UIC - Department of Economics - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Certificate in the Teaching of Economics
Graduate Campus Certificate in the Teaching of Economics (GCCTE)

I. Purpose

The Graduate (Post-Baccalaureate) Campus Certificate in the Teaching of Economics (GCCTE) offered by the Department of Economics is designed to help prepare individuals for careers in teaching economics and consumer economics. The GCCTE provides training in teaching methods to those receiving a degree in economics, and training in economics and teaching methods to those in other disciplines. The GCCTE indicates that the student has completed courses in economics and in teaching methods, thereby enhancing the recipient's employability at the secondary and tertiary levels. The GCCTE is not a state-issued certificate and does not imply state certification.

II. Admission Requirements

Students must apply for admission to the GCCTE program at least one semester prior to the completion of their coursework.

Students must have a baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study; or a cumulative GPA greater than 2.50 for all degree work.

Students must submit official transcripts from institutions where degrees were earned and transcripts from all post-baccalaureate institutional programs attended. Transcripts must be received directly from the institution or in a signed, sealed envelope.

Foreign students whose native language is not English must complete the TOEFL with a minimum score of 550 on the written test or 212 on the computerized test or complete the TOEFL iBT with a total score of 80 and subscores of 21 in Writing, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Listening, and 19 in Reading.

This program is open to students enrolled in the MA or Ph.D. programs in the Department of Economics, or to students in other programs or in a "non-degree" status seeking to supplement their previous education.

Students who are admitted to the Certificate program only are not guaranteed admission to a degree program as graduate degree seeking students. External or nondegree students who are admitted to a UIC graduate program may petition to transfer a maximum of 12 semester hours earned through the GCCTE program.

III. Academic Policies

Students who take the equivalent of Econ 520 or 521 or an approved graduate-level elective in the College of Education at other institutions may receive transfer credit for any these courses. A maximum of one course may be transferred into the certificate program.
To receive the certificate, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a scale of 4.00 on GCCTE courses, must submit the "Intent to Graduate with the GCCTE" form on completion of their GCCTE courses, and must receive a grade of satisfactory or above on their reflection statements.

IV. Program Requirements

The GCCTE requires completion of four courses (16 semester hours):

I. Econ 540 or 520 or Econ 501 -Microeconomics: 4 hrs

II. Econ 521 or Econ 511 or a Macroeconomics-oriented intermediate college level (Econ 521 or equivalent) or beyond-- Macroeconomics in the World Economy: 4 hrs

III. Econ 441 -- Teaching Methods in Economics: 4 hrs

IV. One Economics elective at the 400 level or higher -- Either option A or option B

   (A) For students enrolled in the M.A. or Ph.D. programs in Economics or who have an M.A. or Ph.D. in Economics:
      a. Econ 442 -- Topics in Economic Education (4 hours) or
      b. One approved graduate-level elective in the College of Education or
      c. Hist 420 - Teaching Social Studies.

(B) For students not enrolled in the M.A. or Ph.D. programs and who do not have an M.A. or Ph.D. in Economics -- One graduate-level elective in an applied field in economics.

Notes:
(1) Courses used for this certificate may also be used to satisfy requirements for other degrees, subject to the requirements of these degrees. Economics 441 and 442, however, cannot be used to satisfy any of the Economics requirements for the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees in Economics.
(2) The courses required for the program can be satisfied by full-time students or by evening students attending on a part-time basis.

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