Five Critical Things for Education Students to Know

Education students should be aware of the following very important points:

1. Have you declared yourself as an Elementary Education,  Special Education, or Secondary Education student at Oakton? You can do so at the Enrollment Center. This is very important so that you receive all of the informational mailings and e-mails sent to Education students. Aspects of the Education major change often and it may be necessary for the Education Program Coordinator to get ahold of you. Also, please be sure that your e-mail address, street address and phone number are always current with Oakton.

2. All students must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills prior to admittance into a School of Education at a four-year institution. this means that Oakton students should plan on taking this test at least one year prior to transfer. This will ensure that the passing scores are available by the application deadlines to four-year institutions.

For more information see:

Basic Skills Test Framework

Basic Skills Test Study Guide

Basic Skills Test Registration and Information Website

Oakton does not offer this test on campus.

3. Admission requirements to Schools of Education are often higher than admission requirements to the university itself. Also, admission requirements to Schools of Education are often higher than requirements for graduation from Oakton. For example, since many Schools of Education in the Chicago area require a 2.5 GPA or higher for acceptance, Oakton has raised the required GPA for graduation with an AAT degree to 2.5 from the 2.0 required of all other Associate degrees.

4. Many Schools of Education have very specific general education requirements for their students. These may not completely align with the IAI-approved general education course taken as part of the AA degree at Oakton. It is crucial that Education students at Oakton make contact with advisors at their prospective transfer institution as soon as possible in order to make sure they are taking the correct general education courses.

5. Depending on the transfer institution, Education students at Oakton may be able to take some introductory-level Education courses at Oakton prior to transfer. The AAT degree will tranfer as a package to some area four-year institutions. This means that the Oakton student, having graduated with an AAT, will be admittted to a four-year institution as a junior with all general education requirements complete. However, please remember that there may still be a higher grade point average necessary. Completion of an AAT degree does not guarantee that an applicant will be accepted into a four-year institution's School of Education.

It is crucial that Education students at Oakton make contact with advisors at their prospective transfer institution as soon as possible in order to determine which Oakton Education courses will transfer. Some may transfer as elective credit, and some may transfer as equivalent to courses in the Education major. Visit the transfer information page often to check the status of course transferability -- the information will change over time as Oakton enters into agreements with local four-year institutions.