The Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education is designed to deliver outstanding teacher preparation. Upon successful completion of degree requirements, candidates are eligible for a Professional Educator License (PEL) with an elementary endorsement from the state of Illinois for grades 1 through 6.
Concordia-Chicago’s program emphasizes the following:
- Development of core competencies in instructional planning, delivery and assessment
- Respect and support for diversity in educational settings
- How to ethically lead learning
- The role of standards within the profession
- The commitment to continuous improvement
- The importance of reflective practice
- Development of collaborative relationships to serve the learning of every student
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.
Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Pre-Professional Courses | 9 | |
Foundations in Education | ||
Integrating and Assessing Learning in Diverse Classrooms | ||
Theories of Learning, Language Acquisition and Cognition Across Cultures | ||
Professional Courses: Students must be admitted to College of Education to continue. | 24 | |
Characteristics and Instruction of Exceptional Learners | ||
Teaching English Language Arts: Content 1 | ||
Teaching English Language Arts: Methods and Assessment 1 | ||
Professionalism, Leadership, Communication and Ethics for Pre-service Elementary Teachers | ||
Teaching Science: Content, Methods and Assessment | ||
Teaching Social Studies: Content, Methods and Assessment | ||
Teaching Physical Education and the Fine Arts: Content, Methods and Assessment | ||
Teaching Mathematics: Content, Methods and Assessment | ||
Student Teaching Internship | 3-6 | |
edTPA Seminar and Colloquium (0 credit hours) | ||
Choose one: | ||
Student Teaching: Elementary Education (6 credit hours) | ||
MAT Capstone (3 credit hours) 2 | ||
Total Hours | 36-39 |
- 1
EDEL-6901 and EDL-6902 must be taken concurrently in the same semester.
- 2
This course may only be taken with special approval of the Director of Field Experience and the Division Chair
General Education Requirements for MAT-Elementary Program Studies
Applicant’s transcript(s) must document that all coursework submitted to meet General Education requirements has a grade of C- or higher:
Content Area 1 - Communication and Composition
- One course in Advanced Composition
- One course in Public Speaking/Speech Communication
Content Area 2 - Mathematics
- One course in College Algebra or higher
- One course in College Geometry or higher
Content Area 3 - Natural Sciences (one course must have a lab)
- One course in Life Science
- One course in Physical Science
Content Area 4 - Humanities (9 credit hours made up from two areas)
- One course in Fine or Performing Arts
- One course in History, Philosophy, Literature
- One course in American History (required)
Content Area 5 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credit hours made up from two areas)
- Coursework in Psychology or Sociology
- Coursework in Political Science, Economics or Geography
Clinical Experience (Pre-Professional Hours)
- 100 hours (all pre-professional hours are embedded in the MAT coursework and must be completed prior to student teaching).
- Each course will describe the number of hours required to be completed in classrooms and the nature of the experience that a candidate must complete.
Capstone Experience
- Positive Impact Presentation (PIP) on student learning
- Teacher Performance Assessment [edTPA]: State-required portfolio, taken during the student teaching semester, is to be passed and submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education prior to licensing (PEL).
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 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.
- Payments of all tuition and fees due to Concordia University Chicago. All holds must be removed to receive transcripts and diploma.
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 Illinois licensure with direct University entitlement. The awarding of initial Illinois teaching licensure will require the completion of your academic program, a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), and a passing score on the edTPA. For your licensure’s specific test requirements please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.