Distinctive features of this program:
- Graduates of the program are licensed to teach high school history.
- Teacher candidates have the opportunity to be placed in high school classrooms every semester during their academic program and minimally accumulate more than 750 hours of actual teaching experience in diverse settings.
- Teacher candidates will have two academic advisors to assist them in completing their program and planning for future careers.
The History/Social Science concentration is for students who are also pursuing a Secondary Education License. The major is jointly administered by the College of Education and the History department. Students must fulfill requirements in General Education, the History: Social Science major, and a Secondary Education License.
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.
Education Alumni Testimonial
The University of St. Francis College of Education does not simply teach students the fundamentals required to be a teacher, the program goes above and beyond in its effort in making St. Francis educators the best in the Midwest. The caring and compassionate nature of Saint Francis is instilled in each and every one of its graduates, preparing them to truly make a difference in the lives of those disenfranchised by society. It is not simply the knowledge that goes into teaching that is taught here at the University, but it is the heart and soul that separates the average from the exceptional teachers that is instilled here at the University of St. Francis. This school has given me the tools needed to become the best teacher that I can be and it has surrounded me with some of my best people that I have ever met in the process.
John Niendorf ’15
