Secondary Education, M.A.T., Mathematics Concentration (Alternative Certification)
This route to the M.A.T. and teacher certification is for candidates accepted into one of NLU’s alternative certification partner programs. Candidates in these programs teach in Chicago Public Schools while completing their certification coursework.
Students working for this certification hold a one-year PROVISIONAL certificate during the first year. After completing certified courses and a year-long internship, they receive an ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATE.
Teachers may apply for an INITIAL CERTIFICATE (the standard Type 09) after four years of teaching.
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP)
- Have a grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework
- Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in Mathematics coursework
- Have 32 semester hours of coursework in mathematics (12 semester hours of upper division courses)
- Pass the Content Test in Mathematics
- Note: The written statement and references are waived
In addition, candidates must fulfill all of the areas listed below:
- CALCULUS (6 SH)—These courses should cover the topics of limits, continuity, differentiation and applications of integration and possibly some topics from analytic geometry. The use of calculus in solving real life problems with technology should be emphasized. The courses meeting this requirement should be sequential in nature.
- FOUNDATIONS OF GEOMETRY (or COLLEGE GEOMETRY) (3 SH)—This focuses on major concepts of Euclidean geometry, with introduction of non-Euclidean geometry, including the study of axiom and postulate-based deductive systems and the development of mathematical conjectures and proofs. The construction and representation of two and three-dimensional shapes is included as perspective drawings, or physical models, and as virtual representations, using dynamic geometry applications.
- GEOMETRY (3 SH)—Courses such as projective, affine and topology fit here. Three semester hours of an analytic geometry that was integrated in a calculus sequence may be placed here. These three semester hours of geometry must be upper (300/400/graduate) level.
- NUMBER THEORY (3 SH)—Courses should contain number theory, comparisons of numbers and number systems, and representation/application of complex numbers. Courses with titles such as group theory, ring theory and field theory will also fit in this area.
- MODERN/ABSTRACT ALGEBRA (3 SH)—Courses within this area should contain the development of the real number system and its subsystems and the analysis and explanation of procedures used for operations involving integers, rational, real and complex numbers. The use of technology to demonstrate and apply the properties of real numbers and their use in solving real life problems should also be included in this course.
- LINEAR ALGEBRA (3 SH)— The content of the course should include matrices and their operations, solutions of systems and equations, vector spaces, linear transformation, eigen values and eigenvectors with a focus on the use of linear algebra in solving real life problems. A course in matrix algebra or matrix theory will fit in this area.
- DISCRETE MATHEMATICS (3 SH)— Coursework within this area will involve the elements of graph theory, recurrence relations, finite difference approaches, linear programming and combinatorics. Coursework can also contain discrete structures and the application of algorithms. Courses with titles such as finite math, logic, data structures and discrete structures would also fit in this area.
- PROBABILITY & STATISTICS (3 SH)—Coursework in this area should contain the treatment of topics as mutually exclusive events, independent ad dependent events, conditional probability, combinatorics, random variables, sampling methods, confidence intervals, inferential statistics, distributions and correlation. Estimating probabilities and data representation using graphing calculators or statistical software should also be covered in this course. A statistics course in other areas (business, economics, etc.) may be placed here.
- HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS (3 SH)—This course provides a study of the historical development of the central concepts of mathematics from early times to the present. Students analyze the accomplishments of significant mathematicians within historical, cultural, and scientific contexts, including contributions from diverse cultures.
- MATH ELECTIVES (2 SH)—Any college-level math courses, if needed to reach 32 SH
This degree requires:
- 35 SH
- An internship
- That candidates choose 6 SH of electives from one of the following areas: Reading, ESL, Middle Level or Special Education (see tables below)
MAT Core - 8 SH
| FND504 | History and Philosophy of American Education | |
| ESR514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | |
| EPS511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | |
Secondary Education – Alternative Certification in Mathematics Requirements - 21 SH
| SEC502 | Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level | |
| SEC525 | American Urban Education | |
| SPE500 | Introduction to Exceptional Children and Adolescents/Special Education | |
| SEC514 | TeachingMath in the Secondary Level | |
| SEC592C | Secondary Education Alternative Certification: Internship for Mathematics | |
Secondary Education – Reading Electives - 6 SH
Choose 6 SH from the following:
| RLR502 | Teaching Comprehension and Content Reading | |
| or | |
| RLR503 | Teaching Content Area and Advanced Reading | |
| and | |
| RLL522 | Adolescent Literature | |
| or | |
| RLL528 | Survey of Multicultural Literature K-12 | |
Note: If needed to equal 6 SH, a Reading Elective can be chosen under advisement
Secondary Education – ESL Electives - 6 SH
| CIL500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | |
| CIL505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | |
Secondary Education – Middle Level Electives - 6 SH
| MLE500 | Middle School: An Overview | |
| MLE502 | Middle Level Curriculum | |
Secondary Education – Special Education Electives - 6 SH
Choose two courses from:
| SPE501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adolescents | |
| SPE506 | Frameworks and Perspectives in Special Education | |
| SPE507 | Social/Emotional Development and Teaching and Support | |
| SPE527 | Individualized Curriculum and Instruction | |
The following courses are required for certification.
Candidates may become certified prior to completion of the M.A.T. degree, and have six years from the beginning of coursework to complete the degree. Candidates are strongly advised to complete the degree.
| FND504 | History and Philosophy of American Education | |
| EPS511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | |
| SPE500 | Introduction to Exceptional Children and Adolescents/Special Education | |
| SPE502 | Language Development and Challenges in Children and Adolescents | |
| SEC514 | TeachingMath in the Secondary Level | |
| SEC592C | Secondary Education Alternative Certification: Internship for Mathematics | |