Upon graduation, undergraduate students in the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) earn a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy. Students may major in one of four concentrations:
- Human Development and Psychological Services (HDPS)
- Learning and Organizational Change (LOC)
- Secondary Teaching
- Social Policy
The 45 credits (each course equals one credit) that are required for the degree, are easily completed within four years (12 quarters). A student entering without any outside credit (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.) would need to take four courses for nine quarters and three courses for three quarters to graduate within four years. More than 98% of our students graduate within four years.
Specific requirements for each concentration may be found under the curriculum section of each concentration's description. For answers to specific questions regarding degree requirements contact the appropriate concentration adviser.
Students in HDPS, LOC and Social Policy must fulfill the following criteria:
- 18 concentration credits chosen from a variety of required and approved concentration courses within SESP and from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and School of Communication
- 8 core credits chosen from specific SESP courses, including the practicum
- 10 distribution credits (2 credits in each of the following areas):
- Natural Sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, etc.)
- Formal Studies (Mathematics, Logic, etc.)
- Historical Studies
- Values (Philosophy, Religion, etc.)
- Literature and Arts (English, Art History, etc.)
- 9 elective credits
NOTE: SESP does not have a language requirement, but students are encouraged to pursue a language proficiency.
Students in the Secondary Teaching concentration must fulfill the following criteria. These criteria are based on requirements set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education. Completion of these requirements results in teacher certification at the secondary level.
- Professional Core (11 credits):
- A core set of education courses, including practicums/student teaching
- Subject Core (12-16 credits, depending on the subject):
- Art (12)
- Biological Sciences (12)
- Chemistry (12)
- Physics (12)
- English (14)
- French (12)
- German (12)
- Latin (12)
- Spanish (12)
- Mathematics (12)
- History (12)
- Economics with History (16)
- Political Science with History (16)
- Sociology with History (16)
- General Education courses (17 credits):
- 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 (2)
- Communication courses (Public Speaking, Writing, etc.) (3)
- Non-Western courses (2)
- Electives (1-7 credits, depending on certification subject)