The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Teacher Licensure Programs (TLP) in Secondary Education have been designed for students who wish to obtain initial teacher licensure as part of a Master’s Degree, or licensure only. Candidates will enter the program as part of a cohort (in one of four areas: Language Arts, Social Science (History), Mathematics, or Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Earth Science), and have the opportunity to both work collaboratively with candidates in other disciplines and intensively with those in their own discipline. Candidates will be eligible to apply for licensure following their third semester of full-time coursework, and have the option of completing their MAT as either full- or part-time students. Candidates who opt for the TLP will finish with licensure, but no degree.
The 31-credit TLP and 37-credit MAT program have three components of coursework:
- A professional core in the area of educational foundations, curriculum and instruction, adolescent development, literacy, educational technology and research (15 credit hours, including 20 hours of community-based experiences).
- A content-specific curriculum and pedagogy sequence (7 credit hours, including 80 hours of clinical experiences).
- Student teaching plus seminar (9 credit hours, including a 16 week, full-time student teaching internship and a reflective seminar. Per Illinois State Board of Education Policy, candidates will also complete and submit their edTPA performance assessment during their student teaching semester).
MAT students also complete research and elective courses, including options such as teaching English as a Second Language, Educational Foundations, Multicultural Education, Special Education, Middle Level education, and graduate-level content areas courses (6 credit hours, including one elective and one MAT research course).
MAT and TLP candidates will be eligible for their initial Professional Educators License (PEL) and endorsement after successfully completing their student teaching internship and state licensure requirements. MAT candidates will earn their degree after completing all 37 graduate credits. Some candidates may be eligible for course waivers or additional endorsements based upon their prior content-area, undergraduate, or elective coursework; program advisors will work with candidates to determine whether they qualify for any of these options.
The Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education and Teacher Licensure Programs provide a direct pathway to high school teaching. Both NEIU students and those who have earned a Bachelor's degree from another accredited institution can pursue their teaching goals here.
ACCELERATED PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT NEIU
NEIU offers an Accelerated Concentration Program in Secondary Education for undergraduate students. In the middle of their junior year, after 72 credit hours are earned from their undergraduate studies, students may apply for an Accelerated Concentration Program in Secondary Education. Once admitted to this program, undergraduate students can complete up to 12 credits in coursework that can be applied to both their undergraduate degree and their Master of Arts in Teaching or Teacher Licensure Program.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university as documented by submission of official transcripts, with undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4-point scale
- Undergraduate major in subject area of desired endorsement OR equivalent coursework to meet ISBE requirements for desired endorsement area. (Candidates who require no more than 2 additional content-area courses may be conditionally admitted but must fulfill their content-area requirements prior to student teaching)
- Admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR)
- 1-2 page statement detailing reasons for applying to the program in their desired content area
- 15-30 minute personal interview
Retention Requirements
- Program GPA of 3.0, with no more than 6 credits of “C” grades, and no grades lower than “C”
- Successful completion of content deficiencies
- Grade of “B” or “A” for pre-student teaching clinical experience, prior to student teaching
- Satisfactory progress toward program completion, as defined by the College of Graduate Studies and Research
- Satisfactory progress on MAT Program Portfolio (MAT only)
- Satisfactory review from faculty disposition assessments
- Passing score on Illinois State Content Exam prior to student teaching
- Passing score on Illinois Basic Skills requirement at the start of the semester before student teaching (i.e., the first week of September for Spring Student Teaching and the first week of January classes for Fall Student Teaching)
Program Completion/Licensure Requirements (TLP and MAT)
- Successful completion of all coursework with GPA of 3.0 or better
- Grade of “B” or “A” for student teaching internship
- Passing score on Illinois state-required teacher performance exam, e.g., edTPA
MAT Only Completion Requirements
- Successful completion of MAT Program Portfolio
- Successful completion of SCED 421: Action Research in Schools and one graduate elective course
- Satisfactory final review from faculty disposition assessment
Criminal Background Check
Candidates are required to complete a criminal background check prior to school placement for clinicals and student teaching. More information can be obtained from the CEST Office.
Changes in Licensure Requirements
The Illinois State Board of Education makes changes to licensure requirements from time to time, and the Program will be required to reflect such changes. As of the printing of this catalog, teacher preparation program candidates are required to pass their appropriate State of Illinois Content Area Test to be licensed. In addition, per the Illinois School Code, the edTPA has been paused as a licensure requirement until September 2025. The program will provide information on testing.
High school teachers in Illinois must have both significant content area coursework and education pedagogy preparation. The MAT and TLP course sequences provide the education background needed to earn entitlement for licensure in English, history, mathematics, or science (biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics). Additional endorsements can be added in other disciplines or in middle school education.
Requirements for the degree
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a 37-credit hour program, and the Teacher Licensure Program (TLP) is a 31-credit hour program based on the courses listed below.
Required for Both MAT and TLP (31 hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
EDFN-409 | Individual Differences And Educational Practice | 3 |
EDFN-415 | Educational Thought And Secondary Schooling | 3 |
EDFN-452 | Technology In Content Area Teaching | 1.5 |
LTCY-502 | Literacy Instruction In Content Areas In Secondary Grades | 3 |
One of the following disciplinary methods courses: | 3 | |
Methods Of Teaching English Language Arts In Secondary Schools | ||
Methods Of Teaching History And Social Sciences In Secondary Schools | ||
Methods Of Teaching Mathematics In Secondary Schools | ||
Methods Of Teaching Science In Secondary Schools | ||
One of the following disciplinary advanced methods courses: | 3 | |
New Directions In Teaching English Language Arts In Secondary Schools | ||
New Directions In Teaching History In The Secondary Schools | ||
New Directions In Teaching Mathematics In Secondary Schools | ||
New Directions In Teaching Science In Secondary Schools | ||
One of the following clinical courses: | 1 | |
Clinical Experience In Secondary Schools: English Language Arts | ||
Clinical Experiences In Secondary Schools: History | ||
Clinical Experience In Secondary Schools: Mathematics | ||
Clinical Experiences In Secondary Schools: Science | ||
SCED-415 | Introduction To Secondary School Curriculum | 3 |
SCED-429 | Student Teaching In Secondary Schools | 6 |
SCED-430 | Student Teaching Seminar: Reflection And Assessment Of Student Learning | 3 |
SPED-417 | Inclusive Teaching Strategies For Secondary Teachers | 1.5 |
Total Hours | 31 |
Additional Requirements for MAT only (6 hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
SCED-421 | Research In Teaching In Middle And Secondary Schools 1 | 3 |
One Elective (ex. SCED, SPED, EDFN, LTCY, TESOL, or Academic Discipline | 3 | |
Total Hours | 6 |
1 | SCED 421 will address research at the 9-12 level only, as the State of Illinois has eliminated 6-12 Secondary Education licensure in favor of separate licensure for 9-12 and 6-8. |
This sample plan of study is provided to guide you in your planning and represents a full-time course load. Each block of courses can, however, be split for students who wish to attend part-time. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of possible elective courses or additional major concentration courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Term 1 | Hours | |
EDFN-415 | Educational Thought And Secondary Schooling | 3 |
SCED-415 | Introduction To Secondary School Curriculum | 3 |
LTCY-502 | Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In Secondary Grades | 3 |
Choose one of the following discipline-specific methods courses: SCED-402E, SCED-402H, SCED-402M, or SCED-402-S | 3 | |
Term Hours | 12 | |
Term 2 | ||
EDFN-409 | Individual Differences And Educational Practice | 3 |
SPED-417 | Inclusive Teaching Strategies For Secondary Teachers | 1.5 |
EDFN-452 | Technology In Content Area Teaching | 1.5 |
Choose one of the following discipline-specific advanced methods courses: SCED-403E, SCED-403H, SCED-403M, or SCED-403-S | 3 | |
Choose one of the following discipline-specific clinical courses: SCED-404E, SCED-404H, SCED-404M, or SCED-404-S | 1 | |
Term Hours | 10 | |
Second Year | ||
Term 1 | ||
SCED-429 | Student Teaching In Secondary Schools | 6 |
SCED-430 | Student Teaching Seminar: Reflection And Assessment Of Student Learning | 3 |
Term Hours | 9 | |
Total Hours: | 31 |
Upon completing the plan of study above, MAT and TLP candidates will be eligible to apply for teacher licensure through the State of Illinois.
MAT candidates must complete the additional credits below to receive their degree. The elective may be taken at any point in the program; the research course (SCED 421) may be taken concurrently with or after successful completion of the advanced methods course (SCED 403) and clinical experience (SCED 404).
Second Year | ||
---|---|---|
Term 2 | Hours | |
SCED-421 | Research In Teaching In Middle And Secondary Schools | 3 |
One Elective (ex. SCED, SPED, EDFN, LTCY, TESOL, or Academic Discipline | 3 | |
Term Hours | 6 | |
Total Hours: | 6 |