Undergraduate Teacher 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 (see below for alphabetical list).
These areas and their corresponding grade levels are listed below
along with the college where the program resides. Please click on the link for more information.
The Department of Agricultural Education and Studies is responsible for preparing Agricultural Education teachers for grades 5-12.
For specific content area requirements see Curriculum in Agricultural Education and Studies (Teacher Certification Option).
Required professional courses are: AgEdS 110A, 211A, 310, 401, 402, 416, 417 (14 Cr.)
Required content courses are: AGEDS 488; Agron 114 and 154; An S 101 and 114; Hort 221; Econ 101, 331; NREM 120; 6 credits in agriculture and life sciences; 6 credits in courses 300-level or above to be chosen from technology systems management, animal science, agronomy, agricultural economics, forestry, or horticulture.
The Biology Program and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction share the responsibility of preparing Biology teachers for grades 5-12.
Required professional courses are: C I 280M,
C I 347, C I 418, C I 419, C I 468J, C I 468K and C I/LAS 417D
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.
The Department of Chemistry and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction share the responsibility of preparing Chemistry teachers for grades 5-12.
Required professional courses are C I 280M, C I 347, C I 418, C I 419, C I 468J, C I 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.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Human Sciences share the responsibility for preparing teachers to work with children from birth to age 8 (PK-3 including special education).
For specific course requirements, see College of Human Sciences, Curriculum in Early Childhood Education.
The Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction share the responsibility of preparing Earth Science teachers for grades.5-12
Required professional courses are: C I 280M, 347, 418, 419, 468J, 468K, C I 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 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.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Human Sciences is responsible for preparing elementary (K-6) teachers.
For specific course requirements, see College of Human Sciences, Curriculum in Curriculum and Instruction. Several endorsements may be added to a K-6 teaching license. See an adviser for the most current list and the necessary additional requirements.
The Department of English prepares English teachers for grades 5-12
Required professional courses are: C I 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: Engl 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 309, 314, 315, 316
3 Rhetoric: Engl 310
3 Language: Engl 220
18 Literature: Engl 260; Engl 225; Engl 226; Engl 227; Engl 228; Engl 340’s OR Engl 353 OR Engl 354
19 English Education: CI 395; Engl 396; Engl 397 and CI 280a; Engl 494 and CI 280a; SpEd 450
Students must earn grades of C or better in all of the above courses.
The Family and Consumer Sciences Program in the Department of Apparel, Educational Studies and Hospitality Management prepares Family and Consumer Sciences teachers for grades 5-12
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum, Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies.
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; T C 121 or 131 or 165 or 204; HD FS 239 or T C 342.
The Department of Kinesiology prepares Health teachers for grades 5-12.
Required professional courses are: H S 375 and 417.
Required content courses are: Kin 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.
The Curriculum and Instruction Department and the History Department share the responsibility for preparing History-Social Sciences teachers for grades 5-12.
Contact the History Department for specific information.
History-Social Sciences Education students must earn grades of C or better in all content and pedagogical coursework required for teacher licensure.
The Mathematics Department and the Curriculum and Instruction Department share responsibility for the preparation of Mathematics teachers for grades 5-12
For specific content area course requirements, contact Curriculum and Instruction Advising Office. Required professional courses are: CI 219, 280L, 280A, 480C, 497, 417C
Required content courses are: Math 165, 166, 201, 265, 266 or 267, 301, 317, 341, 397, 435, 436, Com S 107 or 207 or 227, and Stat 101.
Students wishing to add mathematics as an additional endorsement area or as a non-mathematics major with a major in one of the mathematical sciences, physical sciences, or engineering seeking a license to teach mathematics must take the following:
Math 165, 166, 201, 301, 317, 341, 397, 435, 436, Com S 107 or 207 or 227, Stat 101 and CI 480C, and 497.
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 490A, 464 or 465, 466, Music/C I 417K and 417L, Music/C I 480K.
Required content courses are: see Curriculum, in Music.
The Kinesiology Department prepares Physical Education teachers for grades K-12.
Kinesiology and Health (instead of Health and Human Performance)
Required professional courses are: KIN 280, 281, 312, 355, 358, 365 or 366, 372, 375, 395, 417, 418, 470, 475.
Required content courses are: see Curriculum, Kinesiology and Health.
The Physics and Astronomy Department and the Curriculum and Instruction Department share the responsibility for preparing Physics teachers for grades 5-12
For specific content area course requirements, see Curriculum, Physics.
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, E E 201, 230; E M 274, 345, 378; M E 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.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction share the responsibility for preparing Physical Science teachers for grades 5-12
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
The Department of World Languages and Cultures prepares World Language teachers for grades 5-12
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
