Middle Grades Education, M.A.T. (Traditional Program)
The Middle Grades Education, M.A.T., Traditional Program, leads to a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License endorsed for middle grades education (grades 5 to 8) and content-area endorsement in Science, Literacy, Mathematics, and/or Social Science. Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.
The program is conveniently offered in the online modality.
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Articulate the unique needs of young adolescent learners and the contexts that support this student population.
PLO2. Distinguish that middle grades education (MGE) is designed to support the unique developmental needs of young adolescent learners.
PLO3. Demonstrate deep knowledge in chosen content teaching field(s) to create meaningful learning experiences that contribute to each young adolescent’s competence.
PLO4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of how educators identities and beliefs impact young adolescents’ feelings of safety, connectedness, and opportunities to learn.
PLO5. Create and participate in joyful teaching and learning with young adolescent learners.
PLO6. Demonstrate critical and creative thinking when working with young adolescent learners.
PLO7. Implement responsive strategies for use within the diverse range of each young adolescent learner.
PLO8. Integrate knowledge of the philosophical ideologies, historical development, curricular models of middle grades education, and the leaders of the middle grades movement.
PLO9. Exhibit effective listening, oral, written and technological communication skills with young adolescents, family and community.
PLO10. Demonstrate a commitment to being an ethical professional, an educational leader and a life-long learner.
PLO11. Apply culturally relevant practices to ensure success, cultural sustainment, and critical educative practices for all students to maximize success for each young adolescent learner.
PLO12. Commit to being an advocate who supports, listens and responds to each young adolescent, family and community member.
Program Details:
- Requires 36 SH for the degree completion (33 SH for PEL entitlement)
- Candidates cannot be admitted to the program with more than two content coursework deficiencies; these must be completed prior to participation in MGE 505
- Candidates must choose a concentration which corresponds with the endorsement area and provide evidence of taking 15 SH of content coursework or equivalent CLEP/Dantes tests in the following:
- For candidates seeking MG science endorsement: 15 SH of science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas: physical science, life sciences, earth and space sciences) and MGE 510 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG literacy endorsement: 15 SH of literacy content and MGE 512 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG math endorsement: 15 SH of math content and MGE 514 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG social science endorsement: 15 SH of social science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas, in relation to Illinois, the United States and the world: history, geography, civics and government, and economics) and MGE 518 as part of the program concentration
- Requires a minimum score of 220 on the Middle Grades Education Content Area Test prior to MGE 505 Practicum II. The passing of the content test is not required for a degree completion but it's required for teaching license.
- Requires observations
- Requires practicum
- Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 11 weeks full time in the classroom at an assigned school.
Required Courses
MAT Core - 4 SH
| EDU 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy of American Education | 2 |
| LSE 511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | 2 |
Program Requirements - 26 SH
| CIL 505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| MGE 501 | Introduction to Middle Grades Education: Young Adolescents in Context I | 2 TO 3 |
| MGE 503 | Advocacy Practicum: Young Adolescents in Context II | 3 |
| MGE 505 | Teaching and Learning Practicum: Young Adolescents in Context III | 3 |
| MGE 509 | Integrated Curriculum in the Middle Grades | 1 TO 3 |
| MGE 520 | Methods of Teaching Content Area Literacy in the Middle Grades | 2 |
| MGE 590 | Student Teaching: Young Adolescents in Context IV | 6 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: MGE 501 and MGE 509 must be taken for a total of 3 semester hours.
Science Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
Literacy Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 512 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
Math Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
Social Science Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
Middle Grades Education Elective Options - 3 SH
Choose one of the following courses:
| CIL 500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 3 |
| EDU 514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | 3 |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| MGE 512 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
| SPE 501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
Note: Students may select a second content area methods course (MGE 510, MGE 512, MGE 514 or MGE 518) if they meet the additional 21 semester hours General Education requirement.