Northeastern Illinois University is excited to enroll and engage students in its newly formed Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program (T.L.P.).
Taught by faculty in the Department of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies and in the Goodwin College of Education, these two programs prepare individuals to become high school teachers in the state of Illinois.
In both programs, students enter in cohorts and are expected to choose from one of four content areas:
- English Language Arts
- Social Science (History)
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Earth Science)
Secondary Education Overview
The M.A.T. and T.L.P. programs offer students the opportunity to work collaboratively with students in other disciplines and intensively with students in their own discipline.
Students move through the curriculum in cohorts and are offered a predictable schedule in order to balance other life commitments.
In order to complete either program and attain licensure, students must complete the following components of coursework:
- Professional core foundation courses
- Content-specific curriculum courses
- Student teaching internship and seminar
- M.A.T. research and elective courses (for those who seek the master's degree)
Credit Hours Required
The Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching requires 37 credit hours of coursework and field experience, leading to licensure and a master's degree.
The Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program requires 31 credit hours of coursework and field experience, leading to licensure. This pathway does not lead to master's degree; however, there is a pipeline for those who are interested.
Admission Requirements
In addition to Northeastern's admission requirements through the College of Graduate Studies and Research, students interested in the program must provide the following:
- Bachelor's degree in content area from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 of better
- Personal Statement
- Interview
- Passing score from one of the following tests: the Illinois TAP or ACT plus Writing or SAT with Writing
Visit our Secondary Education, M.A.T. page to learn more about the program.
Benefits and Career Opportunities
Students who attain licensure through the Secondary Education Program can expect:
- Return on investment through an affordable education
- Classes taught by highly qualified faculty in small classroom settings
- Authentic field experience in urban high schools and communities
- Predictable schedules and personalized faculty attention
- Licensure to teach at the high school level in Illinois
- Exposure to other career paths, such as teaching abroad and curriculum development
Contact Us
Please contact Katy Smith, Professor and Program Facilitator, at k-smith1@neiu.edu or fill out the Request for Information form below.
