Secondary Education, M.A.T., Physical Sciences 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
Choose a designation from one of the following: Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science or Physics
Have Grade point average of 3.0 or better in designation course work
Have 32 semester hours of coursework in Science (12 semester hours of upper division)
Have a major from a regionally-accredited institution (or minimum 24 SH) in a single designation (10 SH of laboratory coursework for students who don’t have major in the designation)
Have at least one course in Biology and each of the other designation areas
Have 6 SH in Math—must be above College Algebra. Courses that will count include Trigonometry, Differential Equations, Advanced Algebra, Statistics and other upper level Math courses.
Pass the Content Test in designation
Note: The written statement and references are waived

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 Physical Science Requirements - 21 SH

SEC502	Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level
SEC525	American Urban Education
SPE500	Introduction to Exceptional Children and Adolescents/Special Education
SEC516	Teaching Physical Science in the Secondary Level
SEC592D	Secondary Education Alternative Certification: Internship for Physical Sciences

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
SEC516	Teaching Physical Science in the Secondary Level
SEC592D	Secondary Education Alternative Certification: Internship for Physical Sciences