General Information

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program is an initial licensure program and is subject to the rules, regulations and laws of the state of Illinois. Concordia University Chicago offers approved MAT programs that lead to Illinois Professional Educator licensure and, as approved, programs can change to be in compliance with changing state rules and regulations.

Program Design and ISBE Content Pathway option

The Master of Arts in Teaching programs are designed to accommodate adult learners who are returning to school to fulfill a dream to teach. Many classes are currently offered online, both synchronously and asynchronously. Those that are not currently offered online are offered on campus in a face-to-face setting. All students must meet state requirements for completion of Field Experience observations that are scheduled during normal school hours (8AM-3PM, when schools are open) to fulfill observation requirements. Thus, candidates may need to plan time in schools to observe (and away from work) while enrolled in the program. Student teaching requires candidates to teach in an elementary, middle or secondary school for a full 16-week semester. 

Academic Content Pathways (Non-PEL)

Concordia University Chicago encourages motivated candidates to be involved in schools as employees working with students in the grade level and subject area of their initial licensure. The Academic Content Pathway (Non-PEL) is a short-term licensure pathway for teacher candidates working as a lead teacher in a classroom at the grade level and subject area of their intended license. If the candidate works successfully in this capacity for more than one year and earns eligibility, the candidate will waive the traditional, supervised student teaching experience in favor of a MAT Capstone Course. Approval to participate in the Capstone Course allows the teacher candidate to teach in their own classroom under the guidance of an authorized school official. In lieu of the traditional 16-week student teaching internship course, this course will be a 3-credit hour, 8-week course that includes completion of the teacher readiness assessment, Positive Impact Presentation (PIP) and all other requirements for ISBE licensure and the CUC MAT. Please contact your advisor for more information about the ISBE Academic Content Pathway opportunity. 

Transfer of Courses

Coursework to meet subject area endorsements may be transferred to Concordia University Chicago. Any transferred coursework must have a grade of C or above to be used toward a subject area endorsement. The coursework must also meet any distribution requirements set by the state for the subject area in which an endorsement is being sought. The University will audit transcripts for compliance regarding these endorsement requirements. Transfer of education coursework from other institutions will be reviewed for acceptance by the MAT Coordinator.

Monitoring Candidate Progress Transition Points

The state of Illinois, the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensing Board and accrediting agencies require that approved licensure programs and recognized institutions have a continuous assessment policy in force to evaluate candidates in teacher education programs. Concordia University Chicago has established four transition points to meet these mandates.  See Monitoring Candidate Progress Transition Points in the Transition Points tab.

Licensure

Students may not take a course as Pass/Fail if the course is mandated by their licensure program through ISBE, excluding the student teaching internship course and the edTPA course. 

Concordia University Chicago maintains an office to support candidates for the Professional Educator License and related endorsements. Candidates for licensure are coached during the student teaching internship on the entitlement process. The University also provides employment services through the Career Services Office.

The College of Education Student Manual 

This manual provides details and guidelines for meeting the criteria for successful completion of the Internship Semester and the process for obtaining the Illinois Professional Educator License. Successful completion includes:  

• Satisfactory completion of the Internship by meeting or exceeding all assessment benchmarks. 
• Prepare and present documentation of positive impacts on student learning from your internship teaching (Positive Impact Presentation). 
• Complete all state-required Content Area tests/assessments prior to student teaching. 

General Graduate Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.

New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.  Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app.  Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.

Teacher Education Licensure Programs Requirements

The State of Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensing Board (SEPLB), and accreditors, Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP) require teacher preparation institutions to have a continuous assessment policy in force to evaluate teacher candidates throughout their programs. The College of Education meets these requirements with formative and summative assessments of teacher candidates integrated throughout the curriculum. Teacher candidates must also earn a grade of C- or higher in every course that leads to entitlement to be licensed to teach. Concordia-Chicago has established an assessment system with four transition points to meet these mandates. The Transition Points and their requirements are listed below.

Transition Point One: Acceptance to Teacher Candidacy

Education majors move from education major status to Teacher Candidate status at this first transition point. Teacher candidates are eligible to begin their specialized training in methods, classroom management, assessment of learning, and other professional clinicals and coursework. To become a teacher candidate, the education major must submit an application to the College of Education. 

Teacher candidacy is a prerequisite for Professional Program (methods) courses in each Education Program. Each potential candidate must submit an application to the College of Education by November 15 or May 15. The admission requirements that make up a complete application include:

• Fingerprint Criminal Background Check results on file with the Office of Field Work Experience
• Minimum of 20 pre-professional hours on file in the Office of Field Experience
• Completed Dispositional Assessment of CUC Conceptual Framework complete by candidate
• Create an account on the Illinois Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) and provided IEIN Number
• Successful completion of the Teacher Candidacy Interview (offered each fall and spring)

Following each deadline, a candidate’s completed application with all admission requirements and documents will be submitted to the Teacher Education Admission Committee (TEAC) for review. TEAC will review all applications and determine teacher candidacy. Candidates will receive a letter from the College of Education informing him or her of admitted status.

Transition Point Two: Acceptance to the Student Teaching Internship Semester

The Semester of Internship is classroom teaching with a mentor cooperating teacher. Candidates must be accepted to the Internship before they are given a placement in student teaching. The Office of Field Experience publishes deadlines for applications to the internship semester.

The Teacher Education Admission Committee approves candidates for acceptance to the Student Teaching Internship.

To be considered for admission to the student teaching internship, the candidate must:

• Submit the completed Application to the Student Teaching Internship and supporting documentation to the Office of Field Experience on or before the deadline date.
• Pass the appropriate Content Area Test for your program from the State of Illinois Testing System (www.icts.nesinc.com).
• Complete a minimum of 80 hours of the required 100 hours of Field and Clinical Experiences and submit field experience documents to the Office of Field Experience for approval. The entire 100 hours must be completed prior to beginning the internship.
• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Complete all Content and Methods course(s) in the program of study with a grade of C or higher.
• Have earned a grade of C or higher in all coursework applied to their professional program requirements.
• Meet requirements of a valid Fingerprint Criminal Background Check to the Office of Field Experience.
• Complete First Aid/CPR Certification training and submit documentation of completion to the Office of Field Experience.

Transition Point Three: Completion of the Student Teaching Internship Semester

Successful completion of the internship requires:

• Satisfactory completion of the Internship by meeting or exceeding all required benchmarks.
• Prepare and present documentation of positive impacts on student learning from your internship teaching (PIP). 
• Complete all state-required assessments enforced at the time of the internship.
• Receive a passing score on the state-mandated edTPA assessment of teacher performance.
• The College of Education Student Manual provides details and guidelines for the meeting the criteria for successful completion of the Internship Semester.

Transition Point Four: Completion of Program

Successful completion of program requirements and teaching internship.

Graduation Requirements

• Have on file an application as a degree-seeking graduate student.
• Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
• Complete, for the degree being sought:
  • the credit hours and levels as designated,
  • within the specified time limit,
  • with grades of C- or higher,
  • with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. 
  • Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.  
• If transfer credit is approved to be applied: have on file an approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s) or evaluation(s).
• Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
• Have on file, if applicable, necessary copies of a project, thesis or dissertation.
• Take and pass the final examination or terminal requirements in the program during or after the final course.
• Approval of the faculty.
• All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).

Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.

Additional note:  Students may not take a course as Pass/Fail if the course is mandated by their licensure program through ISBE, excluding the student teaching internship course and the edTPA course. 

This program leads to initial Illinois licensure (PEL) with direct University entitlement. The awarding of initial Illinois teaching licensure requires the completion of your academic program (including all required content area coursework) and a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s). For the specific information and test requirements for licensure you are seeking, please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.