Course Plans
Professional Educator Licensure (PEL)
Illinois Wesleyan University is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the undergraduate preparation of teachers in the programs listed below. IWU graduates are eligible for a Professional Educator License endorsed in the area and grade level of the program completed. The PEL is valid for five years.
Certificates
The School of Educational Studies offers a Reading Intervention Certificate. The certificate requires coursework in REA 272 (LIT),322, & 323 (3 Reading courses). Students completing this certificate will acquire a wide range of literacy skills and content knowledge that will position them to address student reading difficulties in the classroom. The certificate appears on the official IWU transcript and has to be applied for utilizing this form. https://www.iwu.edu/registrar/declaration-of-major-minor-form.pdf
*** The certificate does not license a student to teach Reading, however, it is helpful in skill development, resume building, LinkedIn profile, job applications, and basically allows for tracking progress towards the Reading Teacher Endorsement.
Additional certificates on campus that also are used in resumes/LinkedIn profiles and applications include the Intercultural Competence Certificate and the Data Analytics Certificate. These certificates don’t license one to teach, however, they are helpful in job placement.
Interdisciplinary Educational Studies major and minor
The non-licensure Interdisciplinary Educational Studies major or minor prepares students to work with children and families in a variety of settings and occupations. Students can apply coursework in the School of Educational Studies to professional work in government, private industry, adult education, correctional institutional, and/or related school services such as recreation, after-school care, nursing, social work or social policy. The School of Educational Studies curriculum also prepares students for graduate and professional school in social policy, school counseling, or law.
Students choose four courses (at least one upper level) to be selected from one of the following interdisciplinary concentration areas:
Major Course requirements (10 Units):
Note: This major does not lead to teacher certification.
- Educ 225 Education and Social Justice (CSI)
- Educ 255 Child Study and Assessment (W)
- Two electives in Educational Studies (pending concentration-requires advisor approval)
- Educ 497 Internship
- Educ 498 Educational Inquiry (W) - May be taken before or concurrent with 497.
- And four courses (at least one upper level) to be selected from one interdisciplinary concentration. (Two upper levels are required in the concentration if the School of Education electives are at the 100/200 level.)
Minor Course requirements (6 Units):
- Educ 225 Education and Social Justice (CSI)
- Educ 255 Child Study and Assessment (W)
- One elective in Educational Studies (pending concentration-requires advisor approval)
- Educ 497 Educational Inquiry (W) OR
Educ 498 Internship - And two courses (at least one upper level) to be selected from one interdisciplinary concentration.
Fall Semester
- Gateway Colloquium
- General Education Course
- General Education Course
- Second Language Course
- Physical Education (PEX)
Spring Semester
- EDUC 225 Education and Social Justice (CSI)
- General Education Course
- General Education Course
- Second Language Course
- Physical Education (PEY)
Fall Semester
- EDUC 255 Child Study and Assessment (W)
- Second Language Course
- Concentration coursework
- General Education Course
- Physical Education (PEY)
Additional Information
Many School of Educational Studies courses have concurrent field placements in local schools which require a commitment of two to three hours a week between 8 am and 3 pm. Students are responsible for their own transportation to the field site.
As an IWU student, it is your responsibility to track your progress each semester towards completing graduation requirements using the MyIWU degree evaluation tool.
First year students should plan on attending the First Year department meeting during orientation week.
Leah Nillas - Chair and Associate Professor of Educational Studies
Department - School Of Educational Studies