The main difference between this track and the general history major is that this track is designed to provide you with an Illinois social studies teaching license (9th-12th grade). This track focuses on the development of historical skills while providing you with robust educational experience within the classroom and the pedagogical training and support. You are not limited to a social studies education and can seek out additional endorsements for your license in fields like economics, psychology, political science, and foreign languages.
You can also take advantage of internships, study abroad, and other professional development opportunities. You will not only develop a mastery of history, but also the skills necessary to guide students in their journey into the past.
After completing the pre-requisite coursework (see the list of courses under pre-requisites to apply to the minor in the degree requirements below) current U of I students can apply to the secondary education minor with the College of Education for admission effective in the spring semester of their junior year. More information on eligibility requirements and the application form can be found on the College of Education website.
The secondary education track requires 33 hours of history + supporting coursework in the social sciences and a 36-39 hour education core.
The majority of your general education requirements can also be completed by progressing through this coursework including advanced composition, all three cultural studies requirements (western, non-western, U.S. minorities), both humanities and the arts requirements, and both social and behavioral sciences requirements.
The following classes should be completed or in progress when applying to the minor.
NOTE: History courses taken as a pre-requisites to apply to the minor also apply toward this category.
Non-Western History
Two courses in either African, Asia, Global, Latin American, or Middle Eastern History.
European History
Two courses in European history.
US Minority History
One course in US minority history.
US History
One course in US history.
Pre-1800
One course in pre-1800 hundred history.
Advanced hours in LAS are defined as courses at the 300 and 400 level. Students are required to have a minimum of 21 advanced hours completed on campus to graduate. For students in the secondary education concentration, 12 of those hours must be history courses.
Note that history courses may count in more than one area, but they can only count in one area at a time.
Students will complete the below courses in sequence after applying to the minor. Courses begin in the spring semester of your junior year. In the below list, the paired courses will be taken in the same semester. These courses cannot be taken before taking the pre-requisites to apply to the minor courses, or pre-professional education coursework.
CI 404: Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students
EDPR 442: Educational Practice in Secondary Education
To register and see section availability, please browse courses on Course Explorer. Course Explorer provides the schedule of classes by term and a browsable database of general education requirements in addition to other resources.
Note that history courses may count in more than one area, but they can only count in one area at a time.