teachers may also complete this coursework as classes are scheduled online, nights, and summers.
Note: Special Education certification fulfills the minor requirement for Elementary Education majors.
What is the placement rate for Hanover's certified graduates?
Of the licensed graduates from 2004-2016, more than 99% were hired to teach in public or private schools beginning the fall after their graduation. Other graduates have chosen graduate school or to work for entities like the Boys and Girls Clubs, Campus Crusade for Christ, our national parks, teaching abroad, working in education curriculum at museums and camps, teaching preschool, as well as a host of other opportunities. Bravo to ALL of them!
If I decide classroom teaching is not for me, do I have to get a teacher's license?
We very strongly urge that all completers obtain licensing immediately following graduation because many who make other choices after college often decide to return to teaching later. This is much easier if one has completed competency exams and obtained an original license. Licensing requirements do change frequently and at the time of your program completion you are qualified to obtain an Indiana teaching license.
Please contact any Education faculty member for more information. Even if you are not sure that you want to teach, our faculty and staff members are happy to guide you through keeping your options open and the decision-making process!