Students may choose to use these hours in their program as free electivity to broaden and/or deepen their knowledge background OR choose to focus these hours in a specialty area. Specialty Area details follow. Endorsement by the State of Illinois requires at least 18 hours of content (unless otherwise noted) and, occasionally, specific coursework. Please pay close attention to the notes regarding endorsement with each specialty area.
Art Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable for middle school certificate)
Required:
ART-1100 Introduction to Visual Arts
ART-1210 Two-Dimensional Basic Studio
ART-1310 Three-Dimensional Basic Studio
Select three 3000+ level courses with an ART prefix
(Except ART-4601, ART-4801, and ART-4901)
Course credited toward General Studies may NOT be included in the specialty area.
Biological Science Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable for middle school certificate)
18 hours of BIO courses beyond the General Studies requirement
At least 8 hours must be above the 1000 level
English/Language Arts Specialty Area (18 hours)
Required - 12 hours
ENG-2100 Linguistics
ENG-3800 Literary Theory & Criticism
EDU-4400 Literature for Children/Adolescents or
ENG-4150 Literature and Related Media for Adolescents
THR-3500 Oral Interpretation of Literature or
THR-4710 Creative Dramatics
Choose two (2) courses with an ENG prefix.
Geography Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable)
Required (6 hours)
GEO-1100 Geography of North America
GEO-1200 World Geography or GEO-1300 The Developing World
Select remaining 12 hours from courses with the GEO prefix.
History Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Non-endorsable)
Required (9 hours)
HIS-1315 Survey of the World to 1350 or HIS-1325 Survey of the World Since 1350
HIS-2100 Seminar in Writing and Researching History
HIS-3210 History of Illinois
(recommended for Public Teacher Education Students)
Choose one from each area. (9 hours)
American History
HIS-4220 Early Nat./Antebellum America
HIS-4240 Contemporary America
HIS-4250 American Religious Experience
HIS-4260 Alternative Perspectives in American History
HIS-4910 Topics and Readings in History (with American History focus)
European History
HIS-4130 The Age of Reform, 1400-1650
HIS-4135 The Age of Reason and Revolution, 1650-1914
HIS-4140 Twentieth Century Europe
HIS-4910 Topics and Readings in History (with European History focus)
Non-Western History
HIS-4300 Twentieth Century World
HIS-4310 Nonwestern Historical Studies
HIS-4910 Topics and Readings in History (with Non-Western History focus)
Mathematics Specialty Area (18 hours)
This specialty area does NOT lead to a middle school endorsement in mathematics.
Select courses from at least 4 of the following areas:
Category A
MAT-1810 College Algebra and Trigonometry
MAT-1820 Pre-Calculus
MAT-3600 Linear Algebra
Category B
MAT-2500 Calculus I
MAT-2600 Calculus II
MAT-3100 Calculus III
Category C
MAT-2300 Problem Solving w/Number Theory
MAT-4610 Group Theory
MAT-4620 Ring Theory
Category D
MAT-3700 College Geometry
Category E
CIS-2100 Discrete Structures
CIS-2310 Intro to Programming
Category F
MAT-2000 Statistics
MAT-4500 Theory of Probability
Category G
MAT-2200 History of Mathematics
Mathematics Middle Grades Endorsement
EDU-4500 Middle School Assumptions and Curriculum
PSY-4105 Development Psych: Middle Child or
PSY-4110 Development Psych: Adolescence
MAE-4606 Teaching Middle/Secondary Mathematics
15 Semester Hours selected from four of the topics below.
Math Content Courses for Elementary Teachers
MAT-1411 Math Concepts I
MAT-1412 Math Concepts II
Calculus
MAT-2500 Calculus I
MAT-2600 Calculus II
MAT-3100 Calculus III
MAT-4810 Real Analysis
Modern Algebra or Number Theory
MAT-3600 Linear Algebra
MAT-4610 Group Theory
MAT-4620 Ring Theory
Geometry
MAT-3700 College Geometry
Computer Science
CIS-1000 Foundations of Information Systems
CIS-2100 Discrete Structures
CIS-2310 Intro to Programming
Probability and Statistics
MAT-2000 Statistics
MAT-4500 Theory of Probability
History of Mathematics
MAT-2200 History of Mathematics
Music Specialty Area (18 hours, Endorsable)
Required Courses (13-14 hours)
MUS-1661 Class Voice
MUS-2111 Aural Skills I
MUS-2121 Aural Skills II
MUS-2113 Music Theory I
MUS-2203 Survey of Western Music
MUS-4412 Methodologies of Music Learning
Applied Music: 4 semesters of applied lessons in one instrument or voice (.5 cr/sem)
Select remaining from below: (4 hours)
MUS-2243 Music of World Cultures
MUS-2253 History of Jazz
MUS-4313 Music for the Contemporary Church (2 hours)
MUS-4452 The Children's Choir (2 hours)
MUS-4512 Handbells in School and Worship (2 hours)
MUS or MUSA elective
Psychology Specialty Area (18 hours)
Required (9 hours)
EDU-4426 Characteristics/Learning Needs of Students-Learning/Behavior Disorders
PSY-4201 Counseling Skills or PSY-4210 Group Theory and Leadership
PSY-4430 Affective Education: Middle School
Select 9 hours from courses with a PSY prefix.
Religion Specialty Area (18 hours)
18 hours beyond the General Studies Public Teacher Education Core, distributed among the four categories of theological study. For LTE students this would mean five hours beyond the General Education requirement.
Science (General) Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable for middle school)
Select 9 hours of courses with a BIO prefix
Select 9 hours of courses with a CHE, EAS, and PHY prefix
At least 8 hours must be above the 1000 level
Science (Physical) Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable)
Select 18 hours of courses beyond the General Studies requirement with a CHE, EAS, or PHY prefix. At least one course must be taken from each area and at least 8 hours must be above the 1000 level.
Sociology Specialty Area (15 hours)
Required
SOC-2010 Introduction to Sociology
Choose one
SOC-4610 Social Inequality: Minority Group Relations
SOC-4620 Social Inequality: Class/Status/Power
Electives
Any course with SOC prefix, except SOC-4905 and SOC-4990
Theatre Specialty Area (18 hours)
(Endorsable for middle school)
Required-12 hours
THR-1100 Introduction to Theatre
THR-3500 Oral Interpretation of Literature
THR-3510 Readers Theatre
THR-4710 Creative Dramatics
Select 2 courses from the following (6 hours)
THR-3700 Drama in Christian Worship
THR-4200 History of Theatre
THR-4220 Modern Drama
THR-4240 The American Musical
THR-4230 Shakespeare
THR-4300 Acting & Directing Studio I
THR-4301 Acting & Directing Studio II