Teacher Education Programs (M.Ed.)
The Master of Education with Licensure (M.Ed.) degree is designed to provide students the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License in elementary, middle grades, secondary, visual arts or special education teaching. Theory and practice are integrated through professional coursework in education with a strong liberal arts foundation and a specific major while field experiences are completed in a variety of school settings. These experiences provide opportunities for aspiring teachers to observe experienced teachers, practice newly emerging teaching skills and apply the knowledge gained from university coursework to the elementary, middle and secondary schools. The licensure program culminates in an internship (student teaching) during which the students synthesize the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required in the teaching profession. Upon successful completion of a teacher licensure program, the teacher candidate will be prepared in Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
Middle grades licensure is offered in the subject areas of general science, language arts, mathematics, and social science. Secondary licensure is offered in the subject areas of biology: science, English Language Arts, history: social science, and mathematics. The program meets the education licensure needs of individuals seeking a career in teaching. The Master of Education with Professional Educator Licensure is for individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and are seeking a teaching license.
The graduate curriculum includes all state required professional education course work and school based field experiences. The student is responsible for completing deficiencies in any program related general education and subject area course work. Such course work may be completed at the undergraduate level. A College of Education advisor will provide students with assistance in selecting the courses needed to fulfill licensure requirements that are not part of the graduate component.
Undergraduate licensure courses may be utilized, in part, to meet state Professional Educator Licensure requirements. However, additional graduate courses must be taken to complete the necessary hours of graduate coursework required for the degree.
- Program Requirements
- Master of Education with Professional Educator License (40-52 credit hours)
- Combined Bachelor’s + Master’s Degree (4+1) Secondary Education - with Professional Educator License Programs
- Secondary Education License Requirements (46-48 credit hours)
- Science: Biology Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
- English Language Arts Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
- History: Social Science Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
- Mathematics Major with Professional Educator License – Secondary Education
Program Requirements
Depending on the particular endorsement, thirty-nine to forty-nine credit hours of graduate level courses are required to earn licensure. Methods of Educational Research (three credit hours) is required for the M.Ed. degree. Maintenance of at least a “B” average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is necessary for advancement to candidacy and graduation.
Important Teacher Licensure Notes:
- Teacher candidates progress through assessment levels with requirements that include minimum overall and major grade point averages and successfully passing required Illinois State Board of Education tests.
- All licensure requirements are subject to change as directed by State of Illinois legislation and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and as interpreted by the College of Education.
Master of Education with Professional Educator License (40-52 credit hours)
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MEDU 610 | Methods of Educational Research 1 | 3 |
| MEDU 627 | Technology for Teaching and Learning | 2 |
| MEDU 649 | Methods of Teaching Special Education and English Language Learners | 3 |
| MEDU 665 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| MEDU 670 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MEDU 671 | Beginning Field Experience | 1 |
| MEDU 672 | Evidence of Teaching Proficiency | 1 |
| MEDU 674 | Instructional Planning and Assessment | 3 |
| MEDU 675 | Learners with Exceptional and Diverse Needs | 3 |
| MEDU 698 | Directed Practicum | 1 |
| MEDU 699 | Professional Growth Seminar | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 17-28 | |
| Total Hours | 41-52 | |
- 1
This course is taken after completion of all licensure requirements are met.
Elementary Education (24 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEDU 661 | Classroom Management in Elementary Education | 2 |
| MEDU 662 | Constructing a Supportive Learning Environment | 2 |
| MEDU 676 | Methods of Teaching Science in Elementary School | 3 |
| MEDU 677 | Integrating Technology and Instruction | 1 |
| MEDU 678 | Methods of Teaching Social Science in Elementary School | 1 |
| MEDU 646 | General Literacy Methods | 3 |
| MEDU 681 | Elementary Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 683 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School | 3 |
| MEDU 689 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| MEDU 690 | Elementary Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Middle Grades Education (20 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEDU 630 | Psychology and Development of Adolescents | 3 |
| MEDU 646 | General Literacy Methods | 2 |
| MEDU 667 | Adolescent Curriculum, Instruction and Classroom Management | 3 |
| MEDU 669 | Middle Grades Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 689 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| MEDU 673 | Middle Grades Education Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents English/Language Arts (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Social Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Mathematics (3) | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
Secondary (15 credit hours)
Candidates may also earn their Middle Grades Education Endorsement as part of this program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEDU 667 | Adolescent Curriculum, Instruction and Classroom Management | 3 |
| MEDU 682 | Secondary Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 689 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| MEDU 695 | Secondary Education Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents English/Language Arts (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Social Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Mathematics (3) | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Special Education Endorsement with Professional Educator Licensure (26 credit hours)
Candidates may also earn their Elementary Education Endorsement as part of this program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEDU 640 | Development and Characteristics of Individuals with Special Needs | 3 |
| MEDU 641 | Legal and Historical Foundations in Special Education | 3 |
| MEDU 642 | Assessment & Diagnosis in Special Education | 3 |
| MEDU 645 | Communication, Collaboration and Transition in Special Education | 3 |
| MEDU 646 | General Literacy Methods | 2 |
| MEDU 647 | General Mathematics Methods | 2 |
| MEDU 648 | Language Development and Teaching Methods for Moderate and Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| MEDU 677 | Integrating Technology and Instruction | 1 |
| MEDU 679 | Special Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 697 | Special Education Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| Total Hours | 26 | |
Visual Arts Education Endorsement with Professional Educator Licensure (15 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEDU 655 | Methods of Teaching Elementary Visual Arts | 3 |
| MEDU 656 | Methods of Teaching Middle and Secondary Visual Arts | 3 |
| MEDU 657 | Visual Arts Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 658 | Visual Arts Education Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| MEDU 689 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Combined Bachelor’s + Master’s Degree (4+1) Secondary Education - with Professional Educator License Programs
Students seeking secondary education license must major in one of the following areas of study:
- Science: Biology
- English Language Arts
- History: Social Science
- Mathematics
The majors are jointly administered by the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students must fulfill requirements in General Education, major content area, and education requirements. Students complete select education courses at the Masters level while still an undergraduate student. After completing their bachelor’s degree, students complete one year of Master’s level education courses to earn their Professional Educator license. After completing one additional course, students earn their Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. Candidates may also earn their Middle Grades Education Endorsement as part of this program.
Secondary Education License Requirements (46-48 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Professional Education Courses | ||
| EDUC 100 | Human Relations for Educators | 2 |
| EDUC 210 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| EDUC 212 | Adolescent Beginning Field Experience | 1 |
| EDUC 220 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 225 | Technology for Teaching and Learning | 2 |
| EDUC 230 | Learners with Exceptional and Diverse Needs | 3 |
| EDUC 498 | Practicum | 1 |
| MEDU 649 | Methods of Teaching Special Education and English Language Learners | 3 |
| MEDU 674 | Instructional Planning and Assessment | 3 |
| MEDU 689 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| MEDU 667 | Adolescent Curriculum, Instruction and Classroom Management | 3 |
| MEDU 674 | Instructional Planning and Assessment | 3 |
| MEDU 698 | Directed Practicum | 1 |
| Internship Semester I | ||
| MEDU 682 | Secondary Education Internship I | 1 |
| MEDU 621 | Community Engagement in School | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents English/Language Arts (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Social Science (3) | ||
| Methods of Teaching Adolescents Mathematics (3) | ||
| Internship Semester II | ||
| MEDU 699 | Professional Growth Seminar | 1 |
| MEDU 672 | Evidence of Teaching Proficiency | 1 |
| MEDU 695 | Secondary Education Internship II: Student Teaching | 5 |
| Additional requirement for Graduate Degree after licensure is complete | ||
| MEDU 610 | Methods of Educational Research | 3 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Choose from one of the following:
Science: Biology Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
General Education Requirements: (36-37 credit hours) as listed in this catalog
Major Requirements (78-79 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 151 | Beginning Investigative Experiences in Biology | 2 |
| BIOL 160 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
| BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 255 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 345 | Perspectives in Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 361 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 375 | Advanced Investigative Experience in Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 390 | Methods of Teaching Adolescents Science | 3 |
| BIOL 413 | Senior Teaching Portfolio | 1 |
| Support Courses | ||
| CHEM 121 & CHEM 123 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 122 & CHEM 124 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| ENVS 120 | Earth Science | 4 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | 3-4 |
| or MATH 175 | Statistics | |
| PSCI 111 | General Physics I | 4 |
| Total Hours | 54-55 | |
English Language Arts Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
General Education Requirements (42-50 credit hours) as listed in this catalog
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Select one of the following general education courses that meets outcome in literary inquiry: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Literature (3) | ||
| Nature Writing (3) | ||
| Travel Writing (3) | ||
| Introduction to African American Literature (3) | ||
| Know Thyself (3) | ||
| Additional Education Courses | ||
| EDUC 377 | General Literacy Methods | 2 |
| Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following options: 1 | 3-6 | |
1 year of foreign language study in high school and 1 foreign language class in college | ||
2 foreign language classes in college | ||
1 foreign language class during semester abroad where the language is spoken | ||
| Senior Capstone requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1-3 | |
| ENGL 497 | Senior Thesis/Portfolio | 1-3 |
| Literature Proseminar I (1) and Literature Proseminar II (1) | ||
| Required courses | ||
| ENGL 291 | Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 318 | Teaching Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | American English: Dialects & Grammars | 3 |
| ENGL 372 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENGL 400 | Critical Theory | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select at least three credit hours in each of four period requirements (Ancient, Medieval-Early Modern, Enlightenment-Victorian, Modern-Contemporary) taking care that those selections include British, American, and world literatures: | 12 | |
| Ancient | ||
| Ancient Literature (3) | ||
| World Literature Before 1900 (3) (depending on course content) | ||
| Medieval/Early Modern | ||
| British Literature to 1450 (3) | ||
| British Literature 1450-1660 (3) | ||
| British Literature 1660-1785 (3) | ||
| Chaucer (3) | ||
| World Literature Before 1900 (3) (depending on course content) | ||
| Enlightenment/Victorian | ||
| American Literature to 1850 (3) | ||
| American Literature 1850-1914 (3) | ||
| British Literature 1785-1890 (3) | ||
| World Literature Before 1900 (3) (depending on course content) | ||
| Modern/Contemporary | ||
| American Literature 1914-1965 (3) | ||
| American Literature 1965-Present (3) | ||
| British Anglophone Literature 1890-Present (3) | ||
| World Literature After 1900 (3) | ||
| Vietnam Literature (3) | ||
| Remaining electives | ||
| Select three credit hours of Literature Electives | 3 | |
| Select three credit hours of Writing or Literature Electives (excluding any courses taken to fulfill other concentration requirements) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 43-50 | |
- 1
Note that modern and classical languages fulfill this requirement, as does American Sign Language. Students whose maternal language is not English and who are attending the university on an F-1 visa are exempt from foreign language requirements, but no credit is awarded.
Literature Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 291 | Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 335 | Ancient Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 345 | American Literature to 1850 | 3 |
| ENGL 346 | American Literature 1850-1914 | 3 |
| ENGL 347 | American Literature 1914-1965 | 3 |
| ENGL 348 | American Literature 1965-Present | 3 |
| ENGL 351 | British Literature to 1450 | 3 |
| ENGL 352 | British Literature 1450-1660 | 3 |
| ENGL 354 | British Literature 1660-1785 | 3 |
| ENGL 355 | British Literature 1785-1890 | 3 |
| ENGL 360 | British Anglophone Literature 1890-Present | 3 |
| ENGL 362 | World Literature Before 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 363 | World Literature After 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 371 | Chaucer | 3 |
| ENGL 372 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENGL 400 | Critical Theory | 3 |
| ENGL 410 | Methods in Comparative Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 420 | Vietnam Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 440 | Genre | 3 |
| ENGL 441 | Dialogic and the Novel | 3 |
| ENGL 444 | Literary Non-Fiction | 3 |
| ENGL 450 | Author Seminar | 3 |
| ENGL 494 | Topic Seminar | 3 |
| ENGL 495 | Directed Study | 1-3 |
| ENGL 496 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
Writing Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 300 | Free Speech | 3 |
| ENGL 309 | Writing Poetry | 3 |
| ENGL 312 | Memoir & the Personal Essay | 3 |
| ENGL 315 | Advanced Composition: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ENGL 316 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 317 | Writing in the Disciplines | 3 |
| ENGL 318 | Teaching Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 319 | Tutoring Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | American English: Dialects & Grammars | 3 |
| ENGL 322 | Style | 3 |
| ENGL 325 | Freelance Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 498 | Writing Internship | 1-6 |
| FORL 300 | Translation | 3 |
History: Social Science Major with Professional Educator License - Secondary Education
General Education Requirements: (46-47 credit hours) as listed in this catalog
Major Requirements (46 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HIST 111 | History of World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 112 | History of World Civilization 1500 to Present | 3 |
| HIST 121 | United States to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 122 | United States Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 301 | History and Social Sciences Seminar | 3 |
| Senior year required history courses | ||
| HIST 390 | Methods of Teaching Adolescents Social Science | 3 |
| HIST 497 | Senior Thesis | 1 |
| Select one of the following courses in U.S. history (over 200 level): | 3 | |
| Colonial America (3) | ||
| America's Early Republic (3) | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction (3) | ||
| Emergence of Modern America (3) | ||
| The United States: 1914-1945 (3) | ||
| The United States since 1945 (3) | ||
| The Presidency (3) | ||
| Topics in History (0-3) | ||
| Select one of the following courses in European History: | 3 | |
| Politics and History of Eastern Europe (3) | ||
| Medieval Europe (3) | ||
| Modern Europe I (3) | ||
| Modern Europe II (3) | ||
| Classical Civilization of Greece and Rome (3) | ||
| Topics in History (0-3) | ||
| Select one of the following courses in Non-Western History: | 3 | |
| History of Africa (3) | ||
| History of the Middle East (3) | ||
| History of Latin America (3) | ||
| Topics in History (0-3) | ||
| Required Interdisciplinary Courses (counted toward the major) | ||
| Select 15 credit hours of the following: | 15 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics (3) | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics (3) | ||
| Introduction to World Politics, International Law, and Organization (3) | ||
| American National Government (3) | ||
| World Regional Geography (3) | ||
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Mathematics Major with Professional Educator License – Secondary Education
General Education Requirements: (50 credit hours) as listed in this catalog
Major Requirements (50 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
| MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| MATH 182 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 271 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 275 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 280 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 326 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 331 | Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| MATH 351 | College Geometry | 3 |
| MATH 371 | Introduction to Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 375 | Abstract Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH 390 | Methods of Teaching Adolescents Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 391 | Junior Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 490 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: 1 | 6 | |
| History of Mathematics I (3) | ||
| History of Mathematics II (3) | ||
| Theory of Interest (3) | ||
| Mathematical Statistics II (3) | ||
| Operations Research (3) | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis (3) | ||
| Numerical Analysis (3) | ||
| Topics in Mathematics (1-3) | ||
| Total Hours | 50 | |