Endorsements

Special Education Endorsement

The special education endorsement is designed for education majors in a licensure program who would like to effectively teach students with special needs through specialized learning strategies. This program will assist you in developing best practices for teaching students with special needs so that you can make a positive impact on the students’ learning experiences. Teachers can complete the endorsement and become licensed in special education (LBS1) by taking the state-required four courses at Millikin’s School of Education.

• To obtain the endorsement, teachers must also pass the Special Education Content Test #290.
• Teachers must receive a grade of C- or better in each class.
• Teachers must complete the FAFSA to determine loan eligibility.
• Most practicing teachers will have completed ED 115 (or an articulated transfer class) in their undergraduate program. Therefore, they will only need to complete the remaining three courses for the Special Education Endorsement. Millikin’s Registrar’s Office determines course articulations.

Courses required for the endorsement include:

• ED115 Instructional Strategies for Individuals with Learning Disabilities in K-12 Classrooms (3 credits)
• ED215 Learning Differences of Individuals with Mild to Moderate Educational Learning (3 credits)
• ED220 An Introduction to Educating Individual with Diverse Abilities in K-12 Classrooms (3 credits)
• ED408 Diagnosis and Assessment of Learners with Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credits)

You must also complete the Learning Behavior Specialist I (#290) content area test, to receive the endorsement.

Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language Endorsements

Both the bilingual education endorsement and the English as a second language (ESL) endorsement will help you develop a deep understanding of bilingualism in multicultural environments and explore linguistic and cultural needs of second-language learners.  You will develop culturally responsive instruction in diverse educational training settings as you also embark on opportunities to collaborate with local ESL educators and interact with bilingual students.  Courses for the endorsements include:

• ED209 Foundations of Bilingual Education (3 credits)
• ED238 Language Development and Linguistics (3 credits)
• ED304 Methods & Materials in the Education of English Language Learners (3 credits)
• ED325 Assessment of English Language Learners (3 credits)
• ED401 Integrating Culture in the Classroom (3 credits)
• Elective with focus on culture (3 credit ICS or IN350 course) (ESL Endorsement only)
• ED409 Bilingual Methods and Materials (3 credits) (Bilingual Endorsement only)

One hundred clock hours are required for both the bilingual education and ESL endorsements.  Candidates for the bilingual education endorsement must also pass the appropriate Illinois Language Proficiency Test in the non-English language to be taught.