Northern Illinois University
Educator Licensure, Secondary Science

No, you can teach anywhere in the United States

Scholarship awards are up to $20,000 per academic year up to the NIU Cost of Attendance. There is a service commitment to teach two years in a high-need school district for each year of funding. You can receive a maximum of two years of funding. If you do not fulfill the service commitment, you will be required to repay the scholarship funds as required by the funding agency (National Science Foundation).

No, you have up to eight years after earning your license to fulfill the requirement of teaching in a high-need school district.

According to the National Science Foundation, a high-need school district has one or more schools characterized by one or more of the following:

• A high percentage of individuals from families with incomes below the poverty line.
• A high percentage of secondary school teachers not teaching in the content area in which they were trained to teach.
• A high teacher turnover rate.

Districts that qualify for the service commitment are determined based on the Illinois Report Card.

High-need school districts in the region surrounding Northern Illinois University include, but are not limited to: West Aurora, DeKalb, Rochelle, Plainfield South, Metea Valley, Oswego HS, Glenbard North, and Byron.

No, you'll earn your degree from NIU in your chosen science content and your Illinois teaching license at the same time.

No. Your science degree can be from any accredited institution in biological sciences, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, physics or another closely related discipline.