Elementary Education, M.A.T. (Alternative Teacher Licensure)
This route to the M.A.T. and teacher certification is for candidates accepted into one of NLU’s alternative certification partner programs. Teacher candidates will be placed in high needs schools as teachers of record while taking their coursework toward M.A.T degree and their Professional Educator's License with an endorsement in Elementary Education, Grades 1-6. A specialized mentoring program will be in place to support and guide the teacher candidates throughout the two years of the program.
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- Be admitted before starting the first term of Jumpstart
- Have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in the content area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics or one of the sciences
- Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative
- Sit for a formal interview with NCE program faculty at least two weeks prior to the start of the first term
- Submit three academic or professional letters of recommendation (recommenders must be listed on the application)
Program Details:
- Requires 49 SH for completion
- Candidates cannot be admitted with more than two General Education deficiencies which must be completed prior to participation in the residency phase of the program
- Candidates must complete General Education Requirements before the end of the second term or before the start of the third term:
- Science – coursework covering at least three of the following areas: physical, life science, and earth and space
- Social Sciences – coursework covering at least four of the following areas: history, geography, civics and government, economics of Illinois, US and the world
Required Courses
Jumpstart Courses - 7 SH
| RLL 538 | Literacy Methods: K-6 | 1 TO 2 |
| MHE 450 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers | 3 |
| EPS 513 | Frameworks for Data Driven Instruction | 1 TO 3 |
| FND 501 | Community Study | 1 |
Note: RLL 538 must be taken for 2 semester hours and EPS 513 must be taken for 1 semester hour.
Residency Year 1 Courses - 20 SH
| SCE 480B | Methods of Teaching Science | 2 |
| CIS 480B | Methods of Teaching Social Studies | 2 |
| RLR 550 | Teaching Reading Comprehension and Content Literacy in Grades 1-6 | 2 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| MHE 480B | Methods for Teaching Elementary Schools Mathematics | 2 |
| CIL 505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| CIL 510 | Assessment of ESL and Bilingual Education Students | 3 |
| ELE 511 | ATL Residency Seminar I | 1 |
Note: ELE 511 must be taken for the total of 3 semester hours.
Residency Year 2 Courses - 22 SH
| ELE 545 | Methods for Teaching Arts Education | 1 |
| ELE 547 | Methods for Teaching Health and Physical Education | 1 |
| EPS 513 | Frameworks for Data Driven Instruction | 1 TO 3 |
| CIL 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| CIL 500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 3 |
| ESR 514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | 3 |
| CIL 501 | Introduction to Linguistics for TESOL | 3 |
| CIL 506 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Bilingual Education | 3 |
| ELE 512 | ATL Residency Seminar II | 1 |
Note: EPS 513 must be taken for 2 semester hours. ELE 512 must be taken for the total of 3 semester hours.
For more information about this program, visit http://www.nl.edu/academics/educationmastersteacherprep/elementaryeducation/