Students who want to be licensed to teach geography at the secondary level must declare their intention to do so with the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program at the earliest possible opportunity. Educator licensure involves significant requirements in addition to the completion of a degree in geography.
Admission
Students are admitted to the History and Social Sciences Secondary Educator Licensure Program when they have:
established a file with the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program and completed satisfactory reviews of progress each semester after establishment of the file;
attained junior standing and completed at least 12 semester hours at NIU with a minimum GPA of 2.67;
completed at least 6 semester hours of geography courses at NIU and earned a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all geography courses taken at NIU;
met all other Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements for admission to an educator licensure program; and
obtained approval from the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program.
Retention
Students admitted to the program must maintain program GPA requirements, display appropriate professional dispositions, and complete a satisfactory review of progress each semester with the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program. Students must also pass any additional tests required by the ISBE for educator licensure such as the appropriate state Content Area Test (taken before student teaching) and the Teacher Performance Assessment (taken before program completion).
Department Requirements
Students must complete the requirements for a degree in geography. In addition, they must complete EAE 496X, History and Social Science Instruction for Secondary Educators. Except in unusual circumstances, EAE 496X must be taken in the semester immediately prior to enrollment in student teaching and concurrently with the Third Clinical Secondary School Experience in History/Social Sciences.
Other Requirements
Students pursuing educator licensure must take additional, approved course work in history and the social sciences to acquire the broad-based, interdisciplinary knowledge required of secondary social studies educators. Students must also complete approved professional education course work in areas such as special education methods, content-area literacy, and teaching English-language learners. Contact the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program for the current list of history, social science, and education courses approved for fulfilling these requirements.
Students must also complete a three-semester sequence of pre-student teaching clinical experiences, including HIST 401, Third Clinical Secondary School Experience in History/Social Sciences, as well as HIST 400, Student Teaching in History/Social Sciences for Secondary Educators. Except in unusual circumstances, students are admitted to HIST 400 only upon satisfactory completion of all other work required for graduation and licensure.
Students pursuing educator licensure must have a grade of C or better in all course work specifically required for licensure. Higher number courses may be substituted if approved by the department.
The History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program complies with all ISBE rules as they relate to licensure as outlined in Title 23, Part 25 of the Illinois Administrative Code and all other applicable state laws and university requirements. Students should consult with the History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program to determine the necessary requirements to obtain educator licensure.
Placement
The History and Social Sciences Educator Licensure Program cannot guarantee geographic area, subject area, or availability of placements for clinical experiences including student teaching. All placements are arranged through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Office of School Partnerships and Placements.
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