Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
The MAT program is designed for candidates who already hold a baccalaureate undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and who wish to earn a master’s degree while completing the requirements for an Illinois teaching license. The Professional Educator License (PEL) is recognized as a professional credential and often allows candidates to be licensed to teach in other states.
Coursework is designed to provide a solid practical and theoretical foundation. North Park attracts candidates from diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds; all share a common passion for teaching and learning in a P-12 school setting.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements listed earlier in the Graduate Catalog, MAT candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Completion of personal essay
- Interview with Graduate Admissions Committee (if requested)
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- For middle grades, senior high and K-12 candidates, a content area that meets the learning outcomes of the Illinois State Board of Education
Program requirements
- Coursework of 34 or more semester hours is required for this degree
- A bachelor’s degree recognized by the State of Illinois
- An overall grade point average of 3.0, including a 3.0 in the major content area and 3.0 in education coursework
- All candidates must pass the content test in their area prior to student teaching.
- Candidates must pass the edTPA before receiving licensure from ISBE.
Clinical Experiences
One of the keys to the success of North Park’s development of teaching professionals is our unique blend of clinical experiences. Candidates participate in three clinical experiences: teacher aiding, mini-teaching, and student teaching. Supervision by North Park faculty provides feedback throughout all three clinical experiences to maximize the teaching skills learned and demonstrated by each candidate.