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.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Young Adolescent Development: Articulate the unique needs of young adolescent learners based on their physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual (PIESS) development and the influences of gender, socioeconomics, culture, media, special populations (Plus+). Referred to as PIESS+.
PLO2. Young Adolescent Development: Distinguish that middle grades education (MGE) is designed to support the unique developmental needs of young adolescent learners.
PLO3. Middle Level Curriculum: Demonstrate deep knowledge in chosen content teaching field(s) to create meaningful learning experiences that contribute to each young adolescent’s competence.
PLO4. Middle Level Instruction: Deconstruct the impact of media/technology/popular culture on the lives of each young adolescent learner.
PLO5. Middle Level Instruction: Create and participate in joyful teaching and learning with young adolescent learners.
PLO6. Responsive Teaching: Demonstrate critical and creative thinking when working with young adolescent learners.
PLO7. Responsive Teaching: Implement responsive strategies for use within the diverse range of each young adolescent learner.
PLO8. Middle Level Philosophy and School Organization: Integrate knowledge of the philosophical ideologies, historical development, curricular models of middle grades education, and the leaders of the middle grades movement.
PLO9. Communication Skills: Exhibit effective listening, oral, written and technological communication skills with young adolescents, family and community.
PLO10. Professional Roles: Demonstrate a commitment to being an ethical professional, an educational leader and a life-long learner.
PLO11. Professional Roles: Apply mindful knowledge and respect of the unique community assets and school context to maximize success for each young adolescent learner.
PLO12. Advocacy: Commit to being an advocate who supports, listens and responds to each young adolescent, family and community member.
Program Details:
- Requires 36 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 MGE 505
- 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 a passing score on the Middle Grades Education Content Area Test before Student Teaching
- Requires observations
- Requires practicum
- Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.
Required Courses
Program Requirements - 29 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 |
| and | |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| or | |
| MGE 512 | Methods ofTeaching 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 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
MAT Core - 4 SH
| EPS 511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | 2 |
| FND 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy of American Education | 2 |
Note: FND 510 must be taken for 2 semester hours.
Middle Grades Education Elective Options - 3 SH
Choose one of the following courses:
| CIL 500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 3 |
| ESR 514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | 3 |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| MGE 512 | Methods ofTeaching 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 of Exceptional Children and Adolescents | 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.
For more information about this program, visit https://www.nl.edu/academics/educationmastersteacherprep/middlegradeseducation/