Program Overview

The Alternative Licensure Programs prepare individuals with bachelor’s degrees to become effective educators through an accelerated, immersive pathway that integrates graduate coursework with full-time classroom practice. Candidates earn both a master’s degree and eligibility for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) in just one year.

Designed for individuals who are drawn to the challenge and impact of teaching in high-need and under-resourced schools, the program combines rigorous academic preparation with immediate, sustained clinical experience. Unlike traditional teacher preparation pathways, candidates begin teaching as the teacher of record while completing coursework in the evenings, weekends, and through structured university support.

Throughout the program, candidates are supported by experienced faculty, a university supervisor, and school-based mentor teachers who provide ongoing feedback, coaching, and professional guidance. This cohort-based model fosters collaboration, professional growth, and strong preparation for long-term success in the field.

Upon successful completion, candidates are eligible for a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Science in Special Education degree, along with the Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL).

An Exceptional School of Education

Dominican University’s School of Education is recognized for preparing highly effective educators who are committed to scholarship, service, and equity-centered practice. Across programs, candidates engage in learning experiences that integrate theory and practice through coursework, clinical experiences, and partnerships with diverse school communities.

Candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence needed to support learners across urban, suburban, public, private, charter, and faith-based educational settings. The program emphasizes collaboration, reflective practice, and leadership development within a diverse cohort of peers who often become lifelong professional colleagues.

Program Areas

Alternative Licensure Programs are offered in the following areas:

• Elementary (including Early Childhood; option for ESL and/or Bilingual Endorsements)
• Elementary with Dance, Tehater/Drama or Physical Education Endorsement
• Middle School: English/Language Arts
• Middle School: Mathematics
• Middle School: Science
• Middle School: Social Sciences
• Secondary: Biology
• Secondary: Chemistry
• Secondary: English/Language Arts
• Special Education (including Early Childhood Special Education Approval and option for ESL/Bilingual Approval)

Unlike a traditional teacher-preparation program, the alternative licensure programs make it possible for individuals with bachelor’s degrees to take necessary coursework while completing required teaching experience. The program is one year in length and requires candidates to complete a residency (full-time teaching) while enrolled in course work in the evenings and on weekends. 

Program Structure

Pre-residency (Summer Intensive)

The program begins with a summer pre-residency experience that includes two graduate-level courses aligned to the candidate’s area of study and a supervised teaching internship.

To progress beyond pre-residency, candidates must:

• Fulfill all admission requirements, including any identified coursework deficiencies
• Pass the Pre-Residency Assessment Project
• Earn a “Beginning Proficiency” rating on the Summer Intern Evaluation Tool (or equivalent) and receive a recommendation to continue
• Pass required content-area licensure tests
• Successfully complete summer coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0

Residency & Coursework (Academic Year)

Following successful completion of pre-residency, candidates enter a one-year residency as the teacher of record in a high-need or under-resourced school while completing graduate coursework.

Candidates receive sustained support through:

• A University Supervisor who conducts regular classroom observations and provides feedback
• A school-based mentor teacher who provides ongoing professional support

Candidates not yet employed at the time of admission are responsible for securing a teaching position in a qualifying school. The School of Education provides guidance and recommendations, but candidates must complete the standard hiring process for PK-12 positions.

During residency, candidates complete the program of study aligned with licensure requirements. To remain in good standing, candidates must:

• Earn a grade of C- or higher in all coursework and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Receive positive evaluations from the University Supervisor and school principal (or designee), with recommendations to continue
• Pass the Education Teacher Performance Assessment (DU-TPA) or required capstone assessment by program completion
• Demonstrate professional dispositions consistent with School of Education expectations, with no more than two documented concerns

Program Completion Requirements

To complete the program and be recommended for licensure, candidates must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 with no grade lower than C- in required coursework
• Successfully pass the DU-TPA or mandated capstone assessment by the required deadline
• Receive formal recommendations for licensure from both the University Supervisor and school principal
• Achieve ratings of “Basic,” “Proficient,” or “Distinguished” across all evaluation domains, with no “Unsatisfactory” ratings
• Maintain continuous, contractual employment in a qualifying school for the duration of the residency year

Candidates who do not meet program requirements may be required to complete a second residency year under an Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) and participate in a structured remediation plan. Candidates who do not meet expectations after a second year may exit the program without licensure eligibility.

Program of Study - Alternative Licensure ELEMENTARY Grades 1-6 MAT/PEL with ECE option

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
Summer 1
EDUA 502	Introduction to Teaching and Early Field Experience	3
EDUA 502i	Intro to Teaching and Early Field Experience Internship	2
SPEA 521	Exceptional Children: Characteristics and Methods for Supporting Learning in General Education	3
	Total for Summer	8
Fall
EDUA 534	EDUA 534 Literacy Development & Reading Methods	3
EDUA 526	Methods of Teaching Mathematics, PreK-8	3
EDUA 592	Residency	2
EDUA 591	Seminar	1
	Total for Fall	9
Spring
EDUA 561	Content Area Reading and Social Studies Methods, PreK-8	3
EDUA 540	The Arts & Physical Education	1
EDUA 541	Methods for Teaching Science, PreK-8	2
EDUA 591	Seminar (and Capstone)	1
EDUA 592	Residency	2
	Total for Spring	9
Summer 2
EDUA 657	Foundations of Language Teaching and Learning	3
EDUA 655	Language and Culture	3
EDUA 579	School & Society: Critical Issues in Education	3
	Total for Summer	9
	MAT/PEL Total Credit Hours	35
Optional SECOND YEAR for ESL, or Bilingual endorsements and/or Residency*
Fall (2nd Year)
EDU 656	Linguistics	3
EDU 654	Assessment of English Language Learners	3
Check w/ Advisor for required additional MAT/endorsement courses as needed:
EDU 653	Methods/Materials of Bilingual Educ (only if seeking Bilingual Endorsement; Need TLP Test)	3
EDU 592	Residency* (only if indicated by Principal & EPP Coordinator)	2*
	Total ESL/Bilingual Endorsement Credit Hours	6-9 CH

Program of Study-Alternative Licensure MIDDLE/SECONDARY LEVEL MAT/PEL

COURSE NUMBER	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT HOURS
Summer 1
EDUA 503	Introduction to Teaching and Core Practices	3
EDUA 503 i	Intensive Teaching Internship	2
EDUA 588	Meth of Reading & Reading in the Content Areas MS/Sec	3
	Total for Summer	8
Fall
EDUA 564 (Blocked w/SPEA 521)	General Methods of Teaching and Assising in ELA Language Arts/General Science/Math/Social Science, Mid and Sec Level	3
SPEA 521 (Blocked w/EDUA 564)	Exceptional Children: Characteristics and Methods for Supporting Learning in the General Education Classroom	3
EDUA 593/EDUA 594	Middle (593) or Secondary (594) Education Residency	2
	Total for Fall	8
Spring
EDUA 566 ELA/EDUA 557 S.S./EDUA 558 MATH/ EDUA 559 SCIENCE	Methods in Mid/Sec (English Language Arts/General Science/Math /Social Science)	3
EDUA596	Teaching Capstone in MS/Sec Education	2
EDUA 655	Language and Culture	3
EDUA 593/EDUA 594	Middle (593) or Secondary (594) Education Residency*	2
	Total for Spring	10
SUMMER II
Required of all MS/Secondary Programs
EDUA 589	Cognition, Learning, and Assessment	3
EDUA 579	School and Society: Critical Issues in Education	3
(Elective: Check w/Advisor for appropriate required course)
EDUA 583 (ELA)	Childen’s and Young Adult Literature (ELA only-required to meet ISBE content knowlege requirement)	3
EDUA 657 (MATH, SCI, SS)	Foundations of Language Teaching and Learning (MATH, SCI, SS)	3
	Total for Summer	9
	MAT/PEL Total Credit Hours	35(+2-4*)
Optional SECOND YEAR for ESL of Bilingual endorsement; and/or Residency*
Fall/Spring (Year 2)
EDU 654	Assessment of Eng. Lang. Learners	3
EDU 656	Linguistics	3
Check w/Advisor for required additional MAT/endorsement courses as needed:
EDU 657 (ELA for ESL Endorsement)	Foundations of Language Teaching and Learning	3
EDU 653 (Bilingual Endorsement)	Methods/Materials of Bilingual Educ (Need TLP Test)	3
EDUA 593/EDUA 594*	Middle (593) or Secondary (594) Education Residency* (only if indicated by Principal & Epp Coordinator)	2*
	Total ESL/Bilingual Endorsement Credit Hours	6-9

Program of Study-Special Education Alternative Licensure

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
Summer 1​
EDUA 689	Introduction to Teaching & Early Field Experience	3
EDUA 689 I	Introduction to Teaching & Early Field Experience (Internship)	2
SPEA 521	Exceptional Children: Characteristics & Methods for Supporting Learning in the General Education Classroom	3
	Total for Summer	8
Fall 1
SPEA 591	Assessment & Individualized Planning In SPED	3
EDUA 533	Reading/Writing Instruction & Improvement	3
SPEA 699	Seminar in Special Education	1
SPEA 706	Residency in Special Education	2
	Total for Fall	9
Spring 1
SPEA659	Managing Challenging Behavior	3
EDUA 566	Teaching Mathematics for Elementary & Middle Level	3
SPEA 699	Seminar in Special Education	1
SPEA 706	Residency in Special Education	2
	Total for Spring	9
Summer 2
SPEA 664	Curriculum and Methods for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities	3
SPEA 690	Evidence Based Instruction for Students w/Disabilities	3
EDUA 589	Cognition, Learning & Assessment (Redesigned to include child development and educational psychology)	3
	Total for Summer	9
	Total for PEL/MSPED	35
Optional 2nd Year Courses for ESL Approval
Fall and/or Spring
EDUA 654	Assessing English Language Learners3
EDUA 657	Foundations of Language Teaching and Learning	3
SPEA 706	Residency in Special Education* (only if indicated y Principal and EPP Coordinator)	(2*)
	Total for PEL, MSSPED, & ESL Approval	6

Early Childhood Special Education Approval (ECSE) Approval to MSSPED degree (ALP and traditional) and to the Undergraduate BA in SPED degree.

Coursework:

Area - Early childhood special education assessment

Courses

SEDU 370 - Planning and Assessment in Special Education   

SPED 663 - Planning and Assessment in Special Education  

SPEA 691 - Assessment and Individualized Planning in Special Education  

Area-Methods of instruction in early childhood special education

Courses

SEDU 376 - Academic Methods for Elementary and Middle Level Students with Disabilities  

SPED 662 - Academic Methods of Special Education  

SPEA 690 - Evidence-Based Instruction for Students with Disabilities  

Area-Development of language in the young child

Courses

EDUC 373 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Reading and Writing in the Elementary Classroom   

EDU 533 - Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement  

Area-Child, family, and community relationships

Courses

EDUC 332 - Cognition, Learning, and Assessment  

EDUA 589 - Cognition, Learning, and Assessment  (for SPED candidates only)