Curriculum Requirements: Additional Major in Education
A minimum of 120 semester hours are required for all students who graduate from Hebrew Theological College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students pursuing an additional major in Education must complete 30 semester hours in the Department of Education. Specific coursework is determined with the student's career goals in mind during the advising process. All Education majors must complete at least 20 semester hours in professional preparation coursework in residence including methodology coursework. Student Teaching and Practicum must be completed in residence.
Curriculum Requirements: HTC Judaic Studies Certification for Secondary Education (6-12)
Hebrew Theological College offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare and train students to become professionally competent, culturally equipped and religiously inspired teachers in Jewish Day Schools (Middle School) , High Schools, and Supplementary Schools (Talmud Torahs). Upon completion of the program, candidates will receive a certificate from Hebrew Theological College that will entitle them to teach Judaic Studies from 6th through 12th grade.
The program is comprised of six components:
1. Advanced Hebrew Studies (AHS) Core 30 – 36 credits:
2. Judaic Studies: 12 credits in Bible; 12 credits in Hebrew; 6 credits in Jewish Law (exemption for majors in Talmud); 6 credits in Jewish Philosophy; 6 credits in Jewish History.
3. Major: Minimum of 30 credits in Bible or Jewish History.
4. Liberal Arts and Sciences as required for BA including:
• English Composition: ENGL 111 and 211 (6 credits)
• English Literature (3 credits)
• Speech (3 credits)
• Math; MATH 104 or higher (3 credits)
• Natural Sciences (4 credits)
• Behavioral Science (fulfilled by certificate requirement)
5. Professional Education Courses – See below
6. Clinical Experiences and Student Teaching
The Judaic Studies and LAS requirements are identical to the requirements for all matriculating HTC/Blitstein Institute students.
All candidates will complete the following Professional Education courses:
- PSYC 217 Developmental Psychology or PSYC 267 Adolescent Psychology
- ARTS 230 Education Through the Arts
- EDUC 241 Health
- EDUC 305 Cognitive Development
- EDUC 310 Moral Education
- EDUC 311 Differentiated Instruction
- EDUC 315 Exceptional Child
- EDUC 319 Diagnosis and Remediation of Learning Disabilities and Related Disorders
- EDUC 327 Methods of Teaching Tanach in Secondary Schools or
- EDUC 328 Methods of Teaching History in Secondary Schools
- EDUC 336 Technology in Education
- EDUC 340 Classroom Management
- EDUC 353 School Law or
- EDUC 354 Public Policy
- EDUC 379 Student Teaching 15 weeks, full time or
- EDUC 380, 2 semesters part-time (30 weeks)
All education courses will require clinical experiences. Candidates must follow all other teacher certification requirements including, but not limited to, the Test of Basic Skills; Application and acceptance to the Department of Education; Dispositions Assessments; Student Teaching assessments and portfolio.
Curriculum Requirements: HTC Hebrew Teacher Certification K-8
Hebrew Theological College offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare and train students to become professionally competent, culturally equipped and religiously inspired teachers in Hebrew Day Schools and Supplementary Schools (Talmud Torahs).
Completion of the Hebrew Teacher Training program of studies will fulfill the requirements of the Board of License of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago for employment in its educational system. A Hebrew Teacher Certificate will be granted upon successful completion of all requirements. This certificate, granted only upon completion of a baccalaureate degree, has wide recognition in the United States and Israel. Students may pursue the Hebrew Teacher Certificate while completing the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Requirements for Hebrew Teacher Certificate
Certification will be granted only to students who meet all of the following requirements:
• Completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree:
Students who have earned a degree from another institution, with a major in a field other than Judaic Studies, must have earned no less than 36 semester hours of college level work in Hebrew and Judaic Studies to be considered as candidates for certification.
• Successfully pass a proficiency test of oral and written Hebrew or have earned a 3.0 grade point average in at least 6 semester hours of advanced courses in the Hebrew Theological College Hebrew Department.
• Successfully pass the test of HTC Post-Test of General Judaic Knowledge administered by the Bressler School of Advanced Hebrew Studies.
• Professional Education - Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of professional education courses, including all courses in Level I Core Curriculum with the exception of EDUC 295 [see below for specifics], and EDUC 319: Diagnosis and Remediation of Learning Disabilities, EDUC 340: Strategies for Behavior Management in the Classroom, and at least two courses in Methods of Teaching Hebrew and Judaic Studies.
Clinical Experience - All students seeking Hebrew Teacher Certification must complete a series of clinical experiences, as delineated in the Department of Education Guidebook.
Student Teaching - Certification is contingent upon completion of 6 semester hours of Student Teaching, which consists of supervised teaching for a full semester at an approved Hebrew Day School, Candidates must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all professional coursework. In addition, students must obtain department approval for student teaching. Students are required to attend a weekly student teaching seminar.
Curriculum Requirements: Illinois State Teaching Certificate in Elementary and Special Education
The Elementary and Special Education programs prepare HTC students to have flexible skills that enable them to extend beyond traditional roles as classroom teachers, and allow the students to respond effectively to changing needs in the public and private schools. In order to guarantee that all Education majors receive the breadth of general education in the Liberal Arts and Sciences and meet the requirements specified by the NCATE Standards and Illinois State Board of Education, students who wish to pursue Illinois State Teacher Certification in Elementary and Special Education are required to take the following courses, which include the minimum requirements for graduation with a Bachelor of Arts.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Required coursework in Communication includes oral and written language. Teacher candidates must successfully complete English Composition 211, and 3 semester hours in Oral Communication.
A minimum of 36 semester hours are required in Humanities. This includes 3 semester hours in English Literature; 12 semester hours in Bible and Biblical Literature; 12 semester hours in Foreign Language and Literature; 6 semester hours in Philosophy; and 3 semester hours in ARTS 230 Education Through the Arts.
Students must acquire a broad-base of knowledge in the areas of Social and Behavioral Sciences through a minimum of 12 semester hours in coursework that includes: Psychology, Political Science, Sociology or Economics, American History (required) and Non-Western History (required).
Students must demonstrate competency in the Natural Sciences. Elementary Education Majors must take one course in the biological sciences, and one course in the physical sciences. A third course must be an integrated science, emphasizing curriculum and methodology for a diverse population. All courses must have a lab component. Special Education Majors are required to take a lab course in Biological Science or Physical Science, an integrated science, emphasizing curriculum and methodology for a diverse population, and Tests and Measurements.
Education majors must demonstrate a broad-based competency in Mathematics either by fulfilling the HTC math requirement (MATH 104, 105 or higher).
3 semester hours must be completed in Health and Physical Development. The course emphasizes sensitivity to diversity and perspectives in dealing with issues of health, prevention, and well-being.
In addition to the General Education requirements provided by the Kanter School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Bressler school of Advanced Hebrew Studies described above, students who wish to pursue Illinois State Teacher Certification in Elementary or Special Education must complete the following Professional Education Core. Most courses are 3 credit except where indicated.
Professional Education Core
Core Curriculum – Level I
- EDUC 241 Health and Safety Education
- EDUC 262 Child Development or equivalent
- EDUC 295 Analysis of Children’s Literature
- EDUC 310 Theories and Practices of Moral Education
- EDUC 313 Educational Psychology
- or EDUC 305: Cognitive and Language Development
- EDUC 314 Effective Practices in Differentiated Instruction
- EDUC 315 The Exceptional Child
- EDUC 336 Computer Application and Technology in Education
Core Curriculum – Level II
- EDUC 319 Diagnosis and Remediation of Learning Disabilities (4)
- EDUC 340 Strategies for Behavior Management in the Classroom;
- EDUC 353 School Law (required for Special Education majors) or
- EDUC 354 Public Policy and School Choice.
Areas of Specialization
Elementary Education
In addition to the professional education core, elementary education majors must complete four methodology courses:
- EDUC 332 Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts (4)
- EDUC 333 Mathematics in the Elementary and Middle School
- EDUC 334 Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle School
- EDUC 335 Science in the Elementary and Middle School (4)
Elementary Education candidates must also successfully complete EDUC 375, Student Teaching in an approved elementary or middle school site.
Special Education – LBS I
In addition to the Level I and Level II core requirements, special education majors must complete the following courses:
- EDUC 316 Tests and Measurements (4)
- EDUC 317 Characteristics of and Methods of Teaching Students with
- Disabilities I - LBS I (4)
- EDUC 320 Characteristics of and Methods of Teaching Students with
- Disabilities II – LBS I (4)
- EDUC 332 Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts (4)
- EDUC 333 Mathematics in the Elementary and Middle School
- EDUC 335 Science in the Elementary and Middle School (4)
LBS I candidates must also successfully complete EDUC 377 Practicum Special Education– LBS I in an approved special education site.
