Illinois licensure course requirements: Elementary Endorsement
Rockford University General Education requirements, listed elsewhere in this catalog, do not completely satisfy the general education standards for licensure in Illinois. While some Rockford University requirements can be satisfied by proficiency or placement examinations, students must complete the required number of credits of course work to meet the state requirements.
Within the all-university General Education requirements, the courses listed below must be taken to satisfy state licensure requirements. Transfer students should confer with their academic advisors or SAS to determine whether requirements have been met by previous course work.
Please Note: State of Illinois requirements may change to meet state standards and that the student must satisfy the requirements in effect at the time of graduation. See the Handbook for PEL Programs for more details.
I. Communication Skills—9 credits
Students must complete at least nine hours from the following:
II. Language and Literature—8 credits
Students may select courses from English literature, foreign languages, Classics, Philosophy and Religious Studies.
III. Science and Mathematics—13-14 credits
Students must complete the following math courses (or equivalent), one of which must be taken at Rockford University.
Biological and Physical Science—7–8 credits
Students must complete at least one course from the biological sciences and one course from the physical sciences. One course must have a lab.
IV. Social Sciences—10-12 credits
Students must complete the following courses (or equivalent).
| U.S. History | 3 |
| American Government | 3–4 |
| Course work from Anthropology and Sociology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology or History | 4–6 |
V. Health and Physical Development—2 credits
Students must complete the following courses (or equivalent).
| PHYP 110 | Wellness | 1 |
| Physical activity course(s) (PHYP) | 1 |
VI. Licensure Exams
Passing the Illinois Licensure Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) Test Number 400 (which may also be satisfied by an ACT Plus Writing composite score of 22 or higher and a minimum of 6 on the ACT Combined English/Writing test or an SAT composite score of 1110 or higher in the evidence-based reading and writing plus mathematics SAT exam and a minimum of 26 on the Writing portion of the exam) is required. The Illinois Elementary/Middle Grades Content-Area Test 110 must be passed for admission to student teaching. The edTPA must be passed prior to licensure.