Biology/Secondary Education BS

A supplemental major in Secondary Education from Aurora University will provide you with a strong academic core plus experiences in professional learning communities. With this foundation, youll be well-prepared to make a positive difference in the lives of your students.

Students seeking professional preparation in Secondary Education will complete a Secondary Education licensure program in addition to their content major. A student seeking Illinois State Board of Education licensure at the secondary level (grades 9“12) must satisfy state requirements in the primary major, supplemental major, and in general education. With a primary content major in one of the following subjects, the supplemental major in Secondary Education leads to licensure as a teacher of grades 9“12 in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• History/Social Studies
• Mathematics

The Aurora University Teacher Education Program prides itself in collaborative partnerships with area schools, including the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School at Aurora University located right on AUs campus. Through these partnerships, you will have the opportunity to experience real-world classroom settings throughout your licensure experience. You will see great teaching in action through interviews, observation, and work with high-quality teachers.

As the secondary preparation program continues, you will work closely with students, studying developmental stages and instructing students in a variety of group settings. Your comprehensive training will also be enhanced through group work with classmates and mentoring by experienced teachers and professors.

Youll find our graduates making a difference in our communities as middle and high school teachers. This program also serves as a great foundation for working in school administration.

All of Aurora Universitys Education programs prepare you to become licensed as a teacher in the state of Illinois. Students must complete the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in order to get certified. The edTPA is a planning, instruction, and assessment system required to prepare teachers for the classroom.

We consider students for regular freshman admission who have graduated from an accredited high school (in a college preparatory curriculum) or have earned a GED credential. We review students' completed admission files on an individual basis.

Students who apply to Aurora University benefit from a rolling admissions policy. AU reviews applications as they are completed and students are notified about admissions decisions throughout the admission cycle. Undergraduate students who have a strong desire to attend Aurora University are encouraged to apply early in their senior year.

• High school teacher
• Middle school teacher
• Military base teacher
• Regional Office of Education employee
• Standardized test industry professional
• Textbook creator/salesperson
• Youth corrections teacher

1. Apply online here.
2. Official transcripts from schools attended in the United States must be sent directly to the Office of Admission as part of the admission process. Undergraduate applicants must request official transcripts from all secondary and/or post-secondary schools. Graduate applicants must request official transcripts from all post-secondary schools.
3. Certified copies of all official transcripts from international schools attended must be sent directly to the Office of Admission as part of the admission process.
4. Official certified evaluations of all non-English academic transcripts from international schools attended must be evaluated by one of the following companies: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE); World Education Service (WES); Center for Educational Documentation (CED). Evaluations must be sent directly to the Office of Admission.
5. English competency test OR standardized test
   1. Official English competency test results (for non-English speaking countries and all graduate applicants) Official scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admission. Below are the minimum scores required for admission from one of the following:
      • TOEFL paper-based: 550 or higher
      • TOEFL computer-based: 213 or higher
      • TOEFL Internet-based: 79 or higher
      • IELTS: 6.5 or higher
   2. Official standardized test results (for English-speaking countries only) Official scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admission. Below are the minimum scores required for admission from one of the following:
      • American College Test (ACT) – minimum composite score of 19 (online college code = 0950)
      • Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – minimum score (Math and Critical Reading) of at least 910, for tests taken prior to March 1, 2016 (online college code = 1027)
      • Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – minimum score (Math and Critical Reading) of at least 980, for tests taken after March 1, 2016 (online college code = 1027)
6. References must be academic or professional based (All items are required).
   
   • 1 Letter of Recommendation
   • 1 Personal Statement
   • 2 References providing contact information (email preferred)
7. Statement of Financial Resources International students applying for an I-20 Student Visa must submit the Statement of Financial Resources form as required by Aurora University and the guidelines from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. This form must be signed and notarized and be accompanied by an original letter from a bank official certifying the availability of funds for study at Aurora University.
8. Copy of current passport.
9. Copy of I-94 may be obtained online here.
10. Copy of Visa only if applicants are currently in the U.S. or holding a valid U.S. Visa.
11. Additional Documentation for graduate applicants may be required. Please contact the Center for Graduate Studies at 630-947-8955 for more information.