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General Information
If you have or are in the process of getting a K-9, 6-12 or K-12 teaching certificate in Illinois, you may obtain an endorsement in mathematics at either the middle school level (grades 6-8) or at the high school level (grades 9-12). You need to be certified to teach at the level of the intended endorsement. Obtaining an endorsement in mathematics means that you have satisfied the minimum Illinois requirements to teach mathematics in the state at the level of the endorsement.
For the middle school endorsement in mathematics the required 18 hours are broken down into seven content areas. You must have a course in at least four of those areas as well as an instructional methods course focused on teaching mathematics at the middle school level. In order to teach at the middle school level in Illinois you need to fulfill the requirements of the general middle school endorsement: 3 hours of educational psychology aimed at the middle school level and 3 hours of philosophy and methodology focused on the middle school level. If you already hold an Illinois teaching certificate these requirements may be met by taking EPS 419 (The Middle School Child) and TLCI 422 (Middle School Organization and Instruction) in the College of Education. If you are pursuing a 6-12 certificate or a K-12 certificate, you should see your program advisor. The list of courses shown on this website represents those courses that are highly recommended by NIU's Department of Mathematics Sciences for the completion of this endorsement.
For the high school endorsement in mathematics you need to complete 24 hours of mathematics courses and pass the Content Area Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System. If you have a major in mathematics (at least 32 hours), passage of the Content Area Test is not necessary. The completion of a teaching methods course in high school mathematics is highly recommended. The list of courses shown on this website represents those courses that are highly recommended by NIU's Department of Mathematics Sciences for the completion of this endorsement.
Endorsements To Teach Mathematics, Grades 6-8 The Illinois State Board of Education, in its publication AMinimum Requirements for State Certificates@, describes the minimum requirements for secondary teachers and specified subject-area teachers for mathematics. For those individuals who already hold a valid Illinois teaching certificate, fulfillment of these requirements can lead to an endorsement to teach mathematics in grades 6-8. Individuals seeking an initial certificate through Northern Illinois University to teach mathematics in grades 6-12 must fulfill more stringent requirements, including the completion of course work equivalent to the requirements for the B.S. in Mathematical Sciences with an emphasis in Mathematics Education. The list of courses given below indicates course work that the Department of Mathematical Sciences finds acceptable for those seeking an endorsement to teach mathematics. At the discretion of the Department, other courses may also be found acceptable toward meeting the requirements for an endorsement.
Endorsement to teach mathematics, grades 6-8
(a) 3 semester hours in the methods of teaching mathematics in grades 6-8 MATH 410 Methods of Instruction in the Mathematics Curriculum for the Middle School (3) (b) 15 semester hours to be selected from four of the following areas:
i) Math content courses for elementary teachers Endorsements To Teach Mathematics, Grades 9-12 Individuals seeking an initial certificate through Northern Illinois University in another discipline area for either grades 6-12 or K-12 need to complete these courses in order to receive an endorsement, on their initial Illinois teaching certificate, to teach mathematics for grades 9 12. For those individuals who already hold a valid Illinois teaching certificate, fulfillment of these requirements can lead to an endorsement to teach mathematics grades 9-12. For individuals already holding a valid Illinois teaching certificate that covers grades 6-12 or K-12, the adding of an endorsement onto the certificate is processed by the State of Illinois. The list of courses given below indicates course work that the Department of Mathematical Sciences finds acceptable for those seeking an endorsement to teach mathematics for grades 9 - 12. At the discretion of the Department, other courses may also be found acceptable toward meeting the requirements for an endorsement.
Endorsement to teach mathematics, grades 9-12
Calculus III (Math 232) (4) In addition to completing the above courses, the endorsement candidate must pass the Mathematics Subject Area Test of the Illinois Certification Exam. |