EIU Educator Preparation

Master of Arts in Teaching
Licensure Program

The EIU MAT Teacher Licensure Program is recruiting applicants for the 2026-27 cohort, which will begin classes May 31, 2027.  All coursework for the 2026-27 cohort will be conducted online.

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/space, phsyics) (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, 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, history, biology, chemistry, earth/space science, physics, 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 will take four online courses in Summer 2027. During the Fall and Spring  semesters, candidates will complete a full-year, full-time residency in a secondary school and complete one or two online classes each semester.

Note that this program requires monthly seminar online one Friday per month for the duration of the program; seminar dates for 2025-26 will be: announced. Candidates may need to arrange to be absent from their residency assignments for these required seminars. 

Admission Requirements and Course Enrollment (documentation is required by May 14, 2027)

• 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 2027-28 Acceptance Letter .

First Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by June 25, 2027)

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

Second Semester Residency Placement Requirements (must be documented by end of the Fall semester)

• Complete first semester residency and specific content area teaching methods course;
• Pass content area test (see https://www.il.nesinc.com/).

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 May 2024