Section 27.250  Psychology

By October 1, 2024, all candidates for an endorsement in Social Science-Psychology will be required to complete a program aligned to the NCSS National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers (2017), published by the National Council for the Social Studies, 8555 Sixteenth Street, Silver Spring MD 20910, and available at https://www.socialstudies.org/standards/teacherstandards. (No later amendments to or editions of these guidelines are incorporated.)  The standards effective until September 30, 2024 are as follows:

a)         In addition to the standards for all social science teachers that are set forth in Section 27.200, those who specialize in the teaching of psychology shall be required to meet the standards described in this Section.

b)         The competent psychology teacher understands the various concepts related to human development.

1)         Knowledge Indicator – The competent psychology teacher understands commonly accepted theories related to cognitive, emotional, and social development.

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent psychology teacher:

A)        analyzes the interrelationship among theories of development (e.g., cognitive, emotional, and social).

B)        explains and applies theories of cognitive, emotional, and social development.

c)         The competent psychology teacher understands and applies ideas associated with mental and emotional health.

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent psychology teacher:

A)        understands factors that contribute to and damage one's mental health.

B)        understands various treatments of disorders.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher analyzes issues related to mental health and behavioral disorders in contemporary society.

d)         The competent psychology teacher understands personality theory from a variety of perspectives.

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent psychology teacher:

A)        understands factors associated with the construction, revision, and development of a self-concept and identity.

B)        understands how families, groups, peers, and communities contribute to the development of self and identity.

C)        understands the role of perception, attitude, values, and beliefs in the development of self and identity.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher analyzes the impact of forces on the development of self and identity (e.g., family, peer group, values, beliefs).

e)         The competent psychology teacher understands the relationship between physiology and human behavior.

1)         Knowledge Indicator – The competent psychology teacher understands the relationship between physiology, thinking, memory, perception, personality, development, and behavior.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher analyzes issues related to how nature and nurture contribute to personality and behavior.

f)         The competent psychology teacher understands theories and concepts related to explaining individual differences.

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent psychology teacher:

A)        understands how individual differences are influenced by different stages of life and through personal and environmental situations.

B)        understands factors associated with personality and individual differences.

C)        understands factors associated with human adjustment and coping behaviors in various situations.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher analyzes individual differences based on psychological theories and concepts.

g)         The competent psychology teacher understands various methods of classifying, assessing, and interpreting personality.

1)         Knowledge Indicator – The competent psychology teacher understands the various tools used to describe, classify, assess, and interpret personality.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher explains various tools used to describe, classify, assess, and interpret personality.

h)         The competent psychology teacher understands the relationships between the individual and the group.

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent psychology teacher:

A)        understands how situations, places, time, events, and social/cultural environments influence individual behavior.

B)        understands how individual behavior influences situations, places, time, events, and social/cultural environments.

2)         Performance Indicator – The competent psychology teacher creates situations illustrating the relationships between the individual and the group.

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 8630, effective May 12, 2020)