General Information

• Time Frame
• State Requirements
• NIU Course Requirements

• Before entering any classroom in the State of Illinois, all prospective teachers must take and have a negative result on a Tuberculosis Skin Test. More information may be obtained here.

• Before entering any classroom in the State of Illinois, all prospective teachers must undergo a Criminal Background Check. More information may be obtained here.
  

• Before entering the second clinical, all prospective teachers must pass the Illinois State Basic Skills Test. More information may be obtained here and at the Illinois State Board of Education here. The test registration site is here.
  

• Before entering the third clinical, all prospective teachers must pass the Illinois State Content Test. More information may be obtained here and at the Illinois State Board of Education here. The test registration site is here.

• After completing student teaching and all certification coursework, all prospective teachers must pass the Illinois State Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) Test. More information may be obtained here and at the Illinois State Board of Education here. The test registration site is here.

• One of the following:  BA, BS, MA, MS, PhD or 32 upper division credit hours in subject matter.

•  One state approved three-hour Educational Psychology course. (i.e. at NIU EPS 406 or 508)

• One state approved three-hour Special Education course. (i.e. at NIU TLSE 457)

• Proof that all the Illinois State Teaching Standards have been met.

• In order to pass the Illinois State’s content exam, a certain level of interdisciplinary science is required. Therefore, we require eight 200 level or above credit hours in each of biology, chemistry and physics (i.e. at NIU BIOS 208, 209, 210, 211; CHEM 210, 211, 212, 213 and PHYS 210, 211).
  

• EPS 406 (3) and TLSE 457 (3) The Education Psychology and Exceptional Student courses mandated by the State of Illinois.

• GEOL 201 (1) and ILAS 201 (1) These two classes are linked and provide guidance and structure to your first clinical (20 hours of observations in both middle and high schools). Applications may be found here.
  

• GEOL 301 (1) and ILAS 301 (1-2) Second semester clinical (50 hours of observations in both middle and high schools). Note that passing the Basic Skills test is a pre-requisite for this course series.

• GEOL 401  (1) This is the fall placement in the room where the teacher candidates will be doing their student teaching. This allows the teacher candidates to get to know both the students and the cooperating teacher. (60 hours of observations.) Note that the Content test must be passed before or during this course and prior to student teaching.
  

• GEOL 487 (7-12) Student teaching completed during the spring of the second year. (10 weeks of full time teaching.) Note that the Illinois State Content test must be passed in order to be allowed to student teach.

• GEOL 482 (1) Transition to professional teaching. (Also known as the portfolio course.) This course will help the teacher candidates to polish their portfolio, develop a resume and successfully obtain a teaching position. This course will also help them to prepare for the APT test which is taken after completion of the certification program but before the start of your first professional teaching job.
  

• GEOL 429 (3) Inquiry-based field experiences specific to the geological and space sciences.

• GEOL 475 (2) Science across time and culture. Course designed to meet specific Illinois State Professional Teaching Standards.

• GEOL 483 (3) Science methods I (interdisciplinary).

• GEOL 495 (3) Science methods II (physical sciences only).

• GEOL 484 (2) Use of technology in modern science classrooms.