Evening Program for Elementary Certification M.A.

This is an evening program for working adults who wish to obtain elementary certification and earn a Master of Arts degree. This program is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be successful classroom teachers. Candidates may choose to only complete the coursework and clinical hours needed for elementary certification, or they may continue their studies and earn a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Candidates seeking a Master of Arts degree must complete a comprehensive examination. Although all coursework is offered during evenings, the field work and student teaching requirements must be met during normal school hours. All candidates must meet the requirements for full admission status listed in the College of Education introduction.

Prerequisites

  • Successful completion of the Illinois Basic Skills Test
  • Initial interview with University representative
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Enter with a minimum 2.75 grade point average for Bachelor’s level coursework and maintain a minimum 3.0 during the program.
  • Meet all general education requirements
  • Eighteen hours in an endorsement area (See Program Director for list of acceptable areas of endorsement)
  • Substitute certificate strongly recommended

Degree Requirements

Required Courses for Certification (37):

55-501Classroom Management with Elementary Field Experience I (50 field experience hrs.)

1

55-502Teaching English Language Learners with Field Experience II (50 field experience hrs.)

1

55-504Technology For Teaching and Learning

2

55-510Foundations of Elementary Education

6

55-521Curriculum and Instruction in the Middle School

3

55-524Methods of Early Reading and Literacy Instruction P-3

3

55-525Methods of Intermediate Literacy Instruction 4-9

3

55-530Classroom Assessment and Intervention

3

55-540Methods of Teaching Science and Health, K-9

2

55-552Methods of Teaching Mathematics, K-9

2

55-554Methods of Teaching Social Studies and Multi-Cultural Studies, K-9

2

55-581Student Teachingin the Elementary and Middle School Classroom and Seminar

6

51-546Historical Foundations of American Education

3

Additional courses required for M.A. (4)

55-576First Year Teaching Experience

1

52-575Practical Research for Learning Communities

3

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100 field experience hours

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Comprehensive Examination