Illinois Teacher Certification Programs with School Options

Students who want to acquire an Illinois teaching certificate need to complete a certification program and pass an Illinois teaching certification exam. University programs can be found at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign.

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Northern Illinois University's Teaching Certification Programs

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a 4-year public institution that enrolls more than 24,000 students annually. The school offers teacher certification in early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies

Through this bachelor's degree program, students can earn Type 04 certification, which qualifies them to teach children from birth through third grade in the state of Illinois. The curriculum also includes a special education component, allowing the program's graduates to teach special needs children at the preschool level. In addition, NIU's Department of Teaching and Learning offers a Master of Science in Education, which can incorporate both Type 04 certification and preschool special education approval.

Bachelor of Science in Education

In addition to a bachelor's degree, this program provides Type 03 teaching certification, which allows graduates to teach general elementary curricula to kindergarten through ninth grade students. Those seeking careers teaching specific middle school subjects must earn middle grades endorsement separately. Topics of study include include classroom management, teaching elementary science and social studies, elementary school curriculum and introductory special education. The program also involves extensive work in seminars and field experience.

Secondary Education Certificate

Students earn Type 09 teacher certification as part of an undergraduate degree program in the subject they want to teach. Students who already hold a bachelor's degree can also earn certification. Participants in the program can become certified in English language arts, health education, science, social sciences, family and consumer sciences, mathematics and physical education. The secondary education certificates in science and social sciences both involve more specific concentrations; aspiring science teachers can specialize in biology, chemistry and physics, among others, while the social sciences options include history, psychology, political science and economics.

Special Education Certificate Programs

NIU offers two different varieties of the Illinois Type 10 certificate. The first qualifies graduates to teach special education from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students must choose between four K-12 special education programs; these include art education, music education, physical education and foreign languages. The second kind of Type 10 certificate allows its holders to teach individuals with disabilities from pre-kindergarten ages to age 21. Through this program, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees on their way to one of four specialized certificates, focusing on learning behavior, visual impairments or preschool special education.

University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign's Teaching Certification Programs

The University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign is a 4-year public institution that enrolls more than 43,000 students each year. Undergraduate teaching degrees can be found here in the fields of early childhood, elementary and special education.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

This program requires 129 hours of study and qualifies participants to teach preschool, kindergarten and first-third grade elementary school. In addition to general education coursework, students engage in a core professional education curriculum, including classes like language literacy, educational practices and art in an early childhood education context. Students must also choose mathematics, social studies, science or humanities as an area of concentration.

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

Students who complete this 125-credit program are eligible to teach at the kindergarten through ninth grade levels. Like the early childhood education degree, participants must choose an area of concentration, with the options of mathematics, social studies, science and humanities. Professional education coursework shifts focus to the elementary level and includes methods for teaching a diverse array of subject material.

Bachelor of Science in Special Education

This program provides the Learning and Behavior Specialist I certificate and qualifies participants to teach special education from kindergarten through age 21. The curriculum includes methods for teaching and interacting with students who have learning disabilities, autism, social or emotional disorders and brain damage. Emphasis is placed on principles of behavior along with community relationships and cultural diversity.

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