Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education
Ready to become a licensed teacher without putting your life on pause? EIU鈥檚 online MAT in Secondary Teaching is built for aspiring educators and career changers who want to make a real impact. Complete your coursework online, then finish with a full-year residency in a school setting, with placement options that can be unpaid, paid, or third-party funded in your local community.
Licensure options (Illinois):
- Grades 9-12: English, Math, History-Social Science, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space, or Physics)
- Grades 5-12: Family & Consumer Sciences, Business, Technology
- Grades PK-12: Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish)
Program highlights:
- Fully online coursework: Learn from anywhere with flexible, asynchronous classes
- Accelerated timeline: Be ready to teach after 3 semesters of coursework
- Expert faculty: Learn from experienced educators and scholars
- Residency built around real life: Choose a placement type that fits your situation and community
Deadlines
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Admission to Program: Friday, May 1, 2026
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Candidate Submission of Acceptance Letter: Friday, May 15, 2026
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Attendance at Required In-Person Orientation: Friday, May 29, 2026
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Residency Placement Confirmation: Friday, June 26, 2026
Program Overview & Start Date
The EIU Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education program is recruiting applicants and will begin classes starting in May 2026. All coursework for the cohort will be conducted online.
Note that this program requires an in-person orientation meeting on EIU's campus on Friday, May 29, 2026.
Eligibility Notes & Restrictions
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.
Notes:
- 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.
- This program is not available for: Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, Physical Education, Art Education, or Music Education.
GPA Requirement
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.
Admission Requirements & 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鈥檚 degree in the designated content area with a minimum 2.65 GPA as documented in official transcripts;
- Criminal History Check through EIU-designated vendor;
- Submission of completed and signed Acceptance Letter.
Program Format & Residency
- Candidates will take four online courses in the Summer semester (course 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:
- Unpaid
- Paid
- As part of an approved third-party program (e.g. Golden Apple Accelerators)
Residency Placement Requirements
First Semester Residency Placement Requirements (documented after 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 ;
- Completion of school district background check.
Second Semester Residency Placement Requirements (documented after Fall semester):
- Complete first semester residency and specific content area teaching methods course;
- Pass (Exceptions can be made with approval from Department Chair and Graduate Coordinator of Teaching, Learning & Foundations)
Course Sequence33 Semester Hours
Summer Semester (12 semester hours):
- June 1-26:
- ED 5330: Secondary School Instructional Tasks
- EDP 5330: Educational Psychology in Teaching
- June 29-July 24:
- EDF 5510: Social Foundations for Educational Practice
- SPE 5501 Education of Individuals with Exceptionalities: Access to the General Education Curriculum
Fall Semester (9 semester hours):
- STG 5001: First semester of residency
- Departmental methods course
Spring Semester (12 semester hours):
- STG 5002: Second semester of residency
- SED 5400: Special Issues
- SED 5430: Literacy, Assessment, and Differentiation in Secondary Schools
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 & 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 & Scholarships
- EIU's Grow Your Own Project provides financial support for candidates in Master of Arts in Teaching program
- The Golden Apple Foundation provides funds for recent college graduates and career changers committed to teaching in downstate, rural schools and districts through its
- 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
Contact Information
Dr. Dan Carter
Graduate Coordinator for Teaching, Learning & Foundations
College of Education
海角社区
600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920
djcarter@eiu.edu | 217-581-5728