Our educator licensure program will prepare you to teach the following courses in grades nine to 12. Graduate-level students can meet licensure requirements as students-at-large or in a graduate program. You can teach grades 6-8 by taking a content exam. More information can be found in the Additional endorsements section below.
The program consists of 46-47 credits taken over four semesters. If you're an undergraduate student, you'll most likely complete the program during your last two years at NIU, along with your upper-level content classes. 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.
Learn more about Illinois requirements for educator licensure.
Students are admitted to the Secondary Mathematics Educator Licensure Program when they have:
Students admitted to the licensure program must:
A complete listing of discipline course requirements can be found in the undergraduate catalog.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires a minimum of 100 clock hours of substantial, varied and sequential clinical experiences prior to student teaching. This requirement may be satisfied by completing the following sequence of courses:
You must apply in advance for the clinical courses. Information on each course and application materials can be found on the CLAS Educator Licensure website.
The ISBE and requirements for educator licensure in Mathematics at NIU also specify that candidates must earn a grade of C or better for each course included in required professional course work in human development and learning, and teaching of English Language Learners, teaching exceptional children. Candidates should consult with the Coordinator of Educator Licensure in Mathematics to determine which courses satisfy these additional requirements outside the department.
Our program also meets all of the requirements for middle school math endorsement. To add the middle grades endorsement all that is needed is to pass the middle grades math content exam.
Other endorsements can be earned by taking 18 hours in the content area and passing the appropriate content exam.
If you intend to complete the requirements for the Initial Teacher Certification in secondary-school mathematics, there is additional information for your review. We encourage an individual consultation with one of our advisors to determine your academic plan.
Registration or class questions
815-753-6722
Chair's office
815-753-6780
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Alastair Fletcher
afletcher@niu.edu
Director of Graduate Studies
Sien Deng
gradprog@niu.edu