EIU Educator Preparation

Accelerated MAT
Teacher Licensure Program

The EIU Accelerated MAT Teacher Licensure Program is recruiting applicants for the 2024-25 cohort, which will begin classes May 28, 2024.  All coursework for the 2024-25 cohort will be conducted online; a monthly in-person seminar at EIU in Charleston will be required (please see below for details).

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)
• 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, Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, Special 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, history, business, family and consumer science, technology, French, German, or Spanish). Unfortunately, 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 cumulative 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 Summer 2024 (May 28 - July 19 - See program sequence below). During the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, candidates will complete a full-year, full-time residency in a secondary school and complete one online class each semester.  During the Spring 2025 semester, candidates will complete, if required, a performance assessment required for licensure by the State of Illinois.

Note that this program requires monthly seminar online one Friday per month for the duration of the program; seminar dates for 2024-25 will be: September 6, October 11, November 8, December 6, January 10, February 7, March 7, and April 4. Candidates may need to arrange to be absent from their residency assignments for these required seminars. 

Course Sequence (32 semester hours)

• May-July 2024 (12 semester hours):
  • May 28 - June 21 candidates will be enrolled in SED 5330 - Secondary School Instructional Tasks and EDP 5330 - Educational Psychology in Teaching
  • June 24 - July 19 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 2024 (9 semester hours): First semester of residency (STG 5001); departmental methods course (CTE 5403, CTE 5404, CTE 5405, ENG 4801, HIS 4925, MAT 5700, or WLE 4800)
• Spring 2025 (12 semester hours): Second semester of residency (STG 5002), SED 5400, and SED 5430

Admission Requirements and Course Enrollment (documentation is preferred by May 15, 2023)

• 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 2024-25 Acceptance Letter .

First Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by July 31, 2023)

• Completion of Summer 2024 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 (https://mr.dcfstraining.org/);
  
• Completion of school district background check.

Second Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by December 18, 2023)

• Complete first semester residency and specific content area teaching methods course;
• Pass content area test (see https://www.il.nesinc.com/);
• Foreign language candidates must pass the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).

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
• The Golden Apple Foundation provides funds for recent college graduates and career changers committed to teaching in downstate, rural schools and districts through its Accelerators 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

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/coe
This information was updated April 20, 2023