Secondary Education, M.A.T., Biological Science Concentration (Traditional Program)

This program is for those with a baccalaureate degree and undergraduate coursework in Biology who seek Illinois secondary education licensure. Graduates will be eligible for a Professional Educator License endorsed for secondary education/Biology (grades 9 to 12). Visit Licensure and Endorsement at NLU for more details.

In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:

• Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative
• Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in Biology coursework
• Have 12 semester hours of upper division courses in Biology completed with a grade of "B" or better
• Pass the Content test in Biology

In addition, the Biological Science endorsement requires:

• A major in Biology from a regionally accredited institution or a minimum of 24 SH of coursework in Biology with 10 SH of laboratory courses and at least one course in each of the areas listed below:
  • One course in Chemistry
  • One course in Earth Science/Space Science
  • One course in Environmental Science
  • One course in Physics
  • 6 SH in Math—must be above College Algebra

Program Details:

• Requires 33 SH for completion
• Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.

Required Courses

MAT Core - 2 SH

EPS 511

Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts

2 OR 3

Note: EPS 511 must be taken for 2 semester hours.

Secondary Education – Biological Science Requirements - 25 SH

CIL 505	Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language	3
RLR 540	Teaching Content Area Literacy at the Middle and Secondary Level	3
SEC 502	Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level	5
SEC 510	Methods of Teaching Biology at the Secondary Level	5
SEC 590A	Student Teaching Secondary School Biological Science	6
SPE 500	Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities	3

Note: SEC 510 must be taken for 5 semester hours.

Secondary Education Elective Options - 6 SH

Choose one pair of the courses below:

CIL 500	Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education	3
	and
CIL 510	Assessment of ESL and Bilingual Education Students	3
	or
MGE 501	Introduction to Middle Grades Education: Young Adolescents in Context I	2 TO 3
	and
MGE 509	Integrated Curriculum in the Middle Grades	1 TO 3
	or
MHE 509	Topics in Calculus and Discrete Mathematics	3
	and
MHE 512	Topics and Applications of Statistics and Probability	3
	or
RLW 541	Teaching Writing	2 TO 3
	and
RLL 520	Survey of Youth Literature, PreK-12	3
	or
RLR 502	Teaching Comprehension and Content Area Reading	3
	or
SPE 501	Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adolescents	3
	and
SPE 506	Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education	3

Note: If selected, MGE 501, MGE 509 and RLW 541 must be taken for 3 semester hours.

The following courses are required for licensure:

CIL 505	Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language	3
EPS 511	Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts	2 OR 3
RLR 540	Teaching Content Area Literacy at the Middle and Secondary Level	3
SEC 502	Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level	5
SEC 510	Methods of Teaching Biology at the Secondary Level	5
SEC 590A	Student Teaching Secondary School Biological Science	6
SPE 500	Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities	3

Note: Candidates may become licensed 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.

Secondary Education Student Teaching Enrollment Requirements

Admission to and continuance in student teaching are contingent on the following actions.

Candidates must:

• Be accepted into the graduate program of National College of Education
• File, by the designated deadline, the application form for student teaching
• Submit to their advisor a report of a TB test taken within 90 days of the student teaching placement, results of criminal background check and acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter status form
• Turn in a signed log of all the pre-clinical hours specified in their pre-clinical hours required for the program
• Complete all of their licensure courses except for SEC 590A (Student Teaching)
• Pass all methods courses at National Louis University with a grade no lower than a B
• Participate in faculty assessment and receive approval of his or her portfolio (Livetext)
• Provide evidence of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment and competency as indicated by licensure coursework and departmental assessments