Programs
Change lives – teach!
Undergraduate Programs
No matter what your areas of interest or what student population you would like to work with, we’ll prepare you to do it well. Teachers have a tremendous impact on the lives of their students, and SIU offers a wide variety of specializations so you can choose the bachelor’s degree program that’s right for you and we’ll give you everything you need to succeed.
Our program is unique in that you take your core courses within the school that offers the specialization you’re working toward and then we provide the additional education courses, clinical practice, tests and student teaching experience you need.
With many different specializations to choose from - early childhood through elementary and secondary education as well as special education, our bachelor’s degree program gives you everything you need to succeed as a teacher and prepares you for Illinois state licensure.
Advanced Programs
We offer a diverse selection of education programs to assure you can pursue your passion, whatever it may be. Our advanced (postbaccalaureate) programs are for the continuing education of teachers who have previously completed initial licensure, or to prepare other school professionals for their careers or career advancement. Our master’s programs prepare you for Illinois State licensure in: communication disorders and sciences (speech-language pathologist), school counseling, reading specialist, school social work and school administration. We also offer programs that lead to administrative licensure for principals and superintendents.
Agriculture Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as agricultural science educators at the secondary level. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an agricultural sciences endorsement.
Art Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as art educators teaching students kindergarten through 12th grade. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an art education endorsement.
Biological Science Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as biological science educators at the secondary level. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with a biological science endorsement.
Early Childhood Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as early childhood educators teaching children ages birth to second grade. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an early childhood endorsement.
Elementary Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as elementary educators teaching children first through sixth grade. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an elementary education endorsement.
English Language Arts
This program prepares graduates to serve as English language arts educators at the secondary level. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an English language arts endorsement.
History Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as social science educators at the secondary level. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the professional Educator License (PEL) with a social science – history teaching endorsement.
Mathematics Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as mathematics educators at the secondary level. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with a mathematics endorsement.
Music Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as music educators teaching students kindergarten through 12th grade. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with a music education endorsement.
Special Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as special educators providing services for ages pre-kindergarten to 21. The bachelor’s in special education prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with a Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) endorsement.
World Language Education
This program prepares graduates to serve as world language educators teaching either Spanish or German to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you to receive the Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in your content area.
School Administration - Master's / Doctoral
Advance your career in education. Our educational administration program will give you the knowledge and help you develop the skills and aptitudes that you need to be a qualified, dedicated and caring school administrator. Our graduates are ready to assume the responsibilities of building- and district-level school leadership. We offer three program options:master’s program with principal endorsement, superintendent endorsement program, and the doctoral program with superintendent endorsement.
Principal Preparation Program
Upon completion of our principal preparation program you will be prepared to assume the responsibilities of principal, assistant principal or similar position at the Pre-K through grade 12 levels. Our goal is for graduates to be highly effective leaders who improve the teaching and increase the academic achievement and development of students they oversee.
Superintendent Endorsement Program
Continue your professional growth and education and advance your career by taking the next step. You will be prepared to assume the responsibilities of a school district superintendent after completing this endorsement program. Our curriculum is designed to help you develop the skills and aptitudes you need to be a proficient, dedicated caring administrator. We give you two options:
School Support Personnel -Master's
Reading Specialist Program
Our reading specialist program prepares teachers for specialized positions as reading teachers and/or reading specialists We offer master’s and doctoral level reading and language studies to increase your literacy instruction knowledge and help you grow as a teacher.
Contact Lavern Byfield, Coordinator for Language Literacies and Culture at 618-536-2441 or byfield2@siu.edu
Communication Disorders and Sciences
Prepare for a career as a nationally certified speech-language pathologist in our Communication Disorders and Sciences (CDS) master’s program. Learn to identify, prevent and treat communication disorders and you will be ready for jobs in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals and private practice. During the program, you will have two semesters of clinic internships and enjoy opportunities for clinical, research and mentorships collaborations with our faculty. Our program is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), which is part of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
School Counseling Program
If you want to have a positive, life-changing effect on young people, consider becoming a school counselor. Our students work with schools in surrounding communities so they fully understand and can be responsive to the diverse economic, social and cultural needs of children in rural and urban school settings. Your study will include a 600-hour internship experience in local schools, putting into practice what you’ve learned.
Our program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and prepares you for certification and/or initial licensure in your specialty area.
School Social Worker Program
School social workers can make a huge difference in the lives of students. They play a vital role on the school’s educational team and we will prepare you for this role. We’ll help you understand how school, home, family and community impact children and interpret those influences and help children. We pave the way for you to obtain your state school social work licensure, required in order to work in the position in a public school.