Science Teacher Education

Science teacher candidates earn a double major, earning a degree in the scientific discipline of their choice, as well as a degree in secondary education. Graduates earn their Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics for grades 9-12.

Graduates are licensed to teach their science content area in grades 9-12, as well as any electives associated with that content. For example, A Biology Education graduate is licensed to teach Biology in grades 9-12 and also electives such as ecology, botany, or AP Biology. Graduates can also teach the entry level of any other science. For example, a Chemistry Ed graduate can also teach general Physics or general Biology but not electives or upper division classes associated with those contents.

Graduates automatically earn their middle grades General Science endorsement in grades 5-8 by passing the IL middle grades content area test in their content.

Science Majors can also earn additional science endorsements by completely 12 hours OR passing the IL content area test in that science content. Subsequent science endorsements can be earned in

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Earth Science
• Environmental Science

Non-Science additional endorsements can also be earned in areas such as Special Education, ESL/Bilingual or additional middle grades content areas by completing 18 hours in that field AND passing the associated content area test.

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, now offered in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and New Jersey, seeks to attract talented, committed individuals with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) backgrounds into teaching in high–need secondary schools.

The Fellowship offers current seniors, recent graduates, and career changers in the STEM fields a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master's degree program that focuses on a year-long experience in a real-world classroom. In exchange, Fellows commit to teach for three years in high–need secondary urban or rural schools, with mentoring and support from both their universities and their schools throughout their three-year commitment.

Find more information on the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship >>

Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowship

This five year fellowship is intended to support beginning high school STEM teachers (less than 2 years of teaching) or current undergraduate students who will earn their teaching credentials in STEMS after January 1, 2014.

Through the Teaching Fellowship program, KSTF selects exceptionally talented individuals with the potential to develop into outstanding secondary STEM teacher leaders.

Teaching Fellows receive an annual stipend and are eligible for a number of grants throughout the year. Professional development grants valued at up to $4000 per year are available to cover the cost of relevant activities, including workshops, mentoring, practitioner inquiry and fellow observations. Fellows are also eligible to receive up to $1200 per year for teaching materials. Last, fellows can apply for leadership grants to pursue efforts that will have a positive impact on STEM education beyond their own classroom. Find more information on the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowship >>

AFCEA Educational Foundation Scholarship for future STEM Teachers

(Armed Forces Communications and Electronics)

For those of you pursuing a degree for the purpose of teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) subjects at the U.S. middle or secondary school level, the AFCEA is offering 50 STEM Teacher Scholarships of $5,000 each. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and must be college sophomores or juniors. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, each graduating AFCEA STEM Scholar can receive a $1,000 AFCEA Science Teaching Tools grant each year for three years if the recipient continues teaching a STEM subject.

For more information about the AFCEA STEM scholarship at AFCEA >>  

Physics Department Scholarships

Are you a physics or STEMS major? Visit Physics Department Scholarships to see a full list of department specific scholarships.