The alternative licensure path is an option for prospective Secondary Education teachers who need to earn a salary while pursuing a teaching license. This Alternative Licensure PK-12 and Secondary Education Program enables candidates to hold a paid position as the teacher of record while pursuing an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL).
The Illinois Administrative Code (23 Illinois Administrative Code 25, Section 25.60) provides an alternate route for non-licensed college graduates to obtain a PEL in Illinois. Similar to any other licensure program, alternative licensure programs follow rigorous guidelines that include accelerated coursework, field experiences, teaching experiences, and licensure testing.
Candidates enroll in four semesters of program coursework including two summer sessions as they complete 32 credit hour program leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
The Alternative Licensure PK-12 and Secondary Education Program simultaneously combines accelerated coursework with classroom experiences and one-to-one mentoring. Candidates in this program will have the guidance and support of a mentor teacher, a University coordinator and a site coach throughout the one year of required provisional teaching.
Program Admission Requirements
- GPA: Minimum undergraduate 3.0.
- Bachelor's degree from accredited university.
- A transcript evaluation is completed by the Education Division's licensure officer to determine eligibility for the specific content area for which the applicant is applying.
- Pass the relevant Content Area Test:
- Computer Science (9-12) - Test 038
- English Language Arts (9-12) - Test 207
- Mathematics (9-12) - Test 208
- Science - Biology (9-12) - Test 105
- Science - Chemistry (9-12) - Test 106
- Science - Physics (9-12) - Test 116
- Social Science - History (9-12) - Test 246 or 315
- Social Science - Political Science (9-12) - Test 247
- Foreign Language: Spanish (PK-12) - Test 260
- Visual Arts (PK-12) - Test 145
Program Benchmarks
Prior to Residency
- Maintain 3.0 or above.
- Successfully complete required summer courses.
- Satisfactory assessments of professional dispositions.
- Complete VIRTUS training, the Fingerprinting -- Background Investigation, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Field Experience approval process.
During Residency
- Maintain 3.0 or above
- Fall:
- Target performance (rating of at least BASIC) on the formative Danielson evaluation.
- Curriculum competency evaluation rating of 3 or above in the specific content area.
- Recommended for second semester of residency by principal of school and university coordinator.
- Spring:
- Successfully complete required fall courses.
- Target performance (rating of at least BASIC) on the summative Danielson evaluation.
Exit
- GPA: Minimum 3.0.
- Successful completion of all program coursework with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Satisfactory assessments of professional dispositions.
- Completion of SXU graduation requirements.
- Rating of "proficient" or higher at the conclusion of the comprehensive assessment required under subsection (c)(7) by which candidates are recommended for the PEL.
Dismissal of a Candidate from the Alternative Licensure Program
Candidates may be dismissed from the Alternative Licensure MAT Program for any of the following reasons:
- A candidate fails to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- A candidate fails to pass the required edTPA performance assessment by the ISBE-mandated due date.*
- A candidate is placed on suspension or is dismissed from a residency school.
- A candidate demonstrates unprofessional dispositions.**
- A candidate is convicted of a crime while in the program.
*The edTPA performance assessment is currently suspended through August 2026.
**Dispositions may be observed in behavior or verbal or written communication. Contexts may include but are not limited to the SXU class meetings, advising meetings, emails, and/or interactions with students, parents, teachers, university coordinators, or administrators from the Residency site.
Appeal Process
A graduate student who has been notified of dismissal from the program and seeks to be reinstated must submit a written request for review by the Education Division Director and CLAE Dean within 15 days of dismissal from the program. If this request is not approved, the student may request that the dismissal be reviewed by the Provost. That request, stating the detailed justification, must be submitted in writing to the Provost's Office within 15 business days of the denial of readmission. The Provost shall seek a recommendation from the Director or Dean. The Provost's decision will be sent to each party in the appeal within 20 business days after receipt of the written request for review.
Sequence of Professional Education Courses (32 credits)
Courses are designed for remote delivery; all virtual class meetings are scheduled for evenings.
Summer 1
- EDGUL 470: Education Orientation (online) (0)
- EDGCC 516: Cycle of Effective Teaching (online) (3)
- EDUGL 516: Pre-residency Field Experience Block (1)
- EDGCC 515: Methods of Reading and Reading in the Content Area (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science) (3)
Fall 1
- EDGSP 413: Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3)
- Content Specific Methods (2)
- EDGSE 571: Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 572: Methods of Teaching English Language Arts in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 573: Methods of Teaching History and Social Studies in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 574: Methods of Teaching Biology in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 575: Methods of Teaching Chemistry in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 576: Methods of Teaching Physics in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 577: Methods of Teaching Political Science and Social Studies in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 578: Methods of Teaching Computer Science in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 580: Methods of Teaching Visual Arts in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGSE 589: Methods of Teaching Foreign Language in the Secondary School (2)
- EDGEL 525: Child Growth and Development (2)
- EDGCC 517: Residency I (2)
Spring 1
- EDGET 480: Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language (online) (3)
- EDGML 506: Data Driven Instruction (3)
- EDGCC 521: Integrating Technology and Instructional Strategies (2)
- EDGCC 524: Residency II (2)
Summer 2
- EDGCC 538: Professional Portfolio Development (1)
- EDGML 507: Historical Trends and Contemporary Issues in Education (3)
- EDGSE 570: Secondary Classroom Environment: Supporting College/Career Readiness (2)
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.