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 that can be completed along with either Elementary Ed or Secondary Ed.
WE ENCOURAGE ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN TEACHER CERTIFICATION TO REQUEST A CHANGE OF ADVISOR TO ONE OF THE EDUCATION PROFESSORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - GOOD PLANNING IS CRUCIAL!
Change of Advisor Form (Registrar's Office Handouts)
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 231 - Education Law & Ethics
These are great introductory courses that do not require admission for registration. Students may also take EDU 306, EDU 240, and any of the Special Education courses as they are offered.
All other EDU courses cannot be taken until one has applied for and been formally accepted into the Educator Preparation Program by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC). Admission should be made by November 15th of the sophomore year. Later admissions are possible but could result in course sequencing issues, requiring an extra semester for Student Teaching assignment. Again - if you need advice or assistance with the best way to proceed in your goal to become a teacher - reach out to our Education faculty and staff. Please know that every effort to assist students in achieving their goal.
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 enroll in EDU 221 during the first year at Hanover if at all possible. 221 is usually offered in both Fall and Winter terms. The required Philosophy of Teaching essay is an assignment in EDU 221.
- Students who need higher SAT or ACT scores for admission should prepare for and take these tests as early as possible in order to have the required scores prior to the November 15th deadline. Getting the score report to the EPP is the responsibility of the applicant in many cases.
- The applicant will complete the online Application Form which is found under the Academics tab on MY HANOVER. The essay is uploaded into the application and students chose two of their current or past professors to write recommendation on the student's qualifications.
- The Teacher Education Committee will conduct an admission interview with all applicants.
- Applicants must have a 2.67 GPA to be admitted into the Educator Preparation Program.
*Students can be admitted after the deadline if they reach the SAT or ACT test score requirements or attain the required GPA of 2.67. Students file an appeal for admission by discussing their situation with an Education professor.
Admitted students much achieve a 3.0 GPA by the time they are ready for student teaching.
How early in Education coursework am I exposed to a real classroom?
Our entry level course, EDU 211, requires 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?
Our teacher candidates can choose to do their 14 weeks of student teaching in an urban school in Louisville, Indianapolis, or via The Philadelphia Center or through Wartburg College West in Denver, Colorado.
What is the Special Education (Teaching All Learners) Program?
Hanover now offers a dual certification program for P-12 Special Education (Mild Intervention) that is completed in conjunction with either K-6 or 5-12 teacher certification. Indiana licensed teachers may also complete this coursework as classes are scheduled in the evening during the academic year and online in Hanover's two summer sessions.
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 2004-2018, 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 program completers obtain Indiana licensing immediately following graduation. Licensing requirements do change frequently and at the time of your program completion you are qualified to obtain an Indiana teaching license after passing the Indiana CORE exams in Pedagogy and the Content Area.
Can I teach outside of Indiana?
Most states have some form of license reciprocity with Indiana. Many require a license from the state in which one completed their training first, some require some additional coursework, and some require another set of licensing tests. Please discuss your concerns with our licensing advisors while you are still at Hanover so that we can best guide you for a particular state's requirements.
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!