The MCB + Teaching Licensure program provides certification to teach biology at the high school level. Students take courses for the MCB major, in addition to the requirements for a Minor in Secondary Education. Students will apply to the Secondary Education Minor after their sophomore year.
Requirements & typical four-year plan of study
Prerequisite Courses
The following courses must be completed or in progress by the semester students are applying for the Secondary Education minor.
- IB 150
- MCB 150
- CHEM 102, 103
- CHEM 104, 105
- CHEM 232, 233
- MATH 220 or 221
- Two MCB core courses
Courses for the Secondary Education Minor
In addition to the pre-requisite courses listed above, students must complete the following courses in this specified order.
| Semester in Minor | Typical Timing | Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring, junior year | CI 401, CI 473 | 6 |
| 2 | Fall, senior year | CI 403, EPSY 485, SPED 405 | 9 |
| 3 | Spring, senior year | CI 404, EDPR 442 | 15 |
Additional Courses
Students who complete a major in MCB and the Secondary Education minor, will be eligible for certification in both biological sciences and physical sciences by taking two additional courses, aside from the major requirements: GEOL 107 and ASTR 100 or 210.
Important note
Students must complete all requirements with a grade of C- or higher for state licensure. The only exceptions are courses taken to fulfill a composition requirement, a language other than English requirement, or general education courses not required in the major or minor.
Useful links
- From the College of Education: Secondary Education Minors, Getting Started
- Council on Teacher Education (Certification, Endorsements)
- Teaching Degrees is a helpful website that can aid in exploring teaching programs around the country
Contact us
Contact MCB Advising at 217-333-6774 or advising@mcb.illinois.edu.
Contact School of Education advising at SecEdAdvising@education.illinois.edu.