Endorsements
As a teaching major, you’ll quickly learn your goal is to become endorsed to teach at your chosen level and in specific subject areas. It can get confusing. Keep in mind:
- When UNI grants you an undergraduate teaching degree in various majors and minors, the coursework is aligned with Iowa requirements to teach at the various levels and among specific subjects.
- In turn, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners grants you an endorsement to teach based on completion of coursework which has been approved by the state.
Endorsements usually match up with the major or minor you earn.
- Some broad-based majors – like comprehensive secondary science education – qualify you for several endorsements.
- You can also earn additional endorsements based on approved coursework in areas in which a minor is not offered. A couple of examples:
- The early childhood education (PreK-K) endorsement, earned as part of the early childhood education major or minor.
- Endorsements for several disciplines, such as 5-12 American history, based on coursework within the “specialist” social science teaching degree.
As you enter and complete student teaching, it’s good to get familiar with these endorsements. That’s the language that your school administrators will speak when hiring.
Guide to Endorsements
| Major or Minor or Certificate leading to: | Iowa Endorsement |
|---|---|
| Art education minor (K-8, 5-12) | #113: K-8 Art #114: 5-12 Art |
| Basic science teaching minor (K-8) | #150: K-8 Science: Basic |
| Biology teaching major (5-12) | #151: 5-12 Biological Science |
| Biology teaching minor (5-12) | #151: 5-12 Biological Science (in conjunction with first endorsement in another science) |
| Business teaching major (5-12) | #171: 5-12 Business--All |
| Chemistry teaching major (5-12) | #152: 5-12 Chemistry |
| Coaching minor (K-12) | #101: K-12 Athletic Coach |
| Communication-theatre teaching major (5-12) | #168: 5-12 Speech Communications/Theatre |
| Communication-theatre teaching minor (5-12) | #168: 5-12 Speech Communications/Theatre |
| Comprehensive secondary science teaching major (5-12) | #1541: 5-12 Basic Science #185: 5-12 All Science #151: 5-12 Biological Science #151: 5-12 Chemistry #156: 5-12 Physics |
| Computer science education certificate (5-12) | #278: 5-12 Computer Science |
| Early childhood education teaching major (Birth to Grade 3) | #1001 Birth through grade 3, inclusive settings |
| Deaf or hard of hearing (birth-21) | #266 Birth-21 Deaf or Hard of Hearing |
| Early childhood education minor (PreK-K) | #103 PreK-Kindergarten (in conjunction with K-6 elementary education) |
| Early childhood special education teaching minor (PreK-K) | #262 PreK-K Early Childhood Special Education |
| Earth science teaching major (5-12) | #153: 5-12 Earth Science |
| Earth science teaching minor (5-12) | #153: 5-12 Earth Science (in conjunction with secondary education major) |
| Elementary education major (K-6) | #102 K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom |
| English teaching major (5-12) | #120: 5-12 English/Language Arts |
| English teaching minor (5-12) | #120: 5-12 English/Language Arts |
| Health education minor (K-12) | #138: 5-12 Health #137: K-8 Health |
| History teaching major (5-12) | #158: 5-12 American History #166: 5-12 World History |
| Literacy education minor: Reading (K-8, 5-12) | #148: K-8 Reading #149: 5-12 Reading #119: K-8 English/Language Arts |
| Mathematics teaching major (5-12) | #143: 5-12 Mathematics |
| Mathematics teaching minor (K-8, 5-12) | #142: K-8 Mathematics OR #143: 5-12 Mathematics |
| Middle level (5-8) dual major with elementary education | 2 of these 4, based on emphasis: #1821 5-8 Middle School Language Arts #1823 5-8 Middle School Science #1824 5-8 Middle School Social Studies |
| Middle level (5-8) dual major with secondary education | 2 of these 4, based on emphasis: #1821 5-8 Middle School Language Arts #1823 5-8 Middle School Science #1824 5-8 Middle School Social Studies |
| Middle level science education dual major (5-8) | #1541 : 5-12 Basic Science #1823 : 5-8 Middle School Science #1821: 5-8 Middle School Language Arts OR #1822: 5-8 Mathematics OR # 1824: 5-8 Middle School Social Studies |
| Music education major (K-8, 5-12) | #144: K-8 Music #145: 5-12 Music |
| Physical education teaching major (K-8, 5-12) | #146: K-8 Physical Education #147: 5-12 Physical Education |
| Physics teaching major (5-12) | #156: 5-12 Physics |
| Social science teaching major A – Specialist | Leads to endorsement to teach in three areas among the following: #157: 5-12 American government #158: 5-12: American history #159: 5-12 Anthropology #160: 5-12 Economics #161: 5-12 Geography #163: 5-12 Psychology #165: 5-12 Sociology #166: 5-12 World history |
| Social science teaching major B - Generalist | #186 – 5-12 All Social Sciences |
| Social science teaching major C – Basic | #1861– 5-12 Social Sciences-Basic |
| Social studies teaching minor (K-8) | #164: K-8 Social Studies |
| Spanish teaching major (5-12) | #134: 5-12 Spanish |
| Spanish teaching minor (5-12) | #133: K-8 Spanish (in conjunction with elementary education) #134: 5-12 Spanish (in conjunction with secondary education) |
| Special education teaching instructional strategist I: mild/moderate (on campus) Special education teaching instructional strategist I: mild/moderate (post-bacc only/online) | #260: Instructional strategist I (K-8) #261: Instructional strategist I (5-12)
|
| Special education teaching instructional strategist II: intellectual disabilities (K-12) (on campus) Special education teaching instructional strategist II: intellectual disabilities (K-12) (post-bacc only/online) | #264: Instructional strategist II (K-12)
|
| Special education teaching instructional strategist II: behavioral disabilities/learning disorders (K-12) (post-bacc only/online) | #263: Instructional strategist II (K-12) |
| STEM education (K-8, 5-8) | #975: K-8 STEM Teaching #976: 5-8 STEM Teaching (if already have first endorsement in math, science or technology education) |
| TESOL teaching major (K-12) | #104: K-12 English as a Second Language |
| TESOL teaching minor (K-12) | #104: K-12 English as a Second Language |
| TESOL/Spanish teaching (K-12) | #104: K-12 English as a Second Language #133: K-8 Spanish #134: 5-12 Spanish |
| Technology and engineering education (5-12) | #140: 5-12 Industrial Technology |
| Technology education teaching minor (5-12) | #140: 5-12 Industrial Technology |