Business Teacher Education

 

Business Teacher Education Major

The business teacher education program at Illinois State University combines the solid foundation of a business degree with preparation of teachers in business, marketing and computers. The business teacher education program is recognized by students, alumni, educational agencies, accrediting organizations, and professional groups as a premier program emphasizing excellence.

Students complete foundation courses in business along with specialized coursework in professional education, teaching methodology, and a student teaching assignment. The program is part of the entitlement program leading to certification in business for grades K-12. Students are urged to pursue membership in Pi-Omega-Pi, an undergraduate business teacher education honor society.

Program highlights

The business teacher education program at Illinois State University is the only program in Illinois approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to offer a degree program that qualifies graduates for certification in business for grades K-12, a Type 10 Teaching Certificate.

The program is based upon Illinois State University's institutional  standards as reflected in the conceptual framework for Teacher Education. The program also addresses standards developed by the Illinois State Board of Higher Education (Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, Illinois Business, Marketing, and Computer Education Content Standards, Illinois Core Language Arts Standards, Illinois Core Special Education Standards and Core Technology Standards).

Careers

Initial employment opportunities include, middle level and junior high level business and computer instruction/technology coordination; high school business, marketing and computer teacher/coordinator; school/district computer teacher; community college/technical college instructor; and business/industry trainer/instructor. Educational agency recruiters prefer hiring graduates of this program, as evidenced by the many positions for business teachers posted with the University’s Career Center. Further schooling to earn a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree may qualify graduates for higher-level teaching positions or administrative responsibilities.

Business education teachers, unlike teachers in other disciplines, are also qualified for careers in business. Because the business world is dynamic and new technologies are continuously being applied, opportunities exist for teachers to provide instruction in business and corporate settings as well as traditional educational institutions.

Curriculum

The curriculum provides a foundation for business educators to continue their professional development in the field, which includes general business education, work-based learning, and computer-and systems-related education. The general business education component is designed to assist students in developing an understanding of business and to equip them with business skills. The objective of the work-based learning component is to prepare students for business careers, or—for those having embarked upon such careers—to teach them how to be more efficient and to advance in their careers. The business teacher education program is continuously undergoing change to keep the curriculum relevant to the business environment. Emphasis is placed on technological preparation, integration of academic and vocational instruction, and cultural diversity in schools. State-of-the-art technology is used in classrooms and laboratories.

The Business Teacher Education graduate is prepared to teach the following subjects: basic business, accounting, record keeping, business law, information processing/keyboarding, computer applications, consumer economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, business communications, and subjects with similar titles. The work-based learning teacher/coordinator specialization is available for teachers with a career and technical education degree and for special education teachers by completing BTE 380 and 382 and proof of 2,000 hours of employment experience in the occupational specialty to be taught.

Faculty

Faculty members in the program are respected scholars and teaching is considered outstanding by students and alumni.

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