Illinois licensure course requirements: Secondary and K-12 Endorsements
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. Non-Western Requirement
Some students must complete a course that includes content related to non-Western culture. This course can also count toward General Education requirements. Students should confer with the secondary and K-12 faculty advisor or their major advisors.
VI. Health and Physical Development—2 credits
Students must complete the following courses (or equivalent).
| PHYP 110 | Wellness | 1 |
| Physical activity course(s) (PHYP) | 1 |
VII. Licensure Exams
Passing the Illinois Licensure Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) Test Number 400. This requirement can also be satisfied by the ACT Plus Writing Test or the SAT Plus Writing Test. The minimum score requirements are as follows:
- ACT Plus Writing composite score of 22 or higher and a minimum of 19 on the ACT Combined English/Writing test [prior to 9/1/15]
- ACT Plus Writing composite score of 22 or higher and a minimum of 16 on the ACT Writing test [9/1/15-9/9/16]
- ACT Plus Writing composite score of 22 or higher and a minimum of 6 on the ACT Writing test [9/10/16 and later]
- SAT Plus Writing mathematics and critical reading score of 1030 or higher and a minimum of 450 on the SAT writing test [prior to 3/5/16]
- SAT Plus Writing evidence-based reading and writing + mathematics score of 1110 or higher and a minimum score of 26 on SAT writing and language test [3/5/16 and later]
ISBE will allow candidates to utilize the super scoring method to meet the minimum composite score requirements for the ACT and SAT. A super score for the ACT and SAT is calculated by averaging the highest subtest scores received on multiple test dates (using .5 or higher to round up the next whole number). Please contact the Licensure Officer for more information.
The appropriate Illinois Content-Area Test must be passed for admission to student teaching. The edTPA must be passed prior to licensure.