The Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education is designed to deliver outstanding teacher preparation. Upon successful completion of degree requirements, candidates are eligible for a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a secondary education endorsement and a content area endorsement from the state of Illinois for grades 9 through 12. (Physical Education grade range is PK through grade 12).
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
- The development of collaborative relationships to serve the learning of every student
- The establishment of positive, social-emotional learning cultures
- The development of collaborative relationships to serve the learning of every student
- The importance of reflective practice and culturally responsive 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.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites to Professional Courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to Theories of Learning and Cognition | ||
| Introduction to Education | ||
| Professional Courses | 24 | |
| Literacy Instruction for Content Area Classrooms: Middle and Secondary | ||
| Teaching Diverse Learners at the Secondary Level | ||
| Introduction to Classroom Teaching and Technology for Learning | ||
| Classroom Management and Assessment | ||
| Characteristics and Instruction of Exceptional Learners | ||
| Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Teachers | ||
| Introduction to Research: Pre-Service Teachers | ||
Select one of the following courses per chosen major: | ||
| Content and Methods for Teaching English at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Content and Methods for Teaching Physical Education at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Content and Methods for Teaching Mathematics at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Content and Methods for Teaching Science at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Content and Methods for Teaching Social Science at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Student Teaching Internship Semester | 3-6 | |
| edTPA Seminar and Colloquium (0 credit hours) | ||
Choose one: | ||
| Student Teaching: Secondary Education (6 credit hours) | ||
| MAT Capstone (3 credit hours) 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 33-36 | |
- 1
This course may only be taken with special approval of the Director of Field Experience and the Division Chair
Subject Area Endorsements for Secondary Education
English Language Arts
This initial endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level. The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass the state content test for English Language Arts. Undergraduate courses can be taken at CUC or transferred in from another institution. (Undergraduate courses at CUC are generally offered during the day).
- Adolescent Literature
- American Literature
- British Literature
- Linguistics
- Literary Theory
- Non-print media studies
- Rhetorical Writing
- Speech Communication/Public Speaking
- World Literature (including Non-Western)
Mathematics
This initial endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level. The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass the state content test for mathematics. Undergraduate courses can be taken at CUC or transferred in from another institution. (Undergraduate courses at CUC are generally offered during the day).
- Calculus I
- Calculus II (including series/sequential)
- Calculus III (including multivariate/Vectors)
- Discrete Math or Computer Science
- Geometry (beyond analytical geometry)
- Group, Ring, Number Theory or Proof
- History of Math
- Linear Algebra
- Statistics/Probability
Physical Education
The Master of Arts in Teaching: Physical Education program is an initial licensure program designed to prepare qualified professional for teaching in PK through Grade 12 school settings. Applicants can be expected to learn to teach Physical Education at all grade levels. Teaching candidates can be expected to
- Apply principles, techniques, and procedures to encourage students in developing and accessing health-related fitness
- Understand human movement, motor skills, and their developmental sequence
- Organizes activities and techniques for developing motor skills
- Guide the dynamic interaction between individuals and within groups while they are engaged in activities for personal and social development
- Apply techniques, skills, strategies, basic rules, etiquette, and safety practices for individual and group sports, as well as lifelong sports, creative movement, dance, non-competitive activities, and cooperative activities
- Incorporate the historical, philosophical, and social contexts of physical education
- Align state standards to instruction and assessment of students
- Use concepts and research-based strategies for effective instruction in a physical education program
- Follow safety practices, principles of emergency first aid, and equipment maintenance procedures, and
- Recognize legal and ethical issues that may influence physical education programs.
This initial endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level. The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass the state content test for Physical Education. Undergraduate courses can be taken at CUC or transferred in from another institution. (Undergraduate courses at CUC are generally offered during the day).
- Biomechanics
- Curriculum Design in Physical Education
- Dance activities
- Exercise Physiology
- Health-related fitness (e.g., conditioning, aerobic fitness exercise, stress management)
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Measurement and Evaluation
- Physical Growth and Motor Development
- Teaching Individual and Dual Sports Activities
- Teaching Team Sports Activities
Science - Biology Designation
This initial endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Science, including 6 semester hours which must be taken in at least one other science (e.g. biology). Applicants for a science endorsement must complete coursework in both the biological sciences (biology, ecology/environmental science) and physical sciences (chemistry, earth and space science, physics). The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass the state content test for Science-Biology. Undergraduate courses can be taken at CUC or transferred in from another institution. (Undergraduate courses at CUC are generally offered during the day).
- Cell & Molecular Biology
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry II
- General Ecology
- Genetics
- Introduction to Physics
- Introduction to Earth Science
- Microbiology
Social Science - History Designation
This initial endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Social Science, at least 12 semester hours must be in the specific social science area sought (e.g. Social Studies), and 6 semester hours must be taken in at least one other social science area (as applicable to the endorsement sought, ex. political science). The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass state content test for Social Science-History. Undergraduate courses can be taken at CUC or transferred in from another institution. (Undergraduate courses at CUC are generally offered during the day).
- American Government and Civics
- Developmental Psychology: Adolescent
- Geography, North American or World
- History of Illinois (required)
- Introduction to Economics
- Introduction to Sociology
- Non-Western History
- Survey of American History
- Upper Level American History
- Upper Level European History
- World History since 1350
- World History to 1350
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.