The Secondary Teacher Education with Licensure (M.Ed.) program is designed to provide individuals the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and an initial Professional Educator License with an endorsement in secondary teacher education.  

Secondary content areas include English/Language Arts, History/Social Science, Mathematics, and Biology/Science. The program is for individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and are seeking a teaching license.

At the University of St. Francis, you will:

  • Interact with experienced faculty who model teaching strategies inspired by the latest research.
  • Grow through the direct application of concepts you are learning while collaborating with teaching professionals in schools in the surrounding area.
  • Benefit from the College of Education’s excellent reputation with area schools and be highly employable after graduation.

The University of St. Francis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. College of Education programs are further approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (isbe.net).

The College of Education has several years of experience preparing teacher candidates to successfully complete the edTPA, a national assessment designed to lead aspiring teachers to a high level of professional performance. The assessment requires teacher candidates to demonstrate substantial academic and cultural knowledge of their students, as well as use data to improve instruction. USF teacher candidates can count on extensive support and guidance to ensure positive results on the edTPA. 

A Secondary Education degree from the University of St. Francis will prepare you to teach high school students in a particular academic concentration area. You can expect to do much more than take attendance, develop lessons and grade papers.

With both the skills and heart of an excellent teacher, you will have opportunities to utilize communication skills, develop creativity, introduce exciting new ideas, inspire, mentor, instill a sense of value and purpose in your students, initiate positive change, and shape the future of our communities and our world. 

Have you heard?

Qualified undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology, English, History, or Mathematics can begin the Secondary Teacher Education M.Ed. program as early as their junior year!

Request more information about our graduate programs:

Coursework Evaluation

Due to the time required to evaluate individual transcripts, evaluation worksheets are required to begin the credential review process with USF’s Licensure Officer. Evaluation worksheets are not intended as a substitute for information provided on ISBE’s website, but rather to assist with the organization of requirements.

Evaluation Worksheets