Possible Middle Grade Endorsements
While Wheaton Teacher Education Program (WheTEP) does not offer an initial teaching license for the middle grades, anyone enrolled in one of WheTEP’s licensure programs (elementary education, secondary or special PK-12 programs) can add a middle grade endorsement (Grades 5-8) in one or more of these four areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, General Science, Social Science.
Middle Grade Endorsement Requirements
- Successful passage of a middle grade content specific test. This is in addition to the initial content area test.
- 18 credit hours in the content area.
- Included in the 18 credit hours must be the two-hour middle grade methods course in that specific content area (such as middle school science methods). These two-hour, discipline-specific methods courses are completed in the junior or senior year, depending on the program.
- If a previous practicum was not completed in the middle grades, EDUC 405L will need to be completed and will also counts towards the 18 credit hours.
Click Below for Specific Middle Grades Course Requirements
Not Limited to One Middle Grade Endorsement
- Elementary education majors can add as many middle grade endorsements as desired as long as the above requirements are met.
- Secondary Education builds the middle coursework for the specific endorsement into each program (ie: Secondary History already meets the coursework requirements to add the middle grade Social Studies endorsement).
- Secondary, Music and Modern language majors can add other middle grade endorsements for one or more of these four specific content areas (LA, math, gen. sci., and soc. sci.) by also taking 18 credit hours in that area, including the discipline-specific methods course, and passing the state middle grade content test.
Student Teaching in the Middle Grades
When earning a middle grade endorsement while in WheTEP, it is also possible to student teach in the middle grades in this content area. This preference is expressed when applying to WheTEP.
Middle Grade Endorsements after Wheaton
Middle Grade Endorsements can also be completed and added to one’s initial Illinois teaching license following graduation or program completion.