The Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education program provides students with the graduate level knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful teachers in grades 5-8. Students choose at minimum one disciplinary area to earn their endorsement from social studies, math, science, or literacy (language arts). Subject area endorsements require 21 hours of approved content courses in the discipline. MAT/MLED Candidates complete 200 hours of clinical experience in grades 5-8 and full time student teaching in their endorsement area for 16 weeks. Candidates who complete the MLED program qualify for the Illinois Middle Grade Professional Educator License to teach in their endorsement area.
Program Outcomes:
- Have the knowledge and skills to create dynamic, creative, critical, and developmentally responsive middle grade classrooms for the 21st century.
- Possess the skills and knowledge to design interdisciplinary curriculum based on inquiry, projects, authentic literacy, and standards.
- Work collaboratively with a middle grades team, parents, and the school and local community.
- Have a wide repertoire of teaching strategies for diverse middle grade students.
- Cultivate a safe and caring classroom community for all students.
- Teach culturally diverse and global knowledge.
- Integrate principles of social justice and active citizenship for democracy.
- Understand the theory and practice of teaching critical thinking and critical literacy.
- Integrate technology in their classroom
- Understand and integrate required standards into their classroom curriculum.
- Understand a variety of assessment strategies.
- Have graduate level knowledge and skills required to pursue a terminal degree.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Students entering the graduate program are not expected to have any prior preparation or knowledge in the field. In addition, applicants must provide:
- 2 letters of professional recommendation
- MAT program application and writing sample
- GPA in undergraduate work of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- 21 credits in the endorsement content area (If a student does not have 21 credits in their endorsement area, a Conditional Admission may be given by the program)
Courses in the MAT/MLED program are grouped in themes. This allows students to study ideas in-depth, focus on curricular areas each semester and make powerful connections between courses. Students have two clinical teaching experiences that are spread across the program totaling 200 hours. Each clinical is connected to the courses and theme in the respective semester. In the final semester, students complete full-time Student Teaching for 16 weeks in the middle grade classroom in their endorsement area.
The MAT/MLED program requires 45 hours for graduates with a Literacy endorsement and 48 hours for graduates with an endorsement in Math, Science, or Social Studies. The 3 hour difference is because teachers in the "content areas" (Math, Science, and Social Studies) must also possess pedagogical content knowledge to teach literacy across the curriculum. This means that MAT/MLED students will take all literacy methods courses and then Math, Science and Social Studies candidates will also take the content area methods course, which adds 3 hours to the program.
After students have completed the MLED program sequence, they can choose to earn an ESL or Bilingual endorsement by taking the required courses. Bilingual Endorsement also requires passing the Test of Language Proficiency as required by the State of Illinois Board of Education.
State Teacher Tests and Endorsements
According to Illinois State law, MAT students are required to pass: the Content- Area Test and the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). See your MAT Middle Level Education program advisor for more information regarding edTPA. More information is available at: http://www.il.nesinc.com and https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Licensure.aspx
Program undergoing curricular revisions. Please check with department for more info.
MAT in MLED requirements:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | ||
| BLBC-439 | Cultural Diversity In Our Schools | 3 |
| ELED-501 | Curriculum And Instruction | 1 |
| EDFN-442 | Media Technology For Educators | 3 |
| LTCY-513 | Literacy Instruction For Middle Level Grades | 3 |
| SPED-404 | Survey Of The Field Of Special Education | 3 |
| EDFN-421 | Middle School Advisory & Counseling | 3 |
| ELED-525 | New Literacies For The 21st Century | 3 |
| EDFN-405 | Development Of Educational Thought | 3 |
| ELED-435 | Children's And Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| ELED-504 | Teaching Writing: Purpose, Voice, Craft | 3 |
| BLBC-440 | Methods For Teaching English Learners In Diverse Classrooms | 3 |
| MLED-428 | Clinical Teaching In The Middle Grades | 1 |
| MLED-450 | Interdisciplinary Curriculum Design In Middle School | 3 |
| or EDFN-450 | African Studies Institute (AfSI) | |
| LTCY-502 | Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In Secondary Grades | 3 |
| MLED-428C | Clinical Experience Endorsement Areas In The Middle Grades | 1 |
| MLED-403 | Methods Of Teaching Mathematics In Middle School | 3 |
| or MLED-415 | Teaching Science As Inquiry In Middle School | |
| or MLED-416 | Social Studies As Inquiry In The Middle Grades | |
| MLED-429 | Internship In The Middle Grades | 6 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
For candidates with an endorsement in Math,Science, or Social Studies, MLED 403 or MLED 415 or MLED 416 must be taken.
State Teacher Tests and Endorsements Requirements
According to Illinois State law, MAT students must have a passing score on the Content-Area Test in the content areas they are seeking endorsements prior to student teaching. See your MAT Middle Level Education program advisor for more information regarding these State requirements. More information is available at: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Licensure.aspx
Retention Requirements
- Maintain a GPA OF 3.0 in MLED program sequence
- Two satisfactory professional disposition assessments
- No more than two (2) C's in coursework and a B or better in all clinical experiences
- Passing score on the Illinois Content Area Test in the endorsement area prior to Student Teaching
Exit Requirements for Degree Completion
- Successful completion of all program courses
- Completion of 21 hours of content courses in the endorsement area
- Satisfactory completion of student teaching with a grade of B or better
- Satisfactory presentation of Teacher as a Learner project in ELED 429 Student Teaching in Middle Grades
Exit Requirements for Program Completion/Entitlement
- Successful completion of all exit requirements for degree completion.
Teacher Licensure option (non-degree)
NEIU has been approved to offer a Teacher Licensure Option (TLP) in Middle level education grades 5-8 with endorsements in the following areas:
Language Arts
Mathematics
General Science
Social Science
TLP candidates will complete all of the exit requirements program completion/entitlement.
This sample curricular map is provided to guide you in the planning of your progression for this major. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| EDFN-442 | Media Technology For Educators | 3 |
| ELED-501 | Curriculum And Instruction | 1 |
| BLBC-439 | Cultural Diversity In Our Schools | 3 |
| Term Hours | 7 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| EDFN-421 | Middle School Advisory Counseling | 3 |
| LTCY-513 | Literacy Instruction For Middle Level Grades | 3 |
| SPED-404 | Survey Of The Field Of Special Education | 3 |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| ELED-525 | New Literacies For The 21st Century | 3 |
| EDFN-405 | Development Of Educational Thought | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| ELED-435 | Children's And Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| ELED-504 | Teaching Writing: Purpose, Voice, Craft | 3 |
| BLBC-440 | Methods For Teaching English Learners In Diverse Classrooms | 3 |
| MLED-428 | Clinical Teaching In The Middle Grades | 1 |
| Term Hours | 10 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| MLED-450 | Interdisciplinary Curriculum Design In Middle School | 3 |
| LTCY-502 | Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In Secondary Grades | 3 |
| MLED-428C | Clinical Experience Endorsement Areas In The Middle Grades | 1 |
| CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONTENT AREA COURSES | 3 | |
| MLED-403 Teaching Mathematics in Middle Grades | ||
| MLED-415 Teaching Science as Inquiry in Middle Grades | ||
| MLED-416 Social Studies as Inquiry in Middle Grades | ||
| Term Hours | 10 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| MLED-429 | Internship In The Middle Grades | 6 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours: | 48 | |