B.A. in Secondary Education: Teach High School English or Math in Illinois

Earn your Illinois Professional Educator License to teach English or Mathematics in grades 9 through 12, from the university with more than 80 Golden Apple Award winners and a track record of classroom-ready graduates.

  • Illinois PEL at Graduation
  • English or Math Endorsement
  • 80+ Golden Apple Winners
  • About $12,195 a Year

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Why Choose NLU for Secondary Education?

Two Tracks
Secondary English or Secondary Mathematics

Each leads to its own Illinois 9 to 12 endorsement.

PEL at Graduation
Your teaching license, built into the degree

Graduate licensed and ready for the classroom.

80+ Golden Apples
More Golden Apple winners than any Illinois school

NLU-prepared teachers arrive classroom-ready.

$64,580
Median, high school teachers (BLS, May 2024)

About 66,200 openings a year nationwide.

Add Endorsements
Optional ESL or Special Education endorsements

More versatility, more job options, same degree.

Get Started Today

Program at a Glance

How long?
4 Years
Accelerated paths for transfers
How much?
$12,195/yr
First-time freshman tuition
What grades?
Grades 9-12
English or Mathematics endorsement
What salary?
$64,580
Median, high school teachers (BLS, May 2024)

What You'll Learn

  • Teach high school English or Mathematics in Illinois
  • Earn the Illinois PEL with a 9 to 12 endorsement
  • Build genuine subject-matter expertise
  • Teach with culturally responsive, equity-centered methods
  • Optionally add ESL or Special Education endorsements
  • Complete supervised student teaching

Full Course List

Foundations
The history and philosophy of education.
Development
How high school students learn and grow.
Methods
Teaching English or Mathematics in grades 9 to 12.
Literacy
Supporting reading and language across subjects.
Equity
Teaching every student in a diverse classroom.
Special Education
Dignity, rights, and advocacy for all learners.
Subject Minor
Genuine subject-matter depth for your endorsement.
Student Teaching
Supervised practice in a real high school.

Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • A high school diploma or GED
  • Online application at nl.edu with no application fee
  • Official transcripts (all prior institutions for transfers)
  • Full licensure admission at junior standing (90+ quarter hours)
  • Passing the Illinois ISBE content exam for your subject
Request Info
English or Math, Grades 9-12

Two distinct tracks, each leading to its own Illinois high school teaching endorsement.

80+ Golden Apple Winners

NLU produces more Golden Apple Award winners than any school in Illinois, a credibility signal principals know.

Stackable Endorsements

Add ESL or Special Education endorsements within your coursework for more career flexibility.

Where Will Your Degree Take You?

66,200
Annual high school teacher openings nationwide (BLS)
High School English Teacher
High School Math Teacher
ESL or Bilingual Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Department Chair
Instructional Coach

NLU Secondary Education graduates enter Illinois high schools with a full PEL in hand, licensed, subject-matter prepared, and ready for the classroom on day one. The combination of a 30-credit subject minor and field-integrated pedagogy means graduates are not just credentialed, they are ready.

High school teachers earn a median salary of $64,580 (BLS, May 2024), and about 66,200 openings are projected each year nationwide, driven by retirements and transitions. In Illinois, math and English teachers are in consistent demand.

Get Started Now

How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Request Information

    Submit the form above. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions.

  2. Connect With an Advisor

    Your advisor walks you through the English and Math tracks and how to add ESL or Special Education endorsements.

  3. Apply and Start Classes

    Submit your application at nl.edu with no application fee and your transcripts. Next start: September 21, 2026.

Get Started

Take the First Step

No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to map your path to teaching high school.

Take the First Step
  • Illinois PEL at Graduation
  • English or Math Endorsement
  • 80+ Golden Apple Winners
  • About $12,195 a Year

*Salary and openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, High School Teachers (SOC 25-2031), May 2024. Replacement demand drives roughly 66,200 openings a year.

**Tracks, licensure, and curriculum: National Louis University B.A. in Secondary Education and SmartCatalog (nl.edu and nl.smartcatalogiq.com); ISBE-approved teacher preparation. Tuition is the 2025-2026 first-time freshman rate.