51ÁÔÆæ

Degree + Professional Educator License + Endorsement

Illinois has a documented shortage of elementary school teachers. 51ÁÔÆæ's M.A. in Elementary Education is built for people who want to enter the profession fully credentialed — not just with a degree, but with an Illinois Professional Educator License to teach grades 1–6 and the option to add an ESL endorsement within the same program.

The State of Illinois has a shortage of elementary teachers. At 51ÁÔÆæ, the Elementary Education program prepares students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator’s license, earn an endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL) and to teach grades 1-6. Additionally, 51ÁÔÆæ is partnered with more than 60 school districts, seven counties and 130 schools in the Chicago area, allowing students to become exposed to a variety of cultures and communities during their observation hours.

Classes meet fully online in the evening, designed for working adults and career changers who need a schedule that fits around their current commitments.

The Elementary Education with ESL Endorsement graduate program is fully approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education.

Why Choose 51ÁÔÆæ for Your Elementary Education Master's Degree?

51ÁÔÆæ's M.A. in Elementary Education prepares students to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License and teach grades 1–6, with an ESL endorsement built into the program. Classes are fully online with evening schedules, designed for career changers and working adults. Here is what sets the 51ÁÔÆæ experience apart:

Degree + Licensure + Multiple Endorsement Opportunities in One Program

This flexible program prepares students to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License, qualify to teach grades 1–6, and earn various endorsements, including middle-level education, special education, or an ESL endorsement, giving graduates broader classroom readiness and stronger employability in multiple school environments.

Personalized Support with a Major Reputation

At 51ÁÔÆæ, class sizes are limited, and students and professors get to know and support one another; here, you’re not just a number, you’re a person with a name, dreams, and a future.

Prepare for a Career That Actually Needs You

In a time when schools are actively seeking strong educators, this program prepares you to step into classrooms where you can make an immediate and meaningful impact. Teaching is a personally relevant and professionally fulfilling profession.

Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement - Grades 1-6

Once you hold a Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License with Stipulations endorsed in a teaching field, you can add additional content area endorsements.  These endorsements can be added at any grade level even if the underlying teaching endorsement on the PEL is a different age range.  The PEL serves as a foundation to which any teaching endorsement can be added after applicable coursework and testing are completed.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants professional educator licenses (PELs) and endorsements.  All endorsement candidates who successfully complete the ISBE requirements for subsequent endorsement on an Illinois PEL will be recommended for endorsement.  Note: ISBE requirements are subject to change.  Please contact you advisor for the most up to date endorsement information.

51ÁÔÆæ University offers the following teaching endorsement in Elementary Education:

Note: If a candidate has taken Early Reading as an early childhood major, they would be required to take Reading and Writing in the Content Areas. If a candidate has taken Reading and Writing in the Content Areas as a middle school/secondary major, they would be required to take Early Reading. Candidates must pass the elementary content test.

Who This Program Is For

The M.A. in Elementary Education serves three distinct groups of students, and the program is structured to work for all of them.

Career changers with a bachelor's degree in another field make up a significant portion of each cohort. The program provides the graduate credential, the Illinois PEL, and classroom-ready preparation in a single sequence, without requiring a separate undergraduate education degree first.

Aspiring teachers who want preparation specifically for grades 1–6 find a focused program that covers assessment, child development, literacy, linguistics, and content-area methods. The coursework is not a generalist education survey. It is built around what elementary teachers actually teach and how children in that grade range actually learn.

Students drawn to multilingual communities benefit from the ESL endorsement embedded in the program.

Courses like Foundations of Bilingual and English Language Learner Education, Assessment of Bilingual Students, and Cross-Cultural Studies in Literacy and English Language Learners are not electives.

They are part of the core sequence, preparing graduates to work in the increasingly bilingual classrooms found across Illinois schools.

Scholarship Options

51ÁÔÆæ offers several education-specific scholarships for students in this program. Awards are based on need and academic focus, including support for candidates pursuing science education and bilingual/ESL specializations.

• Dr. Shirley A. McFaul Endowed Scholarship
• Dr. Paul and Mrs. Ann Rubino Elementary Science Endowed Scholarship
• Lasallian Book Scholarship

Visit the Financial Aid for Educational Studies page for more information on education scholarships.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the M.A. in Elementary Education are prepared to teach grades 1–6 in public and private school settings across Illinois and hold a license that meets state requirements for classroom employment. The ESL endorsement expands that reach considerably; graduates can take on additional roles supporting multilingual learners, a growing need in districts across the Chicago area and throughout the state.

For those who want to continue building credentials after the M.A., the 51ÁÔÆæ framework allows licensed educators to add further endorsements, including LBS1 for special education.

Graduates who entered the program as career changers often find that the combination of a graduate degree, initial licensure, and an ESL endorsement makes them competitive for positions that a single credential alone would not open.

Field Experience Across Chicago-Area Schools

51ÁÔÆæ is partnered with more than 60 school districts, seven counties, and 130 schools in the Chicago area. During observation hours, students gain exposure to a range of school communities, different districts, different student populations, different classroom realities.

That breadth is deliberate. Teaching in one type of school does not prepare you to teach in all of them, and most Illinois educators will work in more than one setting over the course of a career.

The program is rated Exemplary by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Sample Courses

The program covers assessment, linguistics, child development, content-area methods, and ESL pedagogy. Sample courses include:

• Foundations of Teaching all Learners
• Classroom Assessment and Intervention
• Beginning Linguistics and Development of Speech and Language in Early Childhood
• Foundations of Bilingual and English Language Learner Education
• Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Communities
• Assessment of Bilingual Students
• Cross-Cultural Studies in Literacy and English Language Learners

LBS1 (Learning Behavior Specialist 1)  Endorsement can also be earned through taking additional coursework.

Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 for the final 60 credit hours of study
• Official college transcripts from all institutions previously attended
• Successful completion of the 51ÁÔÆæ University College of Education and Social Sciences Graduate Writing Examination
• Submission of a graduate application form
• Two letters of recommendation
• Meet with the appropriate Department Chair or Program Director for a personal interview to discuss education goals

Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.

VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a teaching license to apply?
No. The M.A. in Elementary Education is an initial licensure program, meaning it is designed for students who do not yet hold an Illinois Professional Educator License. If you already hold a PEL and are looking to add elementary education credentials, see the Subsequent Teaching Endorsement section above, which covers that pathway in 19 credit hours.

Is the program available fully online?
Yes. All courses are delivered online with evening class schedules, designed around working adults and career changers who cannot attend daytime classes.

What grades will I be licensed to teach?
Graduates who complete licensure requirements are endorsed to teach grades 1 through 6 in Illinois.

What is the ESL endorsement and do I have to complete it?
The ESL endorsement qualifies graduates to teach English as a Second Language across grade levels, including in classrooms with emergent bilingual learners. The coursework for the endorsement is integrated into the program's core sequence.

Given the growth of multilingual student populations across Illinois school districts, the endorsement significantly expands where graduates can teach and what roles they can fill.

What is the LBS1 endorsement?
The LBS1 (Learning Behavior Specialist 1) endorsement covers special education. It can be earned through additional coursework beyond the standard M.A. sequence. Talk to your advisor about adding it to your plan.

How does the field experience work?
51ÁÔÆæ places students in observation settings across more than 60 school districts and 130 schools in the Chicago area. Specific placement depends on your program stage, but students work across multiple settings to build exposure to varied classroom environments and student populations.

Can I teach outside Illinois after graduating?      
The program leads to Illinois licensure. Many states have reciprocity agreements that recognize Illinois credentials, but requirements vary. 51ÁÔÆæ's website maintains state-by-state licensure information, and applicants living outside Illinois or planning to relocate should review that resource before enrolling.

Related Programs

• Early Childhood Special Education, M.A.
• Special Education, M.A.

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