Students interested in emphasis 3 should consult with the departmental certification adviser as soon as possible and also refer to the “Educator Licensure Requirements” section of this catalog.
Undergraduate chemistry majors must apply for admission to educator licensure in emphasis 3 at the end of the sophomore year.
Please note: Graduate students and students who already possess the baccalaureate or higher degree and wish to pursue licensure and/or endorsement with or without becoming a candidate for a degree, should apply for admission to the director of chemistry licensure as early as possible.
It is strongly recommended that students completing this emphasis obtain a secondary endorsement in at least one subject other than chemistry.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the licensure program, students in emphasis 3 must have
established a file with the discipline director in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and completed satisfactory reviews of progress each semester after establishment of the file,
attained junior standing,
completed at least 12 semester hours at NIU with a minimum GPA of 2.50,
completed at least 6 semester hours of chemistry at NIU,
earned a minimum GPA of 2.50 in all chemistry courses taken at NIU,
completed 6 semester hours of written communication and 3 semester hours of oral communication with grades of C or better,
completed at least 20 clock hours of approved early clinical experiences,
submitted an application and obtained approval from the discipline coordinator in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and
passed the ILTS Test of Academic Proficiency, or its equivalent.
Retention Requirements
Students admitted to the licensure program must
maintain a GPA of 2.50 in all course work undertaken at NIU;
maintain a minimum combined GPA of 2.70 in NIU courses numbered 200 and above in physical and biological sciences and mathematics;
complete a satisfactory review of progress each semester with the discipline coordinator in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry;
take and pass the ILTS Chemistry Content Test prior to applying to student teaching; and,
take and pass the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) before completion of the program.
General Requirements and Information
The program of courses for meeting licensure requirements must be approved by the discipline director in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry each semester prior to registration. Students are responsible for timely submission of all applications and permits required during the licensure program.
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’s 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.
At this time, state 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 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 licensure subject matter examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, passage of the edTPA, and demonstration that the candidate has met teaching standards for the chemistry teacher.
Contact the discipline director for information on the necessary criteria that experiences must meet to demonstrate fulfillment of licensure requirements.
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