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Education curriculum overview
The Secondary Teaching Program combines course work in the liberal arts with professional education courses. Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy (BSEd) from the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) as well as earning a recommendation for certification through entitlement for Secondary teaching grades 6-12 or K-12 teaching for art and foreign languages. Forty-five units of credit (or courses) are required for the degree. Illinois certification can be earned in a wide range of majors within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS), including science certification with Biology, Chemistry, or Physics designation; social science with History, Sociology, Political Science, or Economics designation; Art, English, Mathematics, French, German, Latin or Spanish. The program has been granted Approved Program status by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Students benefit from excellent subject matter preparation (demonstrated by our students' performance on the Illinois Test Results), a combination of clinical experience (practicum) and a full-time student teaching internship, which generally meet the certification requirements for other states. In the recent past, secondary education program completers have gone on to receive certification in Maryland, Minnesota, New York, California, Wisconsin and other states.
Undergraduate students in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS) and the School of Music may also earn secondary teacher certification by completing the same requirements (listed below) as well completing the requirements of the degree in which they are enrolled.
Elementary certification may be obtained through our Master’s of Science in Education (MSEd) Program. Special Education program is housed in the Communications Sciences and Disorders departments of the School of Communication and is a master's level program.
Degree requirements
The 45 credits may be divided into four broad categories:
- General education requirements
- Professional core
- Subject course work
- Electives
- General Education Courses - 16 credits
- 2 Natural Sciences courses (chemistry, biology, physics, etc.)
- 2 Formal Studies courses (math, logic, etc.)
- 2 Historical Studies courses
- 2 Values courses (religion, philosophy, etc.)
- 2 Literature and Fine Arts courses
- 3 Communication courses (public speaking, writing, etc.)
- 1 Non-Western courses
- NOTE - Up to six AP or IB credits may be applied toward General Education requirements.
- NOTE - SESP does not have a language requirement. We do, however, strongly encourage students to develop their skills in another language.
- Professional Core - 11 credits*
* Students enrolled in art, foreign language or English certification have two additional courses required. See those individual programs for more information.
- Subject Course Work - 12 to 16 credits, depending on subject
- Electives - 1 - 7 credits, depending on certification subject
To learn more about the numerous course offerings at Northwestern, view the undergraduate catalogue.
Application
Once matriculated at Northwestern, students complete an application to the Secondary Teaching Program after meeting with Meg Kreuser, the program adviser in the SESP Office of Student Affairs. Final acceptance into the program is not granted until the student takes and passes the Illinois Teacher Certification Basic Skills Test. This must be done no later than the end of the winter quarter in which the student in enrolled in TEACH ED 304.
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