Secondary Education (supplemental major)

A supplemental major in Secondary Education from Aurora University will provide you with a strong academic core plus experiences in professional learning communities. With this foundation, you’ll be well-prepared to make a positive difference in the lives of your students.

Students seeking professional preparation in Secondary Education will complete a Secondary Education licensure program in addition to their content major. A student seeking Illinois State Board of Education licensure at the secondary level (grades 9–12) must satisfy state requirements in the primary major, supplemental major, and in general education. With a primary content major in one of the following subjects, the supplemental major in Secondary Education leads to licensure as a teacher of grades 9–12 in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• History/Social Studies
• Mathematics

The Aurora University Teacher Education Program prides itself on collaborative partnerships with area schools. Through these partnerships, you will have the opportunity to experience real-world classroom settings throughout your licensure experience. You will see great teaching in action through interviews, observation, and work with high-quality teachers.

As the secondary preparation program continues, you will work closely with students, studying developmental stages and instructing students in a variety of group settings. Your comprehensive training will also be enhanced through group work with classmates and mentoring by experienced teachers and professors.

You’ll find our graduates making a difference in our communities as middle and high school teachers. This program also serves as a great foundation for working in school administration.

All of Aurora University’s Education programs prepare you to become licensed as a teacher in the state of Illinois. Students must complete the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in order to get certified. The edTPA is a planning, instruction, and assessment system required to prepare teachers for the classroom.

Robert Noyce STEM Teacher Scholarship Program

AU is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program grant designed to help address the nationwide shortage of high-quality teachers in science, technology, engineering, and math, particularly among groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The program, known as Noyce Scholars, is open to select Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics majors entering their junior year at AU. Noyce Scholars will receive an annual undergraduate scholarship of up to $18,000 for the last two years of their secondary education program. Interested students can visit our Noyce Scholars page to view eligibility requirements and apply.

AU also offers endorsements that can be earned in addition to any education major, making you eligible for additional teaching opportunities. These include:

• Early Childhood Education Endorsement
• Elementary Education Endorsement
• English/Language Arts Middle School Endorsement
• ESL/Bilingual Education Endorsement
• Math Middle School Endorsement
• Science Middle School Endorsement
• Social Science Middle School Endorsement
• Spanish Endorsement
• Special Education Endorsement

To learn more about all of AU's Education programs, including scholarships, click here.