Curriculum

M.Ed. in Secondary Education (Certification 6-12)

Degree Requirements

Total Hours: 36
Student Teaching: Required
Comprehensive: Impact on Student Learning Project and Professional Practice Profile  
Thesis: None

Length of Program 
Full-time secondary education students can complete the program in 2 years, or 4 semesters, if they enroll in three courses per semester and follow the required course sequence.

Part-time secondary education students can complete the program in typically 2-1/2 years, or 6 semesters, by taking two courses per semester.

Students have five years from acceptance to complete the program. (See SOE Policy: Time Limit for Degree Completion‌)

Program and State Requirements
All candidates must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills and their specific content exam to advance past their first semester of enrollment. Candidates in all programs leading to Illinois certification are also required to pass an Illinois State Criminal Background Check.  Policies and procedures for receiving Illinois certification must be met.

Continuous Enrollments
Master's students in Secondary Education are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. (See SOE Policy: Academic Standing - Continuous Enrollment‌)

A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Associate Dean of Student Academic Services.

Curriculum Plan
Completion of the M.Ed. degree program in Secondary Education requires 36 semester hours. A Professional Profile and Impact on Student Learning Project report are required at the end of the program.

Required Courses (36* semester hours)

• CIEP M6_ - Subject-Specific Methods (consult advisor for appropriate course number) (35 clinical hrs)
• CIEP 401 - Exceptional Child
• CIEP 414 - Instructional Strategies for Diverse Populations (15 clinical hours)
• CIEP 423 - Advanced Reading/Writing in Content Areas (15 clinical hours)
• CIEP 425 - Classroom Assessment
• CIEP 450 - Educational Psychology
• CIEP 446 - Middle School Theory and Practice (15 clinical hours)
• CIEP 458 - Classroom Management
• CIEP 469 - Teaching and Learning in Urban Communities (20 clinical hours)  
• ELPS 420 - Philosophy of Education in a Diverse Society
• CIEP 562 - Student Teaching

* Certification areas requiring additional requirements:

English

• CIEP 429 - Teaching Children & Adolescent Literature

Foreign Language

• CIEP 336 - Child Development with Educational Implications
• Test of Oral Proficiency

History, Political Science, and Psychology

The following undergraduate courses in the social sciences or their equivalent must be completed in addition to the major field.  A second teaching field is required for those whose major field is Political Science or Psychology.

• CPSY 342 Issues in Identity Development and Cultural Pluralism OR
  ANTH 102 Cultural Anthropology
• ECON 201 Microeconomics
• Two courses in History at the 100 level
• INTS 101 Introduction to International Studies OR
  HIST 299 Global History
• NTSC 113 Earth Science
• NTSC 281 Human Impact on the Environment OR
  NTSC 282 Human Environment OR
  NTSC 180 Environmental Sustainability OR
  ANTH 104 Human Ecological Footprint
• PLSC 101 American Politics
• PSYC 101 General Psychology
• SOCL 101 Sociological Perspectives: An Introduction
• SOCL 126 Science, Technology and Society

Clinical Experiences
The clinical experiences, in addition to 6-12 urban school environments, include an urban community-based field experience.  Schools are often seen as isolated entities with little or no connenctions to their communities. This field experience will allow individuals to see these connections by engaging them in educational initiatives of local community organizations.

These planned clinical experiences provide our graduates with a strong foundation in pedagogy and content knowledge that is based on the in-depth and meaningful field experiences designed for schools and community-based agencies.

Although individuals may take courses during the day or evening, clinical field experiences are scheduled in the morning or afternoon during regular school hours.

Comprehensive Assessment   
An Impact on Student Learning Project and Professional Practice Profile are required. The assessment is completed during Student Teaching. Candidates must submit a proposal for approval. The faculty assessor will notify the student of results.

Graduation Requirements

• Overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation
• Completion of student teaching
• Completion of comprehensive assessments (an Impact on Student Learning Project and Professional Profile)
• Illinois assessment of professional teaching

Degree Conferral
While the commencement ceremony is every May, degrees can be conferred May, August, and December. Students must apply for graduation/degree conferral. Students should apply for graduation in the semester they anticipate completing all degree requirements. Failure to meet application deadlines may result in a delay of the conferral of the degree to the following semester. Applications for Degree Conferral are due:

• August 1 for December conferral
• December 1 for May conferral
• February 1 for August conferral

Please note the degree conferral application is valid for only one semester. If the degree is not conferred for the semester requested, a new application is required for a subsequent semester.