MA in Education with Teacher Certification
North Park University’s Master of Arts in Education with Teacher Certification (M.A.T.C.) program is designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education and who wish to earn a master’s degree while completing requirements for teaching in the state of Illinois.
Coursework is designed to provide a solid foundation in teaching methodology that enables you to instruct students with confidence. North Park attracts students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds; all share a common passion for teaching. The Illinois certificate is recognized as a professional credential and is transferable to many other states. The Illinois State Board of Education continually updates teacher certification requirements. It is very important to verify the current status of requirements for Illinois with our North Park certification officers.
Cohort Model
The M.A.T.C. program is offered in a cohort format. This is an entire sequence of courses offered to a group of participants that begin and remain together until the completion of the program. The unique elements of this cohort program are that you will be a part of a group for the duration of the program and you will be able to share similar educational goals and research, as well as study together. Cohort classes are taught by experienced faculty with a wide range of expertise, including current and former classroom teachers, principals, and district administrators, who blend theory and practical experiences to provide a rich environment for teacher education.
Program Features and Benefits
- Convenient, part-time, evening schedule
- Small classes
- Learning from experienced faculty with a wide range of expertise
- An emphasis on research into areas of interest
- Learning about current topics in education
Program Length
Courses are offered in the evenings and are usually 8 weeks in length during the school year. Students may take any of the courses offered at the graduate level, as well as selected undergraduate courses that have graduate components. It is a 40-44 semester hour program that can be completed on the part-time basis in 2-2 ½ years. After 32 hours or 2 years you are a fully, certified teacher and can start teaching. You then have only 4 classes to complete your master’s degree.