Master of Arts in Teaching
Secondary Option Licensure Program
The EIU Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Option Program is recruiting applicants and will begin classes starting in May. All coursework for the cohort will be conducted online; a required in-person orientation on the EIU campus will be held Friday, May 29, 2026.
Candidates who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree program in a designated content area are eligible for admission to the program. Candidates must have at least 32 semester hours of coursework in the specific subject matter. Content areas that are offered in the program are:
- Mathematics (grades 9-12)
- English (grades 9-12)
- History-Social Science (grades 9-12)
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space, or Physics (grades 9-12) (pending ISBE approval)
- Career and Technical Education (Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, or Technology Education) (grades 5-12)
- Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish) (grades PK-12)
Note: This program is not available for: Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, Physical Education, Art Education, or Music Education.
Also Note: Candidates must have a degree in one of the areas offered in the program (mathematics, English, science, history, business, family and consumer science, technology, French, German, Spanish). Degrees in such areas as General Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, or content areas not listed above (sociology, political science, geography, economics, psychology, etc.) cannot be used for admission. Additionally, candidates must have had a 2.65 GPA or higher as an undergraduate. Candidates who do not meet the 2.65 GPA requirement must earn a 3.0 GPA on the first 12 hours of MAT graduate coursework or have earned a 3.0 GPA on 12 semester hours of course work related to their content area.
Candidates will take four online courses in the Summer semester (See program sequence below). During the following Fall and Spring semesters, candidates will complete a full-year, full-time residency in a secondary school. Along with residency in the Fall, candidates are enrolled in one online course (content methods). In the Spring term, along with residency, candidates are enrolled in two online courses.
The program requires completion of a full-time residency following the calendar of the school district in which the candidate completes the residency, Residencies may be (1) unpaid, (b) paid (e.g., as a long-term substitute teacher), or (3) as part of an approved third-party program (e.g., Golden Apple Accelerators). Residency placements must be approved by EIU and confirmed by Friday, May 29.
Note that this program requires an in-person orientation meeting on EIU's campus on Friday, May 29.
Course Sequence (33 semester hours)
- Summer semester (12 semester hours):
- June 1-26 candidates will be enrolled in SED 5330 - Secondary School Instructional Tasks and EDP 5330 - Educational Psychology in Teaching
- June 29- July 24 candidates will be enrolled in EDF 5510 -Social Foundations for Educational Practice and SPE 5501 Education of Individuals with Exceptionalities: Access to the General Education Curriculum
- Fall semester (9 semester hours): First semester of residency (STG 5001); departmental methods course
- Spring semester (12 semester hours): Second semester of residency (STG 5002), SED 5400 - Special Issues, and SED 5430 - Literacy, Assessment, and Differentiation in Secondary Schools
Admission Requirements and Course Enrollment
- Acceptance by the EIU Graduate School as a degree seeking student; official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate study must be submitted to the EIU Graduate School;
- Bachelor’s degree in the designated content area with a minimum 2.65 GPA as documented in official transcripts;
- Criminal History Check through EIU-designated vendor (www.eiu.edu/edprep/resources/BackgroundCheck.php).
- Submission of completed and signed Acceptance Letter .
First Semester Residency Placement Requirements (documented after the Summer semester)
- Completion of Summer coursework with a minimum 3.00 GPA and all courses with a grade of "C" or higher.
- State-required physical examination and tuberculosis check;
- Completion of Mandated Reporter training ();
- Completion of school district background check.
Second Semester Residency Placement Requirements (documented after the Fall semester)
- Complete first semester residency and specific content area teaching methods course;
- Pass content area test (see ), Exceptions can be made with approval from the Department Chair and Graduate Coordinator of Teaching, Learning, and Foundations;
Program Completion
- Complete second semester residency and secondary education literacy course;
- Pass content area test (not required for degree, but required for licensure);
Program Cost and Financial Aid
- Current EIU cost and attendance information may be found here
- Students seeking a first teaching license are eligible for some forms of financial aid; information is available through the EIU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
- EIU's Grow Your Own Project provides financial support for candidates in Master of Arts in Teaching program (www.eiu.edu/rsi/growyourown.php) or contact Dr. Cecil Smith (mcsmith5@eiu.edu)
- The Golden Apple Foundation provides funds for recent college graduates and career changers committed to teaching in downstate, rural schools and districts through its program
- Other possible sources of funding for teacher candidates may be found here; note that not all sources are available for Master's degree seeking candidates
Deadlines
- Admission to Program: Friday, May 1, 2026
- Candidate Submission of Acceptance Letter: Friday, May 15, 2026
- Attendance at Required In-Person Orientation: Friday, May 29, 2026
- Residency Placement Confirmation: Friday, June 26, 2026
Contact Information
Dr. Dan Carter, Graduate Coordinator for Teaching, Learning and Foundations (djcarter@eiu.edu)
College of Education
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 581-5728 / www.eiu.edu/education
This information was updated in October 2025