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Graduate Catalog 2002-2004

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) | Master of Arts in Education Leadership (M.A.E.L)

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is geared toward excellence in teaching, and is designed for experienced classroom teachers. The M.A.T. provides a program of selected graduate studies to improve and enhance the delivery system of classroom learning experiences for the practitioner. It is aligned with and customized to support the school improvement initiatives of local schools. The M.A.T. can also be developed to support the achievement of National Board for Professional Standards certification.

Full-time coursework consists of 6 semester hours per term for a total of 18 semester hours per year. Students may also enroll for part-time study. The program combines classroom study with on-the-job assignments that enable students to test theory against practical reality.

Admission Requirements for M.A.T. and M.A.E.L. Programs:
In addition to the general University "Graduate Admission Requirements and Procedures", the following are required for entrance into the M.A.T. and M.A.E.L. program:

  1. Current Teaching Certificate
  2. Two years of teaching experience prior to completion of graduate studies for the M.A.T.
  3. Two years of teaching experience prior to beginning graduate studies for the M.A.E.L.
  4. Three letters of recommendation, including one from the student's immediate supervisor.
  5. Submission of the Admission essay-form provided with admission materials.

Attendance Policy: All Graduate Education Programs
Attendance is mandatory at all class sessions. If a student is to be absent for any reason he/she must discuss the expected absence with the course instructor before it occurs.

Academic Standards and Evaluation in Graduate Education Programs
Upon completion of each course, letter graduates are assigned to each student. At the graduate level, a "C" grade indicates less than complete mastery of the content and methods of the course. Only two grades of "C" are accepted at the graduate level in the M.A.T. program and they must be balanced by two course grades of "A". If a "C" is received within the first three courses, the student may be removed from the program by action of the program faculty.

Program Requirements:
Thirty-six semester hours are required for the M.A.T. and M.A.E.L. Twenty-one of these semester hours must be taken as core-residency courses taught by Aurora University faculty on campus or at designated off-campus sites. The remaining courses in the degree may be satisfied through transfer course work, on-campus graduate education coursework, or Aurora University coursework offered in conjunction with Aurora University's network of collaborating academic partners.

The College of Education Graduate Faculty Committee may accept a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning for application toward elective degree requirements. Transfer credit must be accepted prior to enrollment in your first M.A.T./M.A.E.L. course. Graduate faculty reserves the right to decide on the applicability of any and all transfer credit.

Students requesting transfer credits must submit a "Request for Transfer Credit" form with their admission application. All courses must be less than five years old at the time of admission and must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. An official transcript must be provided. It is University policy that no more than six semester hours taken as a "Student-At-Large" may be applied toward your graduate degree program.

Degree Requirements for Master of Arts in Teaching

General Core Courses: 21 semester hours required for all programs
EDU601 Contemporary Issues in Education
EDU602 Assessment in Schools
EDU603 The Individual, Cognition and Learning
EDU604 The Learning Environment
EDU605 Technology in the School of the Future
EDU606 Scholarship Applied to Teaching
EDU607 Introduction to Action Research

General Education Electives: 15 semester hours from the list below
EDU/REC502 Adventure Education: Ethics and Methods
EDU520 Philosophic Foundations in Education
EDU537 Adolescent Development and Learning
EDU/REC542 Philosophy and Methods of Outdoor Education
EDU/REC543 Programs in Outdoor Education
EDU544 Middle School: Missions and Methods
EDU548 Methods of Teaching Reading: A Wholistic Approach
EDU561 Survey of the Exceptional Individual and Reluctant Learner
EDU572 Reading and Learning in the Content Area
EDU581 Selected Topics in Education
EDU627 Independent Research Project
EDU660 School Administration
EDU661 Educational Leadership
EDU662 School Supervision
EDU663 Curriculum Development and Evaluation
EDU664 School and Community Relations
EDU665 School Law
EDU666 School Finance

Many additional electives are available through the University's network of collaborating academic partners. Complete listings are available in the College of Education Office.


Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (M.A.E.L.)

The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL) will provide you with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to successfully perform in the elementary and secondary schools and districts as an administrator. Aurora University's graduate program in Educational Leadership provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical format which allows students to use the knowledge and skills presented in class in order to become an effective administrative professional. The MAEL leads to a Type 75 Administrative and/or Supervisory Certificate in Illinois and a Wisconsin Code 51-Principal.

If you already have a master's degree, you may complete the State of Illinois requirements for the Type 75 Certificate by completing the graduate coursework without completing an additional degree.

Options within the program include:

Option 1 - Type 75 Certificate with Supervisory Endorsement
For certified teachers who seek supervisory positions in the schools as Program Coordinators, Supervisors, Curriculum Directors, and other similar or related positions, the Educational Leadership program provides a Master of Arts degree and a program of preparation leading to the Type 75 Certificate with the General Supervisory Endorsement. The course plan requiring 36 semester hours is as follows:

Curriculum - 9 semester hours
EDU605 Technology in the School of the Future
EDU606 Scholarship Applied to Teaching
EDU663 Curriculum Development and Evaluation

Educational Research - 6 semester hours
EDU602 Assessment in the Schools
EDU607 Introduction to Action Research

Supervision and Staff Development - 9 semester hours
EDU603 The Individual, Cognition and Learning
EDU661 Educational Leadership
EDU662 School Supervision

Schools and Public Policy - 9 semester hours
EDU520 Philosophic Foundations in Education
OR
EDU601 Contemporary Issues in Education
EDU660 School Administration
EDU664 School and Community Relations

Clinical Experience - 3 semester hours
EDU667 Practicum in Educational Leadership

Option 2 - Type 75 Certificate with Administrative Endorsement
For certified teachers who seek administrative positions in the schools as Department Chair, Division Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant or Associate Superintendent, or other similar or related positions, the Educational Leadership program provides a Master of Arts degree and a program of preparation leading to the Type 75 Certificate with the General Administrative Endorsement. The course plan requiring 36 semester hours is as follows:

Curriculum - 6 semester hours
EDU605 Technology in the School of the Future
EDU663 Curriculum Development and Evaluation

Educational Research - 6 semester hours
EDU602 Assessment in the Schools
EDU607 Introduction to Action Research

Supervision and Staff Development - 6 semester hours
EDU661 Educational Leadership
EDU662 School Supervision

Schools and Public Policy - 15 semester hours
EDU520 Philosophic Foundations in Education
OR
EDU601 Contemporary Issues in Education
EDU660 School Administration
EDU664 School and Community Relations
EDU665 School Law
EDU666 School Finance

Clinical Experience - 3 semester hours
EDU667 Practicum in Educational Leadership

Option 3 - Type 75 with both Supervisory and Administrative Endorsement

Curriculum - 9 semester hours
EDU605 Technology in the School of the Future
EDU606 Scholarship Applied to Teaching
EDU663 Curriculum Development and Evaluation

Educational Research - 6 semester hours
EDU602 Assessment in the Schools
EDU607 Introduction to Action Research

Supervision and Staff Development - 6 semester hours
EDU603 The Individual, Cognition and Learning
EDU661 Educational Leadership
EDU662 School Supervision

Management of Public Schools - 9 semester hours
EDU660 School Administration
EDU665 School Law
EDU666 School Finance

Schools and Public Policy - 6 semester hours
EDU520 Philosophic Foundations in Education
OR
EDU601 Contemporary Issues in Education
EDU664 School and Community Relations

Clinical Experience - 3 semester hours
EDU667 Practicum in Educational Leadership

Posted: 9 May 2003
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