Northeastern Illinois University is excited to enroll and engage students in its Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program (T.L.P.). See the course catalog for the full list of requirements.
Our two program options are designed for students who wish to pursue an initial licensure to teach high school students (grades 9-12). Secondary education degree candidates will enter the program as part of a cohort in one of four areas:
- Language Arts
- Social Science (History)
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Earth Science)
Secondary Education Overview
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Teacher Licensure Programs (TLP) in Secondary Education have been designed for students who wish to obtain initial teacher licensure as part of a master’s degree, or licensure only.
Candidates will enter the program as part of a cohort and have the opportunity to both work collaboratively with candidates in other disciplines and intensively with those in their own discipline.
Candidates will be eligible to apply for licensure following their third semester of full-time coursework, and have the option of completing their M.A.T. as either full- or part-time students. Candidates who opt for the TLP will finish with licensure, but no degree.
The Secondary Education program admits students for the fall and spring semesters. While our licensure programs are for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree, we offer an Accelerated Concentration Program for undergraduate students to begin their graduate studies early.
Credit Hours Required
The Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching requires 37 credit hours of coursework and field experience, leading to licensure and a master's degree. View course catalog.
The Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program requires 31 credit hours of coursework and field experience, leading to licensure. TLP students can opt into the MAT program after enrollment with a program change request.
Course Schedule
One of the benefits of the Secondary Education programs is the predictable schedule which allows students to only need to be on campus two days a week for the Secondary Education coursework.
Full-time students who begin in the fall will follow a Tuesday-Thursday schedule; full-time students who begin in the spring will follow a Monday-Wednesday schedule. Part time students will alternate their schedule, depending on where they are within the sequence of courses.
Each course meets one time per week in the evenings in one of two time slots, 4:15-6:55 p.m. and 7:05-9:45 p.m. Student Teaching seminars typically meet at 5:30-8:00 p.m. at NEIU's El Centro location to accommodate teaching schedules. Some courses may be offered online.
Academic Catalog Information
Take a closer look at the Secondary Education M.A.T. and the courses offered toward the degree.
Admission Requirements
In addition to NEIU's admission requirements through the College of Graduate Studies and Research, students interested in the program must also provide the following:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university as documented by submission of official transcripts, with undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4-point scale
- Undergraduate major in subject area of desired endorsement or equivalent coursework to meet ISBE requirements for desired endorsement area. (Candidates who require no more than two additional content-area courses may be conditionally admitted but must fulfill their content-area requirements prior to student teaching)
- Admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR)
- 1-2 page statement detailing reasons for applying to the program in their desired content area
- 15-30 minute personal interview
NEIU offers an Accelerated Concentration Program for undergraduate students. Once admitted to this program, undergraduate students can complete up to 12 credits in coursework that can be applied to both their undergraduate degree and their Master of Arts in Teaching or TLP.
Cost and Financial Aid
There are student financial aid resources available to help fund your pursuit of an excellent graduate education, and the Financial Aid Office is available to help you create a financial plan that works for you. Some specific resources that may be helpful are:
- Graduate Merit Tuition Scholarship
- Graduate Need-Based Tuition Scholarship
- Graduate Assistantships - Information For Students
- Graduate Assistantships – Information for Hiring Units
- Fellowship Opportunity: DFI
- Research and Creative Activities Assistants
- Secondary Education Scholarships - more information coming soon
Additional off-campus resources that may be of assistance are:
- Grow Your Own - Chicago
- Teach Chicago Tomorrow (for Chicago Public Schools graduates)
View the estimated costs for graduate students and contact financial-aid@neiu.edu for information about tuition, fees, and scholarship opportunities.
When considering the tuition cost per credit hour, please note that the Secondary Education program's first block of courses is 12 credit hours and the second block of courses is 10 credit hours. Graduate students are considered full time while taking nine or more credit hours in one semester.
MAT Program Benefits
The Secondary Education M.A.T. program offers a predictable schedule so that working professionals can plan their M.A.T. class schedule to fit their needs. Students also get personalized attention from skilled professors in small class sizes. NEIU offers affordable tuition and convenient urban locations accessible by car or public transportation.
In addition, the Secondary Education degree program includes:
- Field experiences that tie the school to the community for transformative thinking
- Theoretical and practical perspectives on classroom teaching
- Engagement in urban school settings with expert support and guidance
Students pursuing their Master of Teaching will find that NEIU provides the ideal student environment: balanced, flexible, and conducive to academic and personal success.
Secondary Education Careers
A lucrative and rewarding career in teaching is the immediate possibility afforded by a Master of Arts in Teaching from NEIU. With additional training, graduates can pursue positions in administration, curriculum leadership, organizational training, and advanced work in their disciplines.
Possible teaching opportunities include:
- High School Teaching
- Teaching Abroad
- Curriculum Development
- Publishing
Eligible M.A.T. candidates will be able to apply for Illinois State Board of Education licensure. Teachers in Illinois are among the best paid in the nation.
Contact Us
Seeking a master’s degree in teaching that’s flexible, affordable, and convenient? Northeastern Illinois University has you covered. To find out more about the Secondary Education program, please contact the Teacher Education Department at (773) 442-5380, teacher-education@neiu.edu, or find out more about the application process.
Completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education will satisfy all standards for teacher licensure as required by the Illinois State Board of Education. Northeastern Illinois University has not made a determination as to whether this education degree program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in any of the other 54 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Specific requirements for licensure or certification in states other than Illinois vary from state-to-state. In some cases, you may need to take additional coursework or exams to meet individual state requirements and/or you may need to complete background checks.
