Education Licensure

We offer social science educator preparation programs in seven areas:

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography (Earth, Atmosphere and Environment)
• History
• Political science
• Psychology
• Sociology

Our programs are designed to be completed in two years. If you attend part time or need to meet additional requirements, it may take longer. When you complete the program, we'll recommend you to the Illinois State Board of Education for a license to teach in Illinois public schools.

License and Endorsements

The professional educator license (PEL) you obtain will allow you to teach all regular-level social science classes at Illinois public schools in grades 9-12. Your license will include a primary endorsement in your area of study, which will enable you to teach advanced classes such as honors and AP classes in that subject.

We recommend that you earn a middle school endorsement to teach middle grades history (grades 5-8) by passing the Social Science Middle Grades Content Exam. This will make you a more competitive candidate for employment.

Requirements

You must have a degree in a social science discipline to obtain licensure with our program.

If you're enrolled in a non-social science licensure program and want to get a social science endorsement, you must:

• Pass the content test for your subject
• Complete 18 semester hours of social science courses in at least two areas, including 12 in your chosen subject

Learn more about Illinois requirements for educator licensure.

Additional Endorsements

Your professional educator license (PEL) will include a primary endorsement in your area of study. This will allow you to teach advanced classes in that subject in addition to all regular-level social science classes. We recommend that you earn an additional endorsement in another area, which will enable you to teach advanced classes in that discipline.

You can obtain an additional endorsement by completing 12 hours of coursework in another social science area.

Required Social Science Courses

Here are the required social science courses for our program that all students must complete:

• Economics (6 hours): 160 or 260 and 261 or 425
• Geography (Earth, Atmosphere and Environment) (6 hours): 101 and 202 or 253
• History (15 hours): 170, 171, 260, 261, and 359
• Political science (6 hours): 100 or 150 and 260 or 285
• Psychology (3 hours): 102
• Anthropology/sociology (3 hours): Sociology 170

How to Apply

Your Program, Your Path

We recognize that the pathways our students take to becoming professional educators are as unique as the individuals themselves. Whether you are a current NIU undergraduate student, a transfer student or a post-baccalaureate student, we can help you reach your goal of becoming a secondary social science educator. Please contact the program as soon as possible to help you with your professional goals.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, contact Amy Boyles (asipovic1@niu.edu), assistant director and program advisor.

New cohorts are accepted each semester.

If you are a current NIU student, we will personally work with you to register for the correct licensure classes.

If you are not a current NIU student, you'll need to apply to the university before you can register for classes. Please keep in contact with your program advisor during this process.