1. I am not a SESP student. Can I become certified to teach?
Yes! Students from the College of Arts and Sciences can become certified if they notify the teacher certification office of their intention no later than October 1 of their junior year. WCAS students take 11 additional credits to become certified. Music students interested in certification should contact the Music Education Program.
2. What does the application to the teacher certification program entail?
All undergraduates including SESP secondary education candidates must apply to the program in the term that they enroll in Teach Ed 304: Schooling in Communities, but no later than the first week of October of junior year. Students must have taken and passed the Illinois Basic Skills Test and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to apply.
3. What if I don’t have a 3.0 GPA?
Prospective candidates who do not have a 3.0 GPA by the of the fall term junior year may not pursue secondary teaching.
4. What extra courses must I take to become certified if I am not a SESP student?
The professional education courses alone amount to 11 credits. Four of those are for student teaching and the rest are for individual courses. In addition, you may need to take other courses to meet the general education requirements and subject area requirements.
5. What does the schedule of classes look like for secondary teaching?
Both SESP and WCAS students follow a similar course schedule for certification. Most courses are offered only once a year. This planning sheet shows the usual sequence of courses. There are 11 credits necessary for all but English and foreign languages and art certification, which have 13. For most students, seven of the 11 necessary credits are completed senior year.
6. What other tests must I take?
All teacher candidates must take three Illinois teacher certification exams. The Basic Skills test must be taken no later than the term they are enrolled in Teach Ed 304. In addition, all students must take the subject or certification area test by June of their junior year. The Assessment of Professional Teaching exam for secondary teachers (grades 6-12) or for grades K-12 (for art and foreign language certification) should be taken no later than April of senior year. Foreign language teacher candidates must also take the ACTFL oral proficiency exam for their language and score intermediate high or better.
7. How do I find a school to student teach in?
Students are placed in a school by the placement office. Prior to placement, students prepare a practicum packet consisting of a résumé, an essay, the beginnings of a digital portfolio and a transcript from CAESAR. After meeting with the teacher certification officer, students set up an appointment with the Director of the Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program. Placement to a practicum site for the spring term will follow. Most students also do their student teaching in that same school.
8. Where does Northwestern place student teachers?
The practicum and student teaching experience is usually at a high school within a reasonable commute from the NU campus. Undergraduates are generally placed in Chicago public schools located not too far from the “Red Line.” These would include public schools such as Senn, Lakeview, Lincoln Park or possibly a parochial school like Regina Dominican or a private school like Northside Preparatory. Students are also placed in north shore suburban schools such as Evanston Township High School, Niles North, Glenbrook South or Highland Park.
9. Can I teach in a state other than Illinois with my Illinois license?
No, not with an Illinois license, but in most states you will be eligible for a license on the basis of having completed a teacher preparation program including all the certification tests here. Most states will require that you take their own teacher certification tests. A very few states have additional requirements beyond the tests. Check out the requirements at your state at Teacher Certification Links and UKY College of Education.