Middle Grades Education MAT Alternative Teacher Licensure

The Middle Grades Education, M.A.T., Alternative Teacher Licensure program, leads to a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License. Teacher candidates will be placed in schools as teachers of record or co-teachers while completing their coursework towards professional educator licensure with an endorsement in Middle Grades Education. In addition, candidates will earn either a LBS I endorsement or an ESL endorsement (qualified candidates may also earn a Bilingual endorsement). A mentoring program will be in place to support and guide the teacher candidates throughout the two years of residency in the program.

Visit Licensure and Endorsements 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
Be admitted before starting the first term of Jumpstart
Have a bachelor's degree with a major in the content area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics or physical or social sciences
Sit for a formal interview with National College of Education 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 to the program with more than two General Education deficiencies; these must be completed prior to participation in the residency phase of the program
Candidates must provide evidence of taking 21 SH of General Education coursework or equivalent CLEP/Dantes tests in the following areas:

For candidates seeking MG science endorsement: 21 SH of science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas: physical science, life sciences, earth and space sciences)
For candidates seeking MG literacy endorsement: 21 SH of literacy content
For candidates seeking MG math endorsement: 21 SH of math content
For candidates seeking MG social science endorsement: 21 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 )

Requires observations
Requires practicum
Requires student teaching

Required Courses

Jumpstart - 8 SH

MGE 501	Introduction to Middle Grades Education: Young Adolescents in Context I	2 TO 3
MGE 520	Methods of Teaching Content Area Literacy in the Middle Grades	2
EPS 511	Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts	2 OR 3
FND 510	Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy ofAmerican Education	1 TO 3

Note: EPS 511 and FND 510 must be taken for 2 semester hours.

Residency Year 1 - 22 SH

MGE 503	Advocacy Practicum: Young Adolescents in Context II	2
MGE 505	Teaching and Learning Practicum: Young Adolescents in Context III	2
MGE 509	Integrated Curriculum in the Middle Grades	1 TO 3
MGE 522	Engaging Young Adolescent Learners	1
MGE 525	Authentic Assessment Seminar: Young Adolescents in Context IV	2
SPE 500	Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities	3
CIL 500	Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education	3
	and
MGE 510	Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science	3
	or
MGE 512	Methods of Teaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts	3
	or
MGE 514	Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics	3
	or
MGE 518	Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies	3
	and
SPE 501	Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adolescents	3
	or
CIL 512	Reading in a New Language: Linguistic Considerations	3

Note: MGE 509 must be taken for 3 semester hours. Candidates select SPE 501 or CIL 512 based on their second endorsement track.

Residency Year 2 - 19 SH

MGE 507	Voices and Choices in Middle Grades Education	1
MGE 526	Seminar: Value and Honor Young Adolescent Learning	2
MGE 527	Seminar: Middle Grades Educators’ Joyful Teaching Experiences	2
MGE 528	Capstone Seminar: Celebrating Collaborative Engagement	1
CIL 505	Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language	3
CIL 531	Cross Cultural Education	3
	and
SPE 506	Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education	3
	or
SPE 527	Differentiated and Individualized Curriculum and Instruction	3
	or
CIL 501	Introduction to Linguistics for TESOL	3
	or
CIL 506	Methods and Materials for Teaching Bilingual Education	3
	or
CIL 510	Assessment of ESL and Bilingual Education Students	3

Note: MGE 507 must be taken for a total of 2 semester hours. Candidates select 6 semester hours from SPE 506, SPE 527, CIL 501, CIL 506, and/or CIL 510 based on their second endorsement track.