Secondary Education and K-12 Suggested Academic Plan
Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
134 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Science degree. The Biology Education major is a licensure program that prepares students to teach biology in high school. Requirements include coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four-year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
Semester 1 |
Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
BIOL 111: General Biology I |
5 |
| GE U.S. History | 3 |
Semester 2 |
Credit Hours |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
BIOL 112: General Biology II |
5 |
MATH 201: Calculus with Analytic Geometry |
4 |
| PSYCH 101: Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Semester 3 |
Credit Hours |
CHEM 111: General Chemistry I |
5 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescence Psychology | 3 |
BIOL 240: Development Biology |
4 |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
Semester 4 |
Credit Hours |
CHEM 112: General Chemistry II |
5 |
BIOL 312: Plant Diversity and Adaptation |
4 |
| GE Fine Arts | 3 |
| GE Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| POLSC 101: Intro to U.S. Government | 3 |
Semester 5 |
Credit Hours |
BIO 318: Ecology |
4 |
BIOL Elective |
4 |
PHYS 201: General Physics |
4 |
| EDU 323: Survey of Except Student | 3 |
| GE Global Studies | 3 |
Semester 6 |
Credit Hours |
BIOL 300: Genetics |
4 |
CHEM 209: Survey of Organic Chemistry |
4 |
| GE Diversity Studies | 3 |
| EDU 370: Principles and Practices of the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDU 377: Historical and Social Trends in American Education | 3 |
Semester 7 |
Credit Hours |
BIOL 306: Microbiology |
4 |
BIOL Elective |
4 |
BIOL Elective |
4 |
| EDU 397: Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| EDU 372: Methods of Teaching Biology in the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
Semester 8 |
Credit Hours |
| EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 349: Directed Teaching | 9 |
120 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Arts degree. The Secondary Education track in the English major prepares students to teach English Language Arts in high school. The major consists of a variety of English courses in literature, linguistics, and writing. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| GE MATH | 3 |
| U.S. History | 3 |
| POLSC 101: Intro to US Government | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| ENGL 208: Study of Rhetoric | 3 |
| PSYCH 101: Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| Humanities not English (Diversity) | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 207: Study of Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 220: Advanced Writing | 3 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescent Development | 3 |
| GE Biological Science with lab* | 3 |
| Humanities not in English (Global Literature) | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 200 Level Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 200 Level Elective | 3 |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 377: Historical and Social Trends in American Education | 3 |
| GE Physical Science with lab* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 356: Teaching Writing and Language in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 241: Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL 300 Level Elective | 3 |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 323: Survey of Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 300 Level Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 371: Methods of Teaching Art in the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 340: Critical Theory | 3 |
| ENGL 344: Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| EDU 370: Principles and Practices of the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 373: Methods of Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 300 Level Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 395: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 349: Directed Teaching | 9 |
| EDU 345: Seminar In Teaching and Learning | 3 |
*One of the natural science courses must have a lab component.
125 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Science degree. The Mathematics Secondary Education major is a licensure program that prepares students to teach mathematics in high school. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| MATH 200: Discrete Math | 3 |
| MATH 201: Calculus I | 4 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| GE Fine Arts and Literature (Diversity) | 3 |
| PSYCH 101: Principles of Psychology | 3 |
| MATH 202: Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 211: Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| MATH 203: Calculus III | 4 |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescent Development | 3 |
| GE Biological Science with lab* | 4 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| MATH 301: Advanced Calculus | 4 |
| Application Area Course I | 3 |
| GE Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| GE Physical Science with lab* | 3 |
| EDU 377: Historical and Social Trends in American Education | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| MATH 305: Probability and Statistics I | 3 |
| MATH 307: Modern Geometry | 3 |
| MATH 300 Level Elective | 3 |
| EDU 323: Survey of Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDU 397: Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| MATH 306: Probability and Statistics II | 3 |
| MATH 308: History of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 300 Level Elective | 3 |
| Application Area Course II | 3 |
| POLSC 101: Intro to U.S. Government | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 370: Principles and Practices of the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| MATH 309: Abstract Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 375: Methods Teach. Math | 3 |
| MATH 399: Senior Seminar | 1 |
| GE History (U.S. History) | 3 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 349: Student Teaching | 9 |
Mathematics Minor
Students must complete 18 credit hours in mathematics. A grade of C or better is required. Consult the academic catalog for course options.
124 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Arts degree. The Social Science Education major is a licensure program that prepares students to teach history and other social sciences in high school. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| GE MATH | 3 |
| HIST 101: World History to 1500 | 3 |
| POLSC 101: Intro to U.S. Government | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| HIST 102: World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| SOC 101: Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| POLSC 102: World Politics | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| HIST 103: U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST Elective | 3 |
| PSYCH 101: Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| SOCSC 204: Economics for Social Sciences | 3 |
| GE Biological Science with lab | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| HIST 200: Introduction to the Discipline of History | 3 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescent Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 323: Survey of Except Student | 3 |
| HIST 104: U.S. History Since 1877 | 3 |
| GE Physical Science with lab | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 397: Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| SOCSC Elective courses | 3 |
| HIST 230: Illinois History | 3 |
| HIST 300 Elective | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 370: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| EDU 377: Historical and Social Trends in American Education | 3 |
| Humanities elective not in History | 3 |
| SOCSC 101: World Geography | 3 |
| SOCSC Elective courses | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 378: Methods of Teaching Social Science | 3 |
| SOCSC Elective courses | 3 |
| HIST 395: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| GE Global (Humanities elective, not in History) | 3 |
| GE Arts/Humanities | 3 |
| GE Fine Arts or Literature (Diversity) | 3 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 349: Directed Teaching | 9 |
*One of the natural science courses must have a lab component.
Social Science electives are chosen from economics, sociology, anthropology, or political science. Limit 6 hours in one area
121 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Arts degree. The Secondary Education track in the Art major prepares students to teach art in high school. The major consists of a variety of art and design courses including drawing, design, graphics, photography, and art history. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| ART 124: Portfolio Seminar (Studio Elective) | 3 |
| ART 101: Drawing I | 3 |
| GE MATH | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| Art and Design elective | 3 |
| Art History: 100 level | 3 |
| PSYCH 101: Principles and Methods of Psychology | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| ART 222: Art of the Renaissance | 3 |
| ART 102: 2D Design | 3 |
| Art and Design elective | 3 |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescent Development | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| ART 201: Drawing II | 3 |
| Art and Design elective | 3 |
| EDU 377: History and Social Trends in American Education | 3 |
| Humanities course not in ART (Diversity) | 3 |
| GE Biological Science with lab* | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| ART 202: 3D Design | 3 |
| Art and Design elective | 3 |
| GE Physical Science with lab* | 3 |
| EDU 323: Survey Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDU 397: Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| ART 223: Modern and Contemporary Art | 3 |
| Art and Design elective | 3 |
| ART 305: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| EDU 370: Principle and Practices of the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| GE U.S. History | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| ART 306: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| EDU 371: Methods of Teaching Art | 3 |
| POLSC 101: U.S. Government | 3 |
| Humanities course not in ART | 3 |
| GE Global Studies | 3 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 349: Directed Teaching | 9 |
*One of the natural science courses must have a lab component.
120 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Music degree. Students select a Bachelor of Music program in performance with an emphasis in voice, piano, band/orchestral instruments, or an instrumentalist/jazz emphasis. A sample Instrumental Jazz plan is below. Detailed program information and course options can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| MUS 101: Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 151: Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUS 161: Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| Applied Music Course | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| MUS 102: Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 152: Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 162: Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 124: Writing and Speaking about Music | 3 |
| Applied Music Course | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| MUS 201: Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 251: Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUS 261: Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| Applied Music Course | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 330: Music History I | 3 |
| GE Biological Science | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| MUS 202: Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 252: Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUS 262: Keyboard Skills IV | 1 |
| Applied Music Course | 2 |
| MUS 234: University Band or MUS 230: Southwest Symphony Orchestra |
1 |
| MUS 331: Music History II | 3 |
| GE Physical Science | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| Applied Music/Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 314: Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 217: Non-Western Music | 3 |
| MUS 239: Jazz Combo | 1 |
| GE Social Science | 3 |
| GE Philosophy | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| Applied Music/Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 234: University Band or MUS 230: Southwest Symphony Orchestra |
1 |
| MUS 308: Jazz Theory/Arranging | 3 |
| MUSAP 271: Junior Recital | 1 |
| MUS 239: Jazz Combo | 1 |
| GE Social Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| MUS 301: Form and Analysis | 2 |
| Applied Music/Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 319: Music Literature-Piano or MUS 321: Music Literature-Instrumental |
3 |
| MUS 309: Jazz Improvisation | 2 |
| MUS 239: Jazz Combo | 1 |
| GE Religious Studies | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| MUS 138: History of Jazz | 3 |
| Applied Music/Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 240: Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 239: Jazz Combo | 1 |
| MUSAP 371: Senior Recital | 1 |
| MUS 312: Vocal Pedagogy or MUS 313: Applied Pedagogy-Instrumental |
3 |
| Elective | 3 |
120 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Arts degree. The K-12 Education track in the Spanish major prepares students to teach Spanish in high school. The major consists of a variety of Spanish courses in language, literature, history, and culture. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning on the mySXU portal to schedule courses and track degree progress.
Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)
Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours |
| TS 100: Transitions | 1 |
| PHIL 140: The Examined Life | 3 |
| ENGL 120: Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| GE MATH | 3 |
| SPAN 200: Advanced Grammar and Composition | 3 |
| PSYCH 101: Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| FYS 175: First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 101: Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| SPAN 211: Spanish for Speakers of Spanish | 3 |
| Spanish approved elective | 3 |
| GE Biological Science with lab* | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| SPAN 210: Advanced Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| SPAN 220: Interpretation of Texts | 3 |
| GE Physical Science with lab* | 3 |
| GE Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| GE US History | 3 |
| EDU 200: Profession of Teaching | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Credit Hours |
| Spanish approved elective | 3 |
| POLSC 101: Intro to U.S. Government | 3 |
| Humanities elective (not in Spanish) | 3 |
| PSYCH 201: Adolescent Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 323: Survey of Except Student | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credit Hours |
| Spanish approved elective | 3 |
| Spanish approved elective 300 level | 3 |
| GE Fine Arts or Literature | 3 |
| EDU 202: Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 397: Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credit Hours |
| General elective | 3 |
| Spanish approved elective 300 level | 3 |
| EDU 370: Principles and Practices of the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDU 377: Historical and Social Trends in Education | 3 |
| Humanities elective (not in Spanish) | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credit Hours |
| SPAN 395: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Spanish approved elective 300 level | 3 |
| Spanish approved elective 300 level | 3 |
| GE Diversity Studies | 3 |
| EDU 378: Methods of Teaching Foreign Language | 3 |
| Semester 8 | Credit Hours |
| EDU 345: Seminar in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 349: Directed Teaching | 9 |
*One of the natural science courses must have a lab component.