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.
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 of Teaching Social Science at the Middle and Secondary Levels | ||
| Student Teaching Internship Semester | 6 | |
| edTPA Seminar and Colloquium (0 credit hours) | ||
| Student Teaching: Secondary Education | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Subject Area Endorsements for Secondary Education
English/Language Arts
This endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level and one graduate-level course in English Language Arts studies. 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).
- English Composition
- Linguistics
- Literary Theory
- American Literature
- British Literature
- World Literature (including Non-Western)
- Non-print media studies
- Adolescent Literature
Mathematics
This endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level and one graduate-level course in Mathematics. The required distribution is below. Candidates are required to pass the state content test for mathematics.
Required Coursework Distribution: 32 hours required. 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)
- Linear Algebra
- Geometry (beyond analytical geometry)
- Statistics/Probability
- History of Math
- Group, Ring, No. Theory or Proof
- Discrete Math or Comp Science
- Electives (if needed)
- MAT-6200 Topics in Statistics, MAT-6370 Topics in College Geometry or another graduate level course
Physical Education
This endorsement requires 32 semester hours, including 12 upper-division semester hours at the undergraduate level and one graduate-level course in Physical Education. 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).
- Health-related fitness (e.g., conditioning, aerobic fitness exercise, stress management)
- Dance activities
- Teaching Individual and Dual Sports Activities
- Teaching Team Sports Activities
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Biomechanics
- Physical Growth and Motor Development
- Curriculum Design in Physical Education
- Measurement and Evaluation
- Electives
Science - Biology Designation
This endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Science, including 12 upper-division semester hours in Biology at the undergraduate level, coursework in 2 other Science designations, and one graduate-level Biology course. 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).
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry II
- Introduction to Physics
- Introduction to Earth Science
- Microbiology
- Cell & Molecular Biology
- General Ecology
- Genetics
- BIO-6910 Seminar in Biology or another approved graduate level science course.
Social Science - History Designation
This endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Social Science, including 12 upper-division semester hours in History at the undergraduate level, coursework in 2 other Social Science designations, and one graduate-level History course. 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).
- Intro to Economics
- Geography, North American or World
- World History since 1350
- Developmental Psychology: Adolescent
- Introduction to Sociology
- World History to 1350
- History of Illinois
- Survey of American History
- Upper Level American History
- Upper Level European History
- Non-Western History
- EDSC-6619 Content and Methods of Teaching Social Science at the Middle and Secondary Levels or an approved graduate level social science course.
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.