Chemistry Education, Certificate

Outstanding Preparation
At Governors State University, the Chemistry Education Certificate program leads to a post-baccalaureate certificate that prepares students who already have an undergraduate degree in chemistry for rewarding careers as teachers at the secondary level.

The sequence of coursework is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to an initial secondary licensure in Chemistry. You can also obtain an endorsement for teaching in middle school.

To be recommended for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license, you must present evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly Basic Skills), Subject-Matter Knowledge, and Assessment of Professional Teaching examinations of the Illinois Certification Testing System.

You must complete a student teaching requirement in chemistry and must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs in the Teacher Education and Certification section of the GSU catalog.

Required Preparation, Certificate Requirements

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a license, and in addition, students must complete the general education requirement for teacher licensure Initial High School License listed in the Teacher Education section of this catalog.

In addition, students must:

  1. have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
  2. earn a grade of "C" or better in all general education courses;
  3. have a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher for all general education courses;
  4. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in chemistry, biology, physics, earth/space science courses;
  5. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for EDCP-6101, EDUC-3440, and SPED-6101, with a grade of "C" or better in each course;
  6. earn a grade of "B" or better in EDUC-2310,EDUC-6301, EDUC-6302, EDUC-6330, and EDUC-6340;
  7. earn a grade of "B" or better in EDUC-4999;
  8. complete a minimum of 100 clock-hours of supervised pre-student teaching experiences;
  9. provide evidence of successful completion of the Illinois and U.S. Constitution examinations;
  10. complete at least one three-hour course in non-western or third world cultures;
  11. meet any additional requirements listed in the Teacher Licensure section of this catalog; and
  12. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.
 Professional Education (minimum of 30 Hours)
 
The following courses can be taken at either the lower-division or upper-division level:
The following courses must be taken at the upper-division level:
Additional Requirements

Students may need to complete additional general education or Chemistry courses if their bachelor degree requirements do not meet the requirements of the approved Governors State University program for the endorsement in Chemistry Education.

 Minimum Total of 30 Hours (Minimum of 24 hours at GSU)
   

View the Complete Requirements in the Academic Catalog

Advisor Information

Natalie Coleman
Coordinator of Secondary Science Education Programs