Secondary Education / Bachelor of Arts
Total Credit Hours: 120
Major Credit Hours: 38
Degree Requirements
Program: BA-SCED-3
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
This program is designed for the candidate who intends to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois.
This nationally accredited program is approved by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education. At Lewis University, secondary education candidates earn two majors. The candidate’s first major is in the academic content area (Biology, Chemistry, English/Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Physics). The second major is in Secondary Education. The earning of two majors enables graduates to be recognized as experts, both in teaching techniques and in a specific subject area. Candidates work with advisors in both their content area and the Department of Education as they progress through their coursework. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
Secondary Licensure in English / Language Arts
Concentration: ENGL
This program is designed for the candidate who intends to teach English in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. This program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the State Board of Education and leads to the Professional Educator License with a high school English Language Arts endorsement. Majors in Program One must major in English and Secondary Education. These majors must consult with both Department of English and Department of Education advisors before registering for courses. The requirements for licensure include both the requirements of the B.A. program and the following courses: SCED 32500 Special Methods: Teaching English/Language Arts to Adolescents, SCED 31500 Communication for Teachers and SCED 33100 Methods of Teaching Reading in the Content Areas to Adolescents. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Science with Biology Designation
Concentration: BIOL
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of Biology features a fully approved teacher education program which prepares candidates to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Professional Educator License with a high school endorsement to teach science with a designation in Biology. Teacher education candidates major in both Biology and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of Biology and the Department of Education. The content requirements for secondary licensure are listed under Biology. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Science with Chemistry Designation
Concentration: CHEM
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of Chemistry features a fully approved Chemistry program which prepares candidates to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education, and includes all the requirements for a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in High School Science with a designation in Chemistry. Teacher education candidates major in both Chemistry and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Education. The content requirements for secondary licensure in Chemistry are listed under Chemistry. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Science with Physics Designation
Concentration: PHYS
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of Physics features a fully approved Physics program which prepares candidates to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and includes all of the requirements for Professional Educator License with an endorsement in High School Science with a Physics designation. Teacher education candidates major in both Physics and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of Physics and the Department of Education. The content requirements for secondary licensure in Physics are listed under Physics. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Social Science with History Designation
Concentration: HIST
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of History features a fully approved history program which prepares candidates to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and includes all the requirements for a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in High School Social Studies with a designation in History. Teacher education candidates major in both History and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of History and the Department of Education. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Mathematics
Concentration: MATH
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of Mathematics offers a fully approved teacher education program which prepares candidates to teach mathematics in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and prepares candidates for a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in High School Mathematics. Candidates seeking teacher licensure in Mathematics must complete Special Methods: Teaching Mathematics To Adolescents (SCED 31700). Teacher education candidates major in both Mathematics and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Education. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary Licensure in Social Science with Psychology Designation
Concentration: PSYC
In conjunction with the College of Education and Social Sciences, the Department of Psychology offers an option which prepares candidates to teach in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the State of Illinois. The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and includes all the requirements for a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in Social Studies with a designation in Psychology. Teacher education candidates major in both Psychology and Secondary Education and should consult with advisors in both the Department of Psychology and the Department of Education. Candidates can have a maximum of two “C’s” in their content area classes.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Secondary STEM Teacher Licensure Fast Track
The Education Department – Secondary licensure program offers a Bachelor’s to Master’s Fast Track Program option for Lewis University undergraduate STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Math or Physics) majors. All qualified STEM majors may take advantage of this Fast Track Program option. The Fast Track Program option allows qualified undergraduates to complete the graduate M.A. in Education in less time than would be possible if the two programs were taken separately. Nine graduate hours may be used both to complete the Bachelor’s degree (120 hours) and to satisfy specific course requirements for the Master’s program. The total number of required graduate credits (39) will remain the same. Students apply for admission to the Fast Track Program option by submitting an application to the program director for secondary education licensure program when they have reached completed 75 credit hours and have achieved an overall GPA of 3.0. If approved Fast Track secondary teacher education licensure candidates will also need to submit two letters of recommendation and successfully complete the Education Department Graduate Writing Exam. With planning, the MA in Secondary Education with an endorsement in their selected STEM field could be awarded within one and half years of graduating with the Bachelor’s degree. Students who take 9 credit hours of selected graduate courses in Secondary Education in their senior year and earn a grade of “B” or better in each of those courses will have to complete only 30 more credit hours to earn the M.A. for students accepted into this Fast Track.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Lewis University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet current ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.
Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change. Please contact your advisor for the most up to date licensure information.
Listed below are graduate courses in the MA in Secondary Education program which students enrolled in the Fast Track Program option may take during their senior year. Listed in parenthesis next to each is the undergraduate course for which it substitutes.
A student in this Fast Track Program option may apply no more than three of these courses toward his or her undergraduate Bachelor of Science major in Secondary Education.
- SCED 51000 Frameworks in Education (SCED 21000 Frameworks in Education)
- TLDE 50400 Integrating Educational and Assistive Technology into the Classroom (EDUC 21000 Integrating Educational and Assistive Technology in the Classroom)
- SCED 51200 Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Adolescents (SCED 31200 Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Adolescents)
- SPED 55700 Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Communities (SPED 25700 Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Communities)
- ENLE 51000 Foundations of Bilingual and English Language Learner Education (ENLE 31000 Foundations of Teaching Bilingual and English Language Learners)
See Baccalaureate-to-Masters Degree Program Guidelines for additional information.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| I. Professional Education Courses for Secondary Education Licensure | ||
| ENLE 31000 | Foundations of Teaching Bilingual and English Language Learners | 3 |
| SCED 20000 | Field Experience 1: Secondary | 1 |
| SCED 21000 | Frameworks in Education | 3 |
| SCED 30000 | Field Experience 2: Secondary | 1 |
| EDUC 21000 | Integrating Educational and Assistive Technology in the Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 25000 | Foundations of Educational Psychology | 3 |
| SCED 31200 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Adolescents | 3 |
| SCED 30000-Level | Special Methods Course | |
| SCED 33100 | Methods of Teaching Reading in the Content Areas to Adolescents | 3 |
| SCED 39400 | Pedagogy and Assessment for Effective Instruction | 3 |
| SCED 48100 | Clinical Practice and Seminar: Secondary | 9 |
| SPED 25700 | Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Communities | 3 |
| II. Recommended Electives for Secondary Licensure | ||
| Curriculum and Instruction in the Middle School | ||
| Communication for Teachers | ||
SCED 31500 Communication for Teachers is required for English/Language Arts majors; but not recommended for all other majors. | ||
| III. Advanced Writing Requirement | ||
| The advanced writing requirement of the General Education curriculum is met through the major in the content area. | ||
| IV. For Content/Subject Endorsements, please see your Education advisor. | ||