Language Arts

Degrees Offered Master of Arts in Teaching: Language Arts Master of Science in Instruction: Language Arts

Master of Arts in Teaching: Language Arts Program

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching: Language Arts program is designed for returning students who wish to obtain initial teacher certification at the secondary or elementary level along with a master's degree in the area of Language Arts and English instruction.

This program has three components of coursework:

1. Professional Core of 18 credit hours in the areas of multicultural education, assessment, media technology, literacy theory and pedagogy, general curriculum development, and research.

2. Concentration of 18 credit hours in Language Arts with courses in curriculum and instruction, Reading, Linguistics and English.

3. Certification coursework composed of additional pedagogical study and field experiences, including 100 clock hours of clinical experience and a student teaching internship, totaling 9 credit hours.

Students must also have completed general education requirements as specified by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Admission Requirements

Students must fulfill the requirements for admission to the Graduate College.

In addition, students who wish to enroll in the program must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Undergraduate bachelor's degree from accredited university or college

2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale)

3. Undergraduate coursework in English, Speech-Drama or Linguistics: for the elementary sequence, 18 credit hours are required; for the secondary sequence, a major of English with a minimum of 32 credit hours is required.

4. Six credit hours in the history and philosophy of education and educational psychology (learning and development). (e.g. EDFN 405 and EDFN 406)

5. Graduate Record Exam Score

6. Passing Score on Illinois State Board of Education Basic Skills Examination.

Degree Requirements

Program students must see their advisor to obtain a copy of the course sequence and the program retention criteria.

Elementary Sequence: 51 credit hours

1. Professional Core ................................................... 18 cr.
ELAD-EDFN 416 Cultural Pluralism and the Schools .................... 3 cr.
TED-ELED 414 Principles of Curriculum Development .................. 3 cr.
TED-ELED 430 Trends and Issues in Assessment ................................ 3 cr.
TED-INMD 410 Media Technology for Educators ........................... 3 cr.
READ 402 Issues in Reading Instruction ................. 3 cr.
TED-ELED 406 Research Skills for the Classroom Teacher ........................ 3 cr.
2. Concentration in Language Arts ....................... 18 cr.
TED-ELED 418 Theoretical Implications for the Elementary Classroom ............... 3 cr.
TED-ELED 419 Current Issues in Elementary Language Arts Instruction ............. 3 cr.
LING 401 Fundamentals of Modern Linguistics
OR
LING 414 Theories of Teaching English as a Second Language .............. 3 cr.
TED-READ 425 Literature-based Reading Programs for the Elementary Classroom ....... 3 cr.
OR
TED-ELED 435 Literature for Intermediate and Middle School Students ... 3 cr.
TED-READ 414 Reading and Writing Processes .... 3 cr.
TED-ELED 417 Multicultural Literature and Drama in the Elementary Classroom ................... 3 cr.
3. Certification Component. .................................... 15 cr.
SPED 404 Survey of the Field of Special Education .................. 3 cr.
TED-ELED 415 Interrelating Science and Math with Clinical Experience ............. 3 cr.
(Apply to CLS 4023 six months in advance)
TED-ELED 416 Strategies of Teaching Social Studies and Language Arts with Clinical Experience 3 cr.
TED-ELED 429 Internship in Elementary Education. ................... 6 cr.
(Apply to CLS 4023 one year in advance)
4. Oral Examination
A final oral exam scheduled in the final term of the completion of all coursework
5. Two research papers
One is required in ELED 406.

Note: For descriptions of the coursework and prerequisites, please see pertinent sections of this catalog.

Advisors