Degree Types

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

The M.A.T. degree is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than education. It emphasizes entrance requirements to the teaching profession and provides licensure by entitlement in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education or special education in the State of Illinois.

A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit toward a master’s degree may be transferred from another institution.

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The M.Ed. degree is designed for licensed professional teachers seeking advanced preparation for higher levels of professional competence in the classroom. The degree may also be available to other professionals in accordance with program-specific admission criteria.
A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit toward a master’s degree may be transferred from another institution.

Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)

National College of Education offers two types of Educational Specialist degrees; the first type of an Ed.S. degree requires a master’s degree as a prerequisite while the second type allows students with a baccalaureate degree to enter the program.

Post-Master's Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree

The post-master, pre-doctoral Ed.S. degrees are designed to meet the needs of school leaders who have completed their master’s level work and need advanced specialization in the same field or related field as their master's degree.

In addition to the general NCE graduate admissions requirements, all applicants for the post-master's Ed.S. degree must have a master’s degree from a school with institutional accreditation.

Individual programs may have additional requirements. 

Post-Baccalaureate Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree

The Ed.S. degree in School Psychology is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and graduates are eligible for licensure as school psychologists by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) by NASP. The program is 67 semester hours and does not require a master’s degree for admission.

Six semester hours of non-institutional transfer, workshop and professional development graduate credit may be applied to the Ed.S. degree if approved by the student’s program chair.