Middle Grades Education, M.A.T. Alternative Teacher Licensure
The Middle Grades Education, M.A.T., Alternative Teacher Licensure program, leads to a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License. Teacher candidates will be placed in schools as teachers of record or co-teachers while completing their coursework toward professional educator licensure with an endorsement in Middle Grades Education. A mentoring program will be in place to support and guide the teacher candidates throughout the two years of residency in the program. Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Details
- Requires 35 SH for completion
- Candidates cannot be admitted to the program with more than two content coursework deficiencies; these must be completed prior to participation in the residency phase of the program
- Candidates must choose a concentration which corresponds with the endorsement area and provide evidence of taking 15 SH of content coursework or equivalent CLEP/Dantes tests in the following:
- For candidates seeking MG science endorsement: 15 SH of science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas: physical science, life sciences, earth and space sciences) and MGE 510 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG literacy endorsement: 15 SH of literacy content and MGE 512 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG math endorsement: 15 SH of math content and MGE 514 as part of the program concentration
- For candidates seeking MG social science endorsement: 15 SH of social science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas, in relation to Illinois, the United States and the world: history, geography, civics and government, and economics) and MGE 518 as part of the program concentration
- Requires a passing score on the Middle Grades Education Content Area Test before practicum courses.
- Requires observations
- Requires practicum
- Requires student teaching
Program Learning Outcomes
PLO1. Articulate the unique needs of young adolescent learners and the contexts that support this student population.
PLO2. Distinguish that middle grades education (MGE) is designed to support the unique developmental needs of young adolescent learners.
PLO3. Demonstrate deep knowledge in chosen content teaching field(s) to create meaningful learning experiences that contribute to each young adolescent’s competence.
PLO4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of how educators identities and beliefs impact young adolescents’ feelings of safety, connectedness, and opportunities to learn.
PLO5. Create and participate in joyful teaching and learning with young adolescent learners.
PLO6. Demonstrate critical and creative thinking when working with young adolescent learners.
PLO7. Implement responsive strategies for use within the diverse range of each young adolescent learner.
PLO8. Integrate knowledge of the philosophical ideologies, historical development, curricular models of middle grades education, and the leaders of the middle grades movement.
PLO9. Exhibit effective listening, oral, written and technological communication skills with young adolescents, family and community.
PLO10. Demonstrate a commitment to being an ethical professional, an educational leader and a life-long learner.
PLO11. Apply culturally relevant practices to ensure success, cultural sustainment, and critical educative practices for all students to maximize success for each young adolescent learner.
PLO12. Commit to being an advocate who supports, listens and responds to each young adolescent, family and community member.
Admission Requirements
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- Be admitted before starting the first term of Jumpstart (Phase 1).
- Have a bachelor's degree with a major in the content area of English/language arts, mathematics, science or social sciences
- If the candidate does not have a major in the content area, transcripts must be evaluated by the State Superintendent of Education for equivalency.
- ISBE review requires a min of 9SH of content in the candidate's initial content endorsement
- Candidates must pass the appropriate Middle Grades Content Test (math, science, social studies or Language Arts, aligned to their BA major) by May 1st prior to the summer start. Candidates without a passing score must attend tutoring sessions May- June. Candidates must pass the test by June 20th.
- Complete an interview with a partner district and provide a letter as proof or complete an interview with faculty.
- Submit three references (from B.A. degree, employment experience appropriate for teaching experience)
- Written statement describing a candidate’s interest in earning a degree in Middle Grades Education through an Alternative Licensure program and description of candidates’ employment experience in schools and working with students or evidence of a minimum of 4 weeks substitute teaching experience or school support experience in at the appropriate grade level or content area.
Required Courses
Jumpstart (Phase 1) - 3 SH
| EDU 572 | Creating Diverse and Equitable Classrooms | 3 |
Program Courses 26 SH
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| CIL 505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| MGE 577 | Teaching & Learning in Context | 1 |
| MGE 587 | Resident Teacher Practicum | 3 |
| MGE 597 | Resident Teacher Student Teaching | 3 |
| LSE 511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | 2 |
| EDU 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy of American Education | 2 |
| RLP 540 | Teaching Content Area Literacy at the Middle and Secondary Level | 3 |
Note: MGE 577 must be taken for a total of 3 semester hours. MGE 587 and MGE 597 must be taken for a total of 5 semester hours.
Science Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
Literacy Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 512 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
Math Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
Social Science Concentration - 3 SH
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
Electives -3SH
| CIL 500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 3 |
| CIL 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
| MGE 512 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
| SPE 501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 35