Social Science: History

Upon completing an approved program and taking all ISBE tests, you will earn a Secondary Certificate (type 09) with an endorsement in social science with a designation in history. This certificate and endorsement will allow you to teach lower levels of the following subjects:  U.S. and world history, economics, geography, political science, psychology, sociology and anthropology.  You may, however, only teach honors and AP courses in history. Earning additional endorsement designations will permit you to teach advanced classes in any one of the above subjects. Requirements for additional designations are on page 39.

While the secondary certificate is for grades 6-12, teaching grades 6-8 requires a middle school endorsement.

Professional Education

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

*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.

Middle School Endorsement Option

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 Educational Studies 360.

General Education

While Illinois Wesleyan University general education requirements are the same as those required by all students in the College of Liberal Arts, the following courses are recommended.

Major Requirements

Teacher education candidates in History require a prescribed set of courses to insure adequate preparation to meet ISBE core Social Science standards and to teach expected content of high school courses. The courses required in history, economics, psychology, and political science have been carefully selected to give candidates the breadth and depth necessary for teaching the social sciences and history at the secondary level. The history courses in particular are intended to provide a solid grounding in U.S. and European history; insure familiarity with non-western history; treat issues of race, class and gender; increase awareness of the pluralism of our society and in the classroom and involve students in the actual process of researching and writing history. Some courses also meet IWU general education course, flag, and 300 level requirements.

All history candidates are required to demonstrate competence in the common core social science standards. Thus, while you may major in history, you are required to take the following courses across the social sciences. AP and transfer credit may meet the additional requirements, with the approval of your major advisor and the Director of Teacher Education.

Requirements for Additional Endorsement Designations in the Social Sciences

Note:  earning any of the endorsements below requires completing the approved program in history described above.

Economics

• 6 units in economics, including 3 in upper level coursework
• 2 units from 2 other designated areas (geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology and/or anthropology)
• ISBE Content Area test in Social Science: Economics (109)

Geography

• 6 units in geography, including 3 in upper level coursework
• 2 units from 2 other designated areas (economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology and/or anthropology)
• ISBE Content Area test in Social Science: Geography (113)

Political Science

• 6 units in political science, including 3 in upper level coursework
• 2 units from 2 other designated areas (economics, history, geography, psychology, sociology and/or anthropology)
• ISBE Content Area test in Social Science: Political Science (117)

Psychology

• 6 units in political science, including 3 in upper level coursework
• 2 units from 2 other designated areas (economics, history, geography, political science, sociology and/or anthropology)
• ISBE Content Area test in Social Science: Psychology (118)

Sociology and Anthropology

• 6 units in sociology and anthropology, including 3 in upper level coursework
• 2 units from 2 other designated areas (economics, history, geography, political science, and/or psychology)
• ISBE Content Area test in Social Science: Sociology and Anthropology (121)

AP credit or coursework taken at other institutions may count with the approval of your major advisor and the Director of Teacher Education. The completion of these requirements is noted during the entitlement process completed by the Educational Studies office.

Second Subject Endorsements

History candidates may earn a second subject endorsement in English Language Arts by completing

• Educ 360A2 concurrent with 360A1
• 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)
• Three courses in English literature at the 300/400 level (at least one 300-level Shakespeare course)
• One additional course unit in writing or literature at the 100, 200, or 300 level in English.
• ISBE Content Area test in English Language Arts (111)

History candidates may earn a second subject endorsement in Foreign Language  (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish) by completing

• Educ 360A3 concurrent with 360A1
• A major in the target language, including upper level coursework and study abroad
• ISBE Content Area test in the target language. French (127), German (128), Italian (130), Japanese (131),Latin (133), Russian (134), Spanish (135)

History candidates may earn other second subject endorsements only by completing the appropriate approved program as outlined in this handbook. Refer to www.iwu.edu/~edstu for specific program requirements.

The completion of these requirements is noted during the entitlement process completed by the Educational Studies office.

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.