Advancing Your Teaching Career with Online Endorsements
Published: February 05, 2025
Author: T. Sunderland
WHAT ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION?
Teachers spend their entire careers focused on educating their students. However, when it comes to furthering their own education, there are limits as to when an educator can commit to self-development.
There are tons of advanced education-focused degrees available today. How do you know what to choose?
A typical option for the busy teacher is to pursue advanced education online. That seems to work best between classroom schedules and grading commitments.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ONLINE PROGRAM
One of the most critical benefits for a busy teacher is finding asynchronous coursework. An asynchronous course is a class where students can learn at their own pace and time. In other words, the class doesn’t meet online with the professor at a certain time. So, while you still have deadlines, you can work at your own pace when it is most convenient for you to do so.
HERE'S HOW ASYNCHRONOUS PROGRAMS WORK
- Students access course materials like readings, lectures, videos, and assignments through a learning management system
- Students work through courses at their own pace. They can pause and rewatch lectures, engage when it’s convenient for them, and post when they are done with their workday.
- Students can submit assignments and participate in discussions any time before the deadline. Work ahead if you are going on vacation. Work the weekend if you had an unusually busy week.
- Instructors provide guidance, feedback, and assessments as needed
BENEFITS OF ASYNCHRONOUS COURSES
- Students can balance school, work, and other obligations with the flexibility they need. Many online students are working adults
- Students can develop skills like time management, attention to detail, and problem-solving, all from behind their keyboard.
- Students can access course materials from various locations. That means they can take their course with them on trips, vacation, to the park, and more.
ENDORSEMENTS FOR TEACHERS
A Greenville University, we offer several endorsements for teachers, as well as approvals and coursework toward endorsements that allow you to expand your teaching repertoire and your earning potential.
WHAT IS AN ENDORSEMENT?
An endorsement is a specific discipline - like reading, math, science, or social studies, that qualifies a teacher to teach that subject. Endorsements indicate the educator completed graduate level coursework in the discipline of the endorsement.
It’s important to note that before an endorsement is obtained, teachers must first obtain a license and certification.
Often, educators add an endorsement to an existing license after they have been teaching for a few years.
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN ONLINE ENDORSEMENT PROGRAMS?
When you choose an endorsement program, there are key factors to keep in mind.
The program content
Always consider the content when researching online endorsement programs. Look for programs that provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to enhance your teaching practice and those that help you meet your career goals.
Accreditation
Is the program offering the endorsement accredited by a recognized accrediting agency? Accreditation ensures the program meets certain standards for quality and rigor and that other institutions will recognize the credits you have earned. Do not take endorsement or certificate programs from an institution that is not accredited, no matter how enticing the price.
Time and cost
How long will this program take you to complete, and how much will it cost you in total? Always consider the time and the cost of the overall program, not just one class. Some online endorsement programs may take longer to complete than others. Some will be more affordable than others. Some may offer greater specialization or provide more in-depth training. Compare the programs you are shopping for ultimate value.
Care
Do the professors understand, and can they relate to the life of a teacher? You want people teaching you who have been where you are and can help you get where you are going. You want teachers who can provide real life examples that you can use in your classroom to make you better at your craft.
Career advancement
Most importantly, consider how the program will benefit your career advancement. Endorsement programs may qualify you for a higher salary, a more specialized teaching position, or even a new position.
ENDORSEMENTS FROM GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY
GU’s endorsement programs are designed for working educators who demand flexibility in their online coursework.
Greenville University’s School of Education is accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Our current endorsement programs include:
- NEW! Early Childhood Special Education approval (12 credits + passing content area test)
If you are a teacher with a valid Professional Educator License (PEL) in Early Childhood Education or Special Education, you can now add on an early childhood special education approval to teach early childhood special education for children in pre-K special education settings.
- TESL or Teaching English as a Second Language (18 credits)
TESL is a vital endorsement to add to your teaching license as an Educator within Illinois. Understanding language and students who speak more than one language is critical for effective teaching and learning. Teachers who understand how students learn the English language are better equipped to communicate effectively, manage their classrooms, differentiate instruction, and assess student learning.
Greenville University offers methods courses that lead to Middle Grades endorsements in Language Arts, Social Science, Science, and Mathematics.
Middle-grade endorsements allow an already licensed teacher to add an endorsement to teach in a specific content area in grades 5 through 8. Middle-grade endorsements require a content-specific methods course within the 18-hour coursework requirement and the appropriate content test passage. Greenville University offers the content-specific methods course and strongly recommends those seeking Middle Grade endorsements complete GU EDUC 342 Middle Grades Philosophy/Curriculum/Literacy.
- Driver Education Endorsement (18 credits)
Enhance your teaching skills and increase your income with online courses from Greenville University this summer. GU’s eight weeks of online classes with a new summer start date puts you on the fast track to full Driver Education endorsement in Illinois. GU’s summer offering of online coursework and required face-to-face portion with a Driver Education teacher now satisfies all credits toward the Driver Education Endorsement in the state of Illinois.
- Early Childhood Education Endorsement (18 credits + passing of content area test)
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) endorsement is for candidates who have earned an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and want to be able to teach children from birth to grade 2. The Early Childhood Education endorsement prepares teacher candidates to instruct children ages birth to grade 2, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and experience in the content subject area. Career paths for educators that add this endorsement include infant educators, public school Pre-K teachers, child caregivers, or K-age 8 (grade 2) teachers.
• Elementary Education Endorsement (18 credits +passing of content area test)
The Elementary Education endorsement is for candidates who have earned an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and want to be able to teach from first grade to sixth grade. The Elementary Education endorsement can be added once you hold an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and can be added at any grade level even if the underlying teaching endorsement on the PEL is a different grade range.
• Special Education Endorsement (9 credits +prerequisite exceptional child + passing of content area test)
You can earn a concurrently valid Special Education endorsement if you’re a valid Professional Educator License (PEL) teacher. Enhance your teaching skills and advance your career in the high-demand field of special education. This summer, Greenville University’s GET SET (Summer Endorsements for Teachers) program offers convenient online classes toward endorsement. The curriculum is conveniently online and is taught by passionate faculty.
