Students seeking initial licensure in earth and space science to teach in grades 6-12 (Standard High School License) must schedule an interview with the departmental licensure coordinator to formulate a specific plan of study.
Because licensure requires additional courses beyond the major, consulting the coordinator before registering for the initial term will facilitate expeditious completion of the program.
Students seeking licensure will also major in geology and environmental geosciences unless they already hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in that discipline.
Students are responsible for timely submission of the several applications and permits required during the program.
Undergraduate geology majors may apply for admission to educator licensure in Earth and Space Science at the end of their sophomore year, except in the case of transfer students who normally apply at the end of their first semester at NIU.
Students transferring geology course credits from other institutions will complete additional NIU courses as determined by the departmental licensure coordinator.
Individuals who want to obtain initial licensure as postgraduates or while majoring in another area should consult the departmental licensure coordinator. Students who want to obtain initial licensure while enrolled in a graduate program or as students-at-large should consult the Graduate Catalog and the certification coordinator.
Students who already possess a baccalaureate or higher degree and wish to pursue licensure without becoming a candidate for a degree should consult with the geology licensure adviser as early as possible to plan a course of study.
Admission Requirements
Requirements listed in this section are minimum requirements. Meeting these requirements will not guarantee students admission to the geology and environmental geosciences educator licensure program or courses.
Students will be admitted to the licensure program when they have:
Submitted an application in writing to the departmental licensure coordinator.
Earned a passing score on the ICTS Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) (formerly Basic Skills Test).
Earned a minimum GPA of 2.50 in all work at NIU.
Earned a minimum combined GPA of 2.70 in NIU courses numbered 200 and above in physical and biological sciences and mathematics.
Completed a satisfactory interview with the coordinator in which the student demonstrates attitudes and motivations appropriate to the professional educator.
Obtained approval from the department’s office of teacher licensure.
16 semester hours in geology and environmental geosciences courses numbered 300 and above.
Completed the following with a grade of C or better (higher numbered courses may be substituted, if approved by the coordinator and all of the following are available for general education credit).
Requirements listed in this section are minimum requirements. Meeting these requirements will not guarantee students admission to the geology and environmental geosciences educator licensure program or courses.
Students admitted to the program must maintain the GPA requirements and complete a satisfactory review of progress each semester with the department’s office of teacher licensure.
A grade of C or better is required in all course work listed for the Earth Science Education degree and teacher licensure.
Completion Requirements
The State of Illinois has established course and standards-based requirements for licensure. Approved licensure programs must have requirements that meet or exceed the state requirements. A list of the current state minimum requirements is available from the Illinois State Board of Education web page. The department’s licensure program requirements are designed to prepare candidates both to meet state course requirements and to demonstrate that they meet state teaching standards.
Current requirements include the possession of an appropriate baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, a minimum of 32 semester hours in the field, pre-student teaching clinical experiences at the 6-12 grade level or proof of teaching experience at the 6-12 level, student teaching or an approved teaching experience, passage of the Test of Academic Proficiency and secondary license subject matter examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and demonstration that the candidate has met science teaching standards.
Contact the licensure coordinator for information on the necessary criteria that experiences must meet to demonstrate fulfillment of licensure requirements.
For extra-departmental requirements see “Educator Licensure Requirements” and the departmental licensure coordinator.
Earth and Space Science Educator Licensure
All requirements listed in Emphasis 3, Earth and Space Science Education and the following:
Except in unusual circumstances GEOL 401 and GEOL 495X must be taken in the semester immediately prior to enrollment in GEOL 487 and students are admitted to GEOL 487 only upon successful completion of the course work required for graduation and licensure. In addition, students must pass the ILTS Subject Matter test before student teaching.
The State of Illinois has established course- and standards-based requirements for licensure. Approved licensure programs must have requirements that meet or exceed the state requirements. A list of the current state minimum requirements is available for the Illinois State Board of Education web page.
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