Educator Licensure

We offer a program that prepares you to become a licensed teacher of mathematics in the state of Illinois. This initial licensure is for teaching grades 9 through 12.

Undergraduate students may pursue educator licensure as a mathematics major or postgraduate. Graduate-level students can meet licensure requirements as students-at-large or in a graduate program (subject to program policy).

• The Mathematics Education emphasis prepares teachers to teach the full spectrum of high school mathematics, including Advanced Placement courses.
• Our professors teach a wide variety of methods of mathematical instruction and the theory behind these methods; most have also had public school teaching experience.
• Students in the Mathematics Education emphasis work closely with advisors within the department. 
• Mathematics Education majors at NIU student-teach in some of Illinois' best school districts, and our graduates teach in many of the middle and high schools in the suburbs of Chicago, the collar counties and throughout northern Illinois.
• Graduates of this program are recognized as some of the best high school mathematics teachers in northern Illinois.
• The core requirements of the emphasis enable students to go to a graduate school studying mathematics and be competitive in the job market beyond teaching.

Endorsements to Teach Mathematics

There are two endorsements in mathematics for those with licensure in another area.

For those with primary licensure in another area but a strong background in mathematics, an endorsement in mathematics may be obtained either for grades 9-12 or for grades 6-8 while completing a Minor in Mathematical Sciences. Please note that these programs require approximately 18-24 credit hours of coursework after the three-semester calculus sequence.