Northern Illinois University
Educator Licensure, Secondary Science

The NIU Noyce Program provides scholarships, training and a support system for NIU undergraduate science majors and individuals with previous science degrees interested in teaching high school.

As a Noyce scholar, you will receive up to $20,000 per academic year while in the licensure program. If you are an undergraduate student completing their B.S. degree in biological sciences, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science or physics, you can receive up to two years of funding. If you are enrolling in the licensure program with a previously earned science degree, you may receive up to one year of funding.

In return, you'll commit to teaching in a high-need school district for at least two years per year of scholarship received.

As a Noyce scholar, you will be part of a cohort-based program focused on culturally relevant teaching and learning grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards. You will be mentored by a team of experienced, high school science educators as you pursue your degree and teaching license. After graduation, you'll attend monthly peer group meetings to help you transition from student to educator.

This program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program (NSF #2151059) and will run through 2027. If you have any questions, contact Paul Fix at pfix@niu.edu.

Eligibility

You must be one of the following:

• An NIU undergraduate student who has earned at least 60 credits by start of the fall semester (junior status) and is majoring in a science discipline (biological sciences, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science or physics).
• A transfer student from a community college with a minimum of 60 credits who intends to major in a science discipline.
• A postbaccalaureate student with a B.S. in a relevant science discipline who intends to enroll in the NIU secondary science licensure program.

You must also: 

• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5-2.8 (depending on major).
• Have a C- or higher in all science and math courses.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or have permanent resident status as required by the NSF.