Under the authority and with the approval of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Wheaton College undergraduate programs offer licensure in a number of areas.
The Wheaton Teacher Education Program (WheTEP) requires any interested student seeking a teaching license to complete all WheTEP prerequisites before applying to the licensure program offered by Wheaton College. Acceptance for enrollment in Wheaton College is necessary but not sufficient for acceptance into WheTEP.
After being accepted into WheTEP, students complete the appropriate content methods course(s) and practica and are required to student teach in a school classroom for 12-14 weeks. Throughout this practicum, students will be supported and evaluated by a faculty member of the education department.
Initial Elementary License
For elementary education majors planning to teach in first grade through sixth grade
Elementary education majors also work toward completing additional endorsements, such as ESL or Bilingual, Middle School English/Language Arts, Middle School Mathematics, Middle School Science, Middle School Social Science, and Special Education. Our Education Forms provide more information about requirements for each of these endorsements. The Initial Elementary License can be earned as a traditional undergraduate student or in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching. Department advisors can assist with questions related to the initial Professional Educator License (PEL) and any additional endorsements sought.
Initial Secondary License
For secondary education majors planning to teach grades 6-12 (The new High School program will be limited to grades 9-12)
Secondary education majors must complete a program in an approved major field of specialization. Currently majors approved for a secondary education Professional Educator License (PEL) by the State of Illinois are: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space, or Physics designation), and Social Science ( History designation). Secondary education majors will also earn a Middle Grade Endorsement for their field. The Initial Secondary License can be earned as a traditional undergraduate student or in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching. Education department secondary advisors can assist with questions related to the initial Professional Educator License (PEL) and any additional endorsements sought.
Initial Special PK-12 License
For Modern Language candidates planning to teach in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12
Wheaton offers two PK-12 Professional Educator Licenses (PELs), one in teaching a modern language (Spanish, French, or German) and one through the Wheaton College Conservatory in Music Education. Other endorsements, such as ESL/Bilingual or Special Education can be added to these initial licenses. The initial PK-12 license in a modern language can be earned as an undergraduate student or in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching. Education department secondary advisors can assist with questions related to the initial Professional Educator License (PEL) and any additional endorsements sought. Visit Modern and Classical Languages
Middle-Grade Focus Program
For Elementary or Secondary/High School majors who plan to teach in the middle-grade levels
Wheaton College offers a Middle-Grade Focus Program that can result in adding a middle-grade endorsement in English Language Arts, General Science, Mathematics, or Social Science to an initial elementary or a secondary/high school professional educator license. Specific requirements for these endorsements can be found in the Education Forms section of this webpage.
Graduate Programs and Endorsements
Wheaton College offers endorsements for undergraduate and graduate students in ESL, Bilingual and Special Education.
Wheaton College also offers a graduate program leading to an initial elementary, secondary, or PK-12 license.
Entitlement, Licensure, and Beyond