Elevate your Career in Education

Our nation’s classrooms are changing dramatically. Teachers now must be prepared with a working knowledge of instructional technology and social media, changing state learning standards and standardized testing, as well as methods for approaching changing student populations. In this program, you’ll gain the skills you need for success in the classroom.

Needed

1
Year to Complete the Program
#1
Best Value School (U.S. News & World Report)
16
Average Graduate-level Class Size

Dominican’s Alternative Licensure Programs Overview

  • Prepares you for alternative teacher licensure in Illinois
  • Designed for aspiring teachers who already hold a bachelor’s degree
  • Earn a Professional Educator's License (PEL) and a master's degree in one year
  • 35 credit hours
  • Program offered in a hybrid format
  • Complete in one year
  • Full-time schedule, including a one-year paid teaching residency
  • Approved by the state of Illinois

Note: Admission to graduate and certificate programs in education is open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
 

Prepare for Meaningful Service in a Growing Profession

Dominican’s Alternative Licensure Programs allow you to gain real-world teaching experience and classroom knowledge at the same time.
 

In Demand

The U.S. Department of Education projects that K-12 enrollment will grow by 5.2% in the coming years.

Continued Growth

Job openings for particular specialties will increase by 10% by 2026.

What You’ll Learn

As a leader in Illinois teacher certification programs, our alternative licensure programs provide a strong foundation of professional knowledge, personal insight and appreciation of diversity that teachers need to succeed as classroom leaders and student advocates.

Our alternative licensure programs combine a theoretical base with in-depth practicum experiences, so you can be confident and capable as you step into your first post-graduation teaching role. And, every program prepares students for concepts like education research, instructional technologies, and an understanding of the diverse learning and social-emotional needs that modern students face.


Alternative Licensures Offered

Dominican University offers alternative licensure programs in the following areas; all are PDFs and open in a new window unless otherwise indicated. 

Elementary (with Early Childhood, ESL and/or Bilingual Endorsement)

Elementary with Dance, Theater/Drama or Physical Education Endorsement

Middle: English/Language Arts

Middle: Mathematics

Middle: Science

Middle: Social Science

Secondary: Biology

Secondary: Chemistry

Secondary: English/Language Arts

Special Education (including ECSE Approval and option for Bilingual Approval)

The Dominican Difference

Dominican’s School of Education has an outstanding reputation for preparing effective teachers who are profoundly committed to the profession’s essential values of scholarship and service—who become leaders in this indispensable field. Our academic programs seamlessly combine theory and practice. You’ll form partnerships with outstanding professors in the classroom and in field experiences. You’ll gain the critical skills and professional confidence you’ll need to support student success across a wide spectrum of educational settings—in urban, suburban, public, private, faith-based, multicultural and charter schools. You’ll truly enjoy learning alongside a diverse cohort of fellow students who will become lifelong colleagues.

We continue to innovate and develop new approaches to teaching and learning to better serve our country’s children and youth. We’ll help you achieve your goals and fulfill a mission of service as a teacher. At Dominican, you’ll find a community eager to answer your questions and walk you through the process of gaining your alternative teaching license in Illinois. See what sets us apart.

My education pushed me to think beyond academics and focus on how I show up for students. It reinforced the importance of building intentional relationships and fostering a sense of community in and beyond the classroom.”

Teirra Scott
Dominican University Graduate

What to Expect as you Earn Your Alternative Licensure

Unlike a traditional teacher-preparation program, our alternative licensure programs make it possible for you to take necessary coursework while completing required teaching experience. (In traditional programs, you would take all coursework leading to licensure prior to completing your clinical practice experience—lengthening your time to completion.)

In Dominican’s alternative licensure program, you’ll first enroll in a summer pre-residency experience, which includes two graduate education classes. These courses will be specific to your chosen area of study.

After completing your pre-residency courses, you’ll begin teaching in a high-need or under-resourced school as part of a one-year paid residency while simultaneously completing your graduate course of study. Following successful completion of the one-year alternative licensure program, you’ll be eligible for a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License (PEL) in Illinois.

Over a one-year period, you’ll take graduate coursework that is aligned with your program. During that time, a university supervisor will oversee and support your progress, providing regular feedback every week. The school in which you are employed will also provide a mentor teacher to help you through your residency. Meet our faculty

  • Successful completion of summer coursework, including Pre-Residency Project
  • Earn a passing score on the summer evaluation of teaching performance
  • Complete a major in an area approved by the state
  • Pass the ISBE mandated content test
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Candidates who are accepted into an alternative licensure program, but who are not currently teaching, are responsible for finding a teaching position in a high-need or under-resourced school. Dominican will provide suggestions on schools or districts, but it is the candidate’s responsibility to find a position. Candidates will go through the typical application process that any teacher seeking a K-12 position would pursue.

  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Earn a passing score on the portfolio assessment
  • Provide evidence of demonstrating dispositions as outlined by the School of Education
  • Provide evidence of teaching competence expected of a first-year teacher on a summative teaching evaluation completed by both your university supervisor and school principal.

Related Degrees

At Dominican University, we offer a breadth of graduate education programs for working professionals looking to enter or advance in the field.

  • Teaching Endorsements: If you already hold a valid professional educator license, our endorsement programs can help you build your depth of expertise in a specific area of education.  
  • Master of Arts in Education (elevation): If you’ve previously completed an endorsement or certificate at Dominican, this program is for you.  
     

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When you secure a position that fulfills the residency requirements for your alternative licensure program, you’ll want to make sure a memorandum of understanding is signed by an official at Dominican University and at the school in which you will be employed. This memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines the resources and collaboration expectations as outlined by the state for an alternative licensure program. The university will initiate this memorandum at the time a candidate is hired.

Candidates enrolled in an alternative licensure program will be entitled with a provisional license: an educator license with stipulations. With this license, the candidate can serve as teacher of record in any school in Illinois for up to three years as long as the candidate remains in good standing in their alternative licensure program.

The process for financing a degree can seem daunting, but you do have options. Through loans and grants as well as scholarship opportunities within Dominican’s School of Education, specifically, we can help you navigate the process and find options that work for you.  A 20% tuition discount is also available to Dominican University alumnae/i.

Contact our Office of Financial Aid to learn more. We can be reached at (708) 524-6809 or by email at finaid@dom.edu.

For more information,
please contact:

Office of Graduate Admission
Enrollment Management
gradinfo@dom.edu

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