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.
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
1. Develop and practice a philosophy of education based on self-reflection.
2. Use knowledge of students to design a respectful learning community in which learning experiences are engaging, challenging, and meet the diverse needs of all learners.
3. Develop instructional practices that facilitate higher-order thinking and depth of student understanding.
4. Design and use formative and summative assessments that align with learning outcomes, inform instruction, and measure multiple forms of evidence.
5. Provide ongoing, meaningful performance feedback to enhance student learning.
6. Use current technology that is appropriate to the instructional outcomes, complements content-specific material, and actively engages students.
7. Exhibit a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of being a teacher.
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- 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 school with institutional accreditation 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 34 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 - 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 |
Secondary Education – Biological Science Requirements - 24 SH
| CIL 505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| RLP 540 | Teaching Content Area Literacy at the Middle and Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 502 | Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 510 | Methods of Teaching Biological Sciences at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 581A | Secondary Education Practicum | 3 |
| SEC 590A | Student Teaching Seminar | 6 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
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 one of the following courses | |
| MGE 509 | Integrated Curriculum in the Middle Grades | 1 TO 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 |
| | or | |
| RLR 541 | Teaching Writing | 3 |
| | and | |
| RLR 520 | Survey of P-12 Youth Literature | 3 |
| | or | |
| RLR 502 | Teaching Comprehension and Content Area Reading | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPE 501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| | and | |
| SPE 506 | Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
Note: If selected, MGE 501 and MGE 509 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 |
| FND 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy of American Education | 2 |
| RLP 540 | Teaching Content Area Literacy at the Middle and Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 502 | Introduction to Teaching at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 510 | Methods of Teaching Biological Sciences at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SEC 581A | Secondary Education Practicum | 3 |
| SEC 590A | Student Teaching Seminar | 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 their 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