Aug 23, 2025

Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

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Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Secondary and PK-12 Education, M.A.T.

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MASTERS OF ARTS IN TEACHING SECONDARY AND PK-12 EDUCATION

MAT SECD / KSEC (Licensure)

As of April 12, 2025

Content Designation: SECD / KSEC

Graduate Faculty: College of Education Faculty provide pedagogy courses, affiliate faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) provide content courses, Council on Teacher Education and CAS Liaison oversee governance.

Content Endorsements

Art, Visual (PK-12)

Music (PK-12)

English/Language Arts (Secondary 9-12)

Foreign Language: Spanish (PK-12)

Mathematics (Secondary 9-12)

Science: Biology (Secondary 9-12) Science:

Chemistry (Secondary 9-12) Science: Physics (Secondary 9-12)

Social Science: History (Secondary 9-12)

Degree Qualification(s) Earned:

The Secondary Education program leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in Secondary Education or PK-12 Education. The purpose of the program is to provide individuals with a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and an initial teacher license. Completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Secondary Education qualifies students for an Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed for teaching grades 9-12 in science (biology, chemistry, or physics designation), English, social science (history designation), or mathematics; or endorsed for teaching grades PK-12 in visual arts, music, physical education, physics or Spanish.

Other Related MAT Programs

The following list of programs are not housed within this MAT Secondary Education program group. Curriculum expectations for these majors are housed in other departments.

MAT Program	Department
Early Childhood (Birth to Grade 2) - ECH	Education Studies & Recreation (DESR)
Elementary Education (Grades K to 6) - ELED	Education Studies & Recreation (DESR)
Physical Education (K-12) - PE	Education Studies & Recreation (DESR)
Special Education (PK-12) - SPED	Advanced Studies in Education (DASE)

Please note: Courses leading to an English as Second Language (ESL), Bilingual Education (BIL), Middle Level Education (MIDL) Endorsements can be added optionally to Secondary (9-12), K-12, and PreK-12 licensure programs above and beyond the initial Professional Educator License (PEL). Consult with the Office of Teacher Licensure for more information as ISBE requirements are subject to change.

Program Vision and Focus:

The Secondary Education MAT licensure program meets the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) standards in each content area designation, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) standards, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Illinois Professional Educator Standards (IPES) and the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards (IL CRTLS). The program is also aligned with standards of the International Literacy Association (ILA) and the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA). This licensure degree program requires the successful completion of the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Content Area Test in the content area designation and the Pearson edTPA Professional Portfolio.

Qualification(s) Earned:

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Secondary Education leads to an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Professional Educator License (PEL) teaching grades 9-12 in English/Language Arts, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, or physics designation), English, or social science (history designation) or teaching grades PK-12 in visual arts, foreign language: Spanish, or music.

General Requirements | Entry Points:

Students are responsible for meeting the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially register in a teacher education program leading to licensure at Chicago State University, regardless of when they were admitted to the university.
There are six “Entry Points” integrated into the curriculum plan of study designed to ensure that students meet and/or exceed program competencies and requirements necessary to move forward.

Entry Point 1 - Admission to Chicago State University:

Major Code: SECD or KSEC

Entry Point 2 - Admission to College of Education:

Major Code: SECD or KSEC

Attribute Code: ECOE

Entry Point 3: Admission to Professional Program: Major Code: SECD or KSEC

Attribute Code: ACOE

- Meet the general admission requirements of the University Graduate School and the College of Education.

- Specialization GPA > 2.75 - Pearson

- ILTS Content Area Exam Score > 240 for Full Admission

- Pearson - ILTS Content Area Exam Score < 240 for Conditional Admission

- Signed COE Disposition (NDA) Policy Statement

- Submit Transcripts to Advisor and Office of Teacher Licensure to determine which General Education and Content Specialization courses apply to licensure requirements

- Declaration of Intent to seek Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Licensure and choose major.

- Interview and Writing Sample - Disposition Audit Report 1

- Self-Reflection

- COE Safety Training Module - Article 21 Disclosure

- Clear Accurate Biometrics Background Check - Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN)

- Disposition Audit 2 Report

- Specialization GPA > 2.75 - Professional Education GPA > 3.00 - Degree Audit Completed by Advisor

- Professional Education GPA > 3.00

- Degree Audit Completed by Advisor

- Early Methods STOT Report: Average Rubric Score > 3

- Disposition Audit 3 Report

Entry Point 4: Admission To COE Student Teaching Clinical Experience:

Semester 3 - 16 weeks (12+ credits) Attribute Code: SCOE

Entry Point 5: Admissions to the Profession:

Semester 4 - 16 weeks (3-6 credits) Attribute Code: GCOE

- Specialization GPA > 2.75

- Professional Education GPA > 3.00

- Degree Audit Completed by Advisor

- Mid Methods STOT Report: Average Rubric Score > 3

- Disposition Audit 4 Report

- General Education GPA > 2.50

- Specialization GPA > 2.75

- Professional Education GPA > 3.00

- Degree Audit Completed by Advisor

- Final Methods STOT Report: Average Rubric Score > 3

- Disposition Audit 5 & 6 Report - [External] Passing Score - edTPA Portfolio

- Pearson - ILTS Content Area Exam Score > 240*

Notes

✔ Receiving a grade of D in any course may prevent a student from admission to one of the College of Education Entry Points.

✔ It is highly recommended that students enroll in ED 3092: 240 Tutoring during the summer term.

General Requirements

Students are responsible for meeting the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially register in a program leading to licensure at Chicago State University regardless of when they were admitted to the University.
Admission to the degree program is contingent upon good academic standing and acceptance by the department.
Formal admission to the College of Education as a degree-seeking student in a pre-professional program is based on current COE requirements.
Graduation requirements include a minimum of 33 credit hours of the student’s course work completed at the 5000-level; including courses identified to meet content area designation requirements, as approved by the program in consultation with the department for the specified content area designation.
No more than two grades of C may be applied toward the degree.
A full academic schedule of courses for graduate students is nine semester credit hours (6 hrs. during summer). Exceptions to this policy may be made only with the approval of the department.
Candidates must abide by all College policies stated in this catalog, unless exceptions are processed through established department, college, and university procedures, documented in writing.
Completion of all master’s degree requirements, including the Candidate Work Sample Capstone Project, must be completed within six years.

Admission Requirements

Provide two transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the equivalent major in the teaching designation content area.
Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.
Submit proof that undergraduate coursework meets a minimum grade of C threshold, including those credits identified to meet general education licensure requirements. General Education course requirements for licensure are subject to change by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Contact the Office of Teacher Licensure for more information at https://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/licensure.htm.

Program Completion and Graduation Requirements

Program Completion and Degree Requirements:

Program completion and degree requirements include a minimum of 33 credit hours of the student’s course work completed at the 5000-level; including courses identified to meet content area designation requirements, as approved by the program and the Office of Teacher Licensure in consultation with the department for the specified content area designation.
All student teachers will demonstrate they have met the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, including mastery of the content knowledge as evidenced by a passing score on the Illinois Licensure Testing System content area test. Candidates for licensure must also successfully complete a Candidate Work Sample / Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) professional portfolio by the National Board for Professional Teachers.
All course and program requirements must be completed within six years.
Candidates must abide by all College policies stated in this catalog, unless exceptions or adherence to higher expectations are noted in program documentation.

General program completion and graduation requirements include completing an application to complete the program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all required and elective courses in professional education and the designated content area, as well as completion of the following addition licensure requirements:

Pre-clinical and clinical fieldwork forms documenting 100 clock hours are submitted to the Office of Field Placement.
Student Teaching Clinical Experiences successfully completed.
All College of Education and Program Assessments submitted in the Tevera courseware domain, including the Candidate Work Sample (edTPA) Capstone Project and Professional Portfolio.

Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination/assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.

Spring Semester Student Teaching - October 15th in the prior Fall Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process.
l Semester Student Teaching - March 15th* in the prior Spring Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process. * Extensions to June 30th can be granted with program approval.
All requirements are met for state licensure as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of Teacher Licensure. After a transcript analysis is completed by the Office of Teacher Licensure, the candidate may be required to provide proof of completion of undergraduate-level coursework [i.e. 32 credit hours in the content area designation plus child psychology, educational psychology, and/or other state-mandated professional education requirements] to meet licensure requirements.

Curriculum Requirements - Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (Licensure) - 35-42 Credits

Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) Option - SECD
PK-12 Education Option - KSEC

[Minimum 33 Graduate Credit Hours Required to Complete Degree]

* Restricted to students admitted to the College of Education

f Field Block Course

^f Register along with Corequisite Field Block Course

Note: Students are responsible for meeting the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially register in a teacher education program leading to licensure at Chicago State University, regardless of when they were admitted to the university.