Elementary certification candidates major in Educational Studies to earn a certificate for teaching grades K-9.  Additional coursework in general education is required to meet state content area standards.

Professional Education/ Educational Studies Major

The courses below must be taken in the sequence listed. Refer to the IWU catalog for course prerequisites. None of the courses below may be taken concurrently.

*Refer to each year’s course schedule for sequencing of these courses over the fall and spring semesters.
**ACM Urban Education (UEP) participants may student teach spring semester senior year, with approval.
***Ninth semester graduates and spring semester UEP candidates only may take Educ 401 during the spring semester of the junior year, with department approval.

ISBE Standards

Elementary candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the content area standards in Elementary Education (www.isbe.state.il.us/profprep/pcstandardrules.htm). The APT test, Grades K-9 (102) is required prior to recommendation for certification. Registration can be completed at www.icts.nesinc.com.

General Education

General education requirements for elementary and secondary education candidates are the same as those outlined for all students in the College of Liberal Arts, with one exception: Elementary certification candidate majors must take Math 105 and 106, Mathematical Concepts for Elementary Teachers to meet the formal reasoning requirement. Exceptions require the approval of the Chair of the Mathematics department.

In addition, in order for elementary certification candidates to meet required ISBE content area standards (on which you will be tested and required to demonstrate competency in your portfolio), the courses below are strongly recommended. *

Analysis of Values
    Phil 214     Philosophy of Education
    Soc 122     Social Problems and Values

Contemporary Social Institutions
    Psci 101     American National Government (CSI)

Cultural and Historical Change Courses
    Hist 151     United States (CH, U)
    Hist 152     United States (CH, U)
    Hist 241     Depression America (CH, U)
    Hist 242     The Civil Rights Movement (CH, U)
    Hist 244     Women, Work, and Leisure (CH, U)
    Hist 247     American West (CH, U)
    Hist 249     Revolutions in American Child and Family Life
    Hist 345     Social and Cultural History of the United States
    Hist 346     Social and Cultural History of the United States
    Hist 347     Commercial/Industrial Transformation of the United States (CH, U)
    Hist 348     Immigrants and Ethnics in the American City, 1880-1930
    Hist 350     Women, Work and Leisure, 1900-1930 (CS, U)
    Hist 351     Modern America, 1900-1945 (CS, U)
    Hist 352     Recent United States (CS, U)
    Hist 370     Studies in History

Life science issues
    Anth 160    Human Origins
    Enst 270    Special Topics
    Bio 110      Biology and Human Concerns
    Bio 164      Marine Realm

Physical Science issues
    Chem 140 Chemistry in the Kitchen
    Enst 132     Atmospheric pollution
    Phys 239    Problems of nuclear disarmament

Physical science lab
    Chem 104     Inside Chemistry
    Chem 110     Basic Chemistry 
    Chem 130     Chemistry of the Environment
    Enst 110        Earth System Science
    Phys 110       Fundamental Astronomy (PSL)
    Phys 130       Sound, Music and Hearing (PSL)

* Consult with your advisor regarding new courses not listed above. 

Middle School Endorsement Option

Elementary candidates wishing to teach subject specific grades 6-8 must complete Teaching and Learning in the Middle School (Educ 260). Coursework on early adolescent development is included in Educational Studies 255 and 260. Candidates wishing to student teach in grades 6-8 should take Educ 260 prior to student teaching, but not concurrent with any other Educational Studies course. In addition, candidates must complete subject specific course requirements, as determined by the relevant academic departments and outlined below. Courses may include those taken to meet general education requirements, and for which you have earned AP credit. With approval of your advisor, the Director of Teacher Education and a faculty member in the relevant discipline, middle school course requirements may be partially met with non-IWU courses. The following endorsements are available for elementary candidates at the time of entitlement by IWU. You may add endorsements to your certificate after graduation and any time during your teaching career by completing state requirements. The application form can be found here. 

Art
• 5 units, including upper level coursework across the fine arts

Computer science
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, in Computer Science

Biological Science (courses must be taken in the sequence outlined):
• Bio 110, 120, or 164
• Chem 110 or 201
• Bio 101 and 102
• 200 level or above Biology
• Bio 306 or 315

Foreign Language
• A major in French or Spanish as outlined for certification in this handbook.
• Educ 360-3  or equivalent

General science
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, across the natural sciences

Health education
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, across the health sciences

Language arts (English)
• English 280 Practical Criticism
• Two lower division English literature courses, with at least one from English 220-259
• English 290 Grammar & Composition for Teachers (prior to student teaching)
• Two courses in literature at the 300/400 level in English 200/300-level (Shakespeare or dramatic literature and poetry)
• One additional course unit in writing or literature at the 100, 200, or 300 level in English

Mathematics
• Educ 350: Middle School Mathematics
• At least four courses from four of the areas listed below:
    o Math 105/106 and 325 (elementary candidates) or Educ 362 and 362A1 (secondary)
    o Calculus
    o Modern Algebra or Number Theory (Math 405)
    o Geometry
    o Computer Science (any)
    o Probability and Statistics (Math 324, 325)
    o History of Mathematics

Music
• Educ 303
• Music 132 and 332
• Music Theory (103 or 104)
• Music History (201 or 202)
• Music 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, or 358
• Music 181,182, 281, 282, 381, or 382

Physical science
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, across the physical sciences

Social science
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, across the social sciences

Theatre/Drama (elementary only)
• 5 units, including upper level coursework, in theatre arts