Undergraduate Licensure Areas
An undergraduate seeking a bachelor’s
degree must be enrolled in the department in which he or she plans
to major and must meet the graduation requirements of that department
and the college where it resides. Currently, there are sixteen
undergraduate licensure areas offered at Iowa State University.
These areas and their corresponding grade levels are listed below
along with the college where the program resides.
Coordinator: Susan Hegland
Two departments share the responsibility
for preparing teachers to work with children from birth to grade
three. These departments are Curriculum and Instruction and Human Development
and Family Studies in the College of Human Sciences.
For specific course requirements, see Curriculum, Curriculum and
Instruction or Curriculum, Human Development and Family Studies in the ISU Catalog.
Coordinator: Carl Smith
The Curriculum and Instruction Department
in the College of Human Sciences is responsible for preparing elementary
(K-6) teachers.
For specific course requirements, see Curriculum, Curriculum and
Instruction in the ISU Catalog. Several endorsements may be
added to a K-6 teaching license. See an adviser for the most
current list and the necessary additional requirements.
Coordinator: Levon Esters
The Agricultural Education and Studies Department
is responsible for preparing Agricultural Education teachers for
grades 7–12.
For specific content area requirements, see Curriculum in Agricultural
Education and Studies (Teacher Certification Option) in the ISU Catalog.
Coordinator: James Colbert
The Biology Program and the Curriculum and
Instruction Department share the responsibility of preparing Biology
teachers for grades 7–12.
Students seeking licensure to teach biology must take the following
courses:
Required professional courses are: CI 280M, CI 347, CI 418, CI 419, CI 468J, CI 468 K and CI/LAS 417 D.
Required content courses are: Biol 211, 211L, 212, 212L, 312, 313, 313L, 314, 314L, 315. Biol 366 or 330, or 454. Biol 335 or BMS 329. Micro 302.
Additional courses to obtain a total of 17 credits at the 300 level or above in a basic biological science. Supporting coursework must include 13 credits in chemistry, 8 in physics, and 6 in mathematics.
Coordinator: Thomas Greenbowe
The Chemistry Department and the Curriculum
and Instruction Department share the responsibility of preparing
Chemistry teachers for grades 7–12.
Required professional courses are: CI 280M, CI 347, CI 418, CI 419, CI 468J, CI 468K, and C I 417B.
Required content courses are: Chem 177, 177L, 178, 178L, 211, 211L, 301, 316, 316L, 324, 325, 321L or 322L, 331, 331L, 332, 332L; Phys 221, 222 or Phys 111, 112; Math 165, 166; a minimum of one course in Biol is required; Biol 211 and 211L are recommended.
Students with an endorsement in a natural science who seek approval to teach chemistry as an additional subject area must earn credits in the following courses (15 minimum credits):
Chem 177, 177L, 178, 178L, 211, 211L, 331, 331L, 332, 332L
or Chem 163, 163L, 164, 164L, 211, 211L, 231, 231L
Students with no natural science endorsement who seek approval to teach chemistry as an additional subject area must complete one of the two sets of courses listed above plus sufficient additional courses to total 24 chemistry credits chosen from:
Chem 316, 316L, 324, 325, 322L
or BBMB 301, 311, 451.
Coordinator: Kenneth Windom
The Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Department
and the Curriculum and Instruction Department share the responsibility
of preparing Earth Science teachers for grades 7–12.
For specific content area course requirements,
see Curriculum, Geological and Atmospheric Sciences in the ISU Catalog.
Required professional courses are: CI 280M, 347, 418, 419, 468J, 468K, CI 417J.
Required content courses are: Geol 100, 100L, 102, 102L, 302, 311, 356, 365, 368 and a three credit geology elective; Mteor 206; Astro 120, 150; Chem 163, 163L, 164, 164L or 177, 177L, 178, 178L; Phys 111, 112; Math 151 or 160 or 165 or 181; Stat 101 or 104 or Com S 107; and one three credit biology course.
Students with an endorsement in a natural science who seek approval to teach earth sciences as an additional subject area must earn credits in the following courses: Geol 100,100L, 102, 102L, Mteor 206, Astro 120, Astro 150, and at least 3 credits at the 300-level or higher.
Students with no other natural science endorsement, but who seek endorsement in this area, must take Geol 100,100L, 102, 102L, Mteor 206, Astro 120, Astro 150, plus any additional credits to produce a total of 24, at least 3 credits at the 300-level or higher. See licensure area coordinator for approval prior to taking courses.
Coordinator: Robert Tremmel
The English Department prepares English teachers
for grades 7–12.
Required professional courses are: CI 280A, 395; Engl 396, 397, 417, and 494.
Required content courses are: see Curriculum, English .
Students seeking to add English as an additional endorsement area must earn 46 credits in the following courses:
3 Advanced writing (selected from 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 309, 313, 314, 315, 316)
9 English Studies: 220, 260, and 310
3 British literature (selected from 370, 373, 374, 375, 376, 378)
6 American literature (selected from 360, 362, 364)
3 Any literature course
3 World, women’s, or multicultural literature (selected from 340, 344, 345, 346, 347, 349, 353, 354);
19 English education 396; 397 (CI 280 for 2 cr. must be taken concurrently with 397), 494 (CI 280 for 2 cr. and Sp Ed 450 must be taken concurrently with 494); CI 395
English Education students must earn grades of C or better in all English, English Education, and Professional Core courses.
Coordinator: Leah Keino
The Family and Consumer Sciences Program
in the Department of Apparel, Educational Studies and Hospitality
Management prepares Family and Consumer Sciences teachers for grades
7–12.
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum, Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies in the ISU Catalog.
Required professional courses are: FCEdS 206, 306, 318, 403, 413, 417A, and 417B.
Required content courses are: HD FS 102; 220 or 221 or 223 or 226; 276, 349, 283; 341 or 483 or 488; FS HN 111 and 167; TC 121 or 131 or 165 or 204; HD FS 239 or TC 342.
Coordinator: Frank Schabel
The Health and Human Performance Department
prepares Health teachers for grades 7–12.
Required professional courses are: H S 375 and 417.
Required content courses are: HHP 258; H S 105, 110, 215, 305, 310, 350, 390; FS HN 167; HD FS 276, 373 or 377; Biol 255, 255L.
Students seeking approval for health education as an additional endorsement area must earn credits in the following courses: FS HN 167, HD FS 276, H S 110, 215, 305, 310, 350, 375, 390; Biol 255, 255L
Coordinators: Mimi Lee
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Human Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of History and Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offer teacher licensure in secondary social studies.
Students in this option will major in History or Political Science, complete a minor in another social science (Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology) and complete course work in educational theory and principles and teaching method that will lead to secondary (Grade 5-12) teacher licensure in Iowa. An exciting feature of this program is an emphasis on international perspectives achieved through course work and/or international field experiences.
Coordinator: Alex Andreotti
The Mathematics Department and the Curriculum
and Instruction Department share responsibility for the preparation
of Mathematics teachers for grades 7-12. For specific content area course requirements, contact Curriculum and Instruction Advising Office. Required professional courses are: C I 417C, 480C, and 497.
Required content courses are: Math 165, 166, 201, 265, 266 or 267, 297, 301, 317, 341, 435, 436, 489; Com S 107 or 207 or 227.
Students wishing to add mathematics as an additional endorsement area or as a non-mathematics major seeking a license to teach mathematics must take the following:
Math 165, 166, 201, 297, 301, 341, 317, 489, Com S 107 or 207 or 227 and C I 497
Coordinator: Sylvia Munsen
The Music Department prepares Music teachers
for grades K–12.
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum,in Music . Required professional courses are: Music 248, 266, 366, 367 or 368 or 369, 464 or 465, 466, Music/C I 417K and 417L, Music/C I 480K.
Required content courses are: see Curriculum, in Music.
Coordinator: Katherine
Thomas
The Health and Human Performance Department
prepares Physical Education teachers for grades K–12.
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum, Health and Human Performance
Required professional courses are: HHP 280, 281, 312, 355, 358, 365 or 366, 372, 375, 395, 417, 418, 470, 475 .
Required content courses are: see Curriculum, Health and Human Performance
Coordinator: Kerry Whisnant
The Physics and Astronomy Department and
the Curriculum and Instruction Department share the responsibility
for preparing Physics teachers for grades 7–12.
Required professional courses are: C I 280M, 347, 418, 419, 468J, 468K, 417B,
Required content courses are: Phys 221, 222, 311T, 399, 321. Select 12 credits from the following: Phys 302, 304, 306, 310, 321, 321L, 322, 322L, 361, 364, 365, 496; Astro 342, 344L, 346; Chem 324, 325, EE 201, 230; EM 274, 345, 378; ME 330, 231.
Students with an endorsement in a natural science who seek approval to teach physics as an additional endorsement area must complete one of the following sets of courses:
Phys 221, 222, 311T, 321, 321L, 399 (2 cr.)
OR Phys 111, 112, 302, 311T, 399 (2 cr.)
Students with no other natural science endorsement who seek approval to teach physics as an additional endorsement area must complete one of the two sets of courses listed above plus sufficient additional credits from the following list of courses to total 24 credits:
Phys 221, 222, 302, 304, 306, 310, 321, 321L, 322, 322L; Astro 342, 344L, 346; Chem 321, 324, 325; E E 441; E M 274, 345, 378; M E 330, 332
Coordinator: Thomas Greenbowe, Kerry Whisnant
The Physics and Astronomy Department and the Curriculum and Instruction Department share the responsibility for preparing Physical Science teachers for grades 7-12.
Required professional courses are: C I 280M, 347, 418, 419, 468J, 468K, 417B,
Required content courses are: Phys 111, 112 or Phys 221, 222; Chem 163, 163L, 231, 231L; Astro 120, 150 or 342, 346; Geol 100, 100L; Mteor 206; Math 151 or 160 or 165 or 181; one course in biology; one additional course numbered 300 and above in astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, meteorology, physics, or geology.
Students with an endorsement in a natural science who seek approval to teach physical science as an additional area must earn credits in the courses listed below. Students with no other science endorsement, but who seek an additional endorsement in this area, must take the listed courses plus additional credits in the area to total at least 24. See coordinator for approval prior to taking additional courses.
Astro 120 or 150 or 342 or 346
Chem 163, 163L
Geol 100, 100L
Mteor 206
Phys 111, 112; or 221, 222
Coordinator: Linda Quinn-Allen
The World Languages and Cultures Department prepares World Language teachers for grades 7–12. World Language teachers can earn an endorsement in French, German, Latin, Russian or Spanish.
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum, World Languages and Cultures .
Required professional courses are: C I 280L, WLC/C I 480, WLC 417 and WLC 487.
Students seeking approval to teach a world language as their first endorsement must have a major in the target language. For an additional endorsement in a world language, students must earn 25 credits in that language. Nine (9) credits must be at the 300 level or above with six (6) of these credits in composition and conversation. Courses at the 100 level are not counted in the 25 required credits. For an endorsement in Latin, 10 of the 25 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level and must include Hist 430 (Cl St 403). All students seeking to teach a world language must demonstrate their proficiency in the language by taking the ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview). Students are responsible for the cost of the administration of the OPI and must request that their scores from the OPI be added to their transcript.
Additional
Endorsements
Post-Bachelor's
Licensure Areas
Graduate
Licensure Area
