Secondary Education (MAT)

Areas of Study*

Program Entry Courses (9 credit hours): Prerequisites to Professional Courses and admission to the College of Education.

• EDUC 6435 (3 credit hours) Introduction to Education
  The student will explore the origins of standards-based education in our American educational system.  It introduces students to the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors of effective teachers.  The course also provides background to the context of contemporary education through an examination of historical, philosophical and political influences.
  
  
• EDUC 6045 (3 credit hours) Theories of Learning and Cognition
  The student will be introduced to learning theory and research on cognition.  Emphasis will be placed on connecting principles of learning theory to classroom practice and the concept of developmentally appropriate instruction.
  
  
• EDUC 6040 (3 credit hours) Classroom Teaching Skills
  The student will explore the variety of skills necessary for effective classroom instruction. Enrollment is limited to graduate students working toward initial certification. Required for admittance to the College of Education.

Upon completion of the Program Entry Courses, Education Studies students must be admitted to the College of Education to continue and enter the MAT Secondary education program as Teacher Candidates before enrolling into the Professional Courses. See Transition Points in the MAT Secondary Program section in the Graduate Catalog for more information.

Professional Courses - 21 hours

• EDUC 6415 (3 credit hours) Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Teachers
  The student will develop an understanding of and commitment to Illinois Teacher Code of Ethics. Through case examinations, candidates will consider how school law impacts the life of the classroom.  The development of professionalism and teaching with integrity will also be explored.

• EDUC 6425 (3 credit hours) Psychology and Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner
  The student will focus on the identification and characteristics of exceptional learners; applicable laws and policies; educational program development based on empirically-supported instructional techniques for diverse learners; appropriate assessment and record-keeping procedures; and transition planning for students with Individualized Educational Plans.

• EDSC 6570 (3 credit hours) Teaching at the Secondary Level
  The student will take an in-depth look at aspects related to the secondary school environment, functioning in a professional manner, and the instructional methods involved in developing curriculum, assessment, and classroom management strategies for all students, including those students who have special needs.  Under the guidance of an experienced teacher and a qualified university faculty member, the clinical component for this course is a supervised experience in an approved parochial or public school setting. 

• EDUC 6445 (3 credit hours) Introduction to Research for Pre-Service Teachers
  The student will be introduced to the purposes, scope and design of Educational research.  The intended outcomes of the course would be to understand the role of research in educational design and decision making, to create consumers of research within the pre-service teaching community, and to learn how to incorporate appropriate research practices into instructional settings.

• EDSC 6230 (3 credit hours) Literacy Instruction in Content Area
  The student will explore the teaching of reading and writing to secondary education students.  Emphasis on language acquisition; instructional approaches; reading processes; writing; reading materials; assessment; vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency strategies; analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing, and summarizing information; integrating reading, writing, and oral communication; collaborating with others; and stimulating discussion in the content areas.  Admission to Teacher Candidacy is required.

• EDUC 6060 (3 credit hours) Classroom Management and Assessment
  The student will explore appropriate classroom management strategies and provides an introduction to classroom assessment and evaluation. Full day course experience required with on-site field experiences. Enrollment limited to graduate students working toward initial teacher certification.

• Professional Instructional Methods course in the content area (Choose 1 based on content endorsement):
  
  
  • EDSC 6602 (3 credit hours) Teaching English: Middle and Secondary Schools
    The student will develop an understanding of English and Language Arts content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required.

• • EDSC 6606 (3 credit hours) Teaching Mathematics: Middle and Secondary Schools
    The student will develop an understanding of mathematics content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required.

• • EDSC 6605 (3 credit hours) Content and Methods for Teaching Physical Education at the Middle and Secondary Levels
    The student will examine learning theories, instructional and teaching strategies and assessment techniques for directing motor learning experiences.  This course develops the pre-service teacher to teach middle and secondary school students in Physical Education.  Field experience required.

• • EDSC 6619 (3 credit hours) Teaching Social Studies: Middle and Secondary Level
    The student will develop an understanding of social studies content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required.

• • EDSC 6618 (3 credit hours) Teaching Science: Middle and Secondary Schools
    This course develops the pre-service teachers understanding of science content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required. 

Student Teaching Internship Semester - 9 hours

• EDUC 6985 edTPA Seminar and Colloquium
  The student will explore edTPA portfolio related needs, issues, skills and areas of knowledge, specifically in preparation for submitting the assessment to Pearson.  Prerequisite:  Enrolled in the Student Teaching Internship.

• Student Teaching Internship:
  
  EDUC 6922 Student Teaching: Secondary Education
  The Student Teaching Internship is an assignment to teach for 16 weeks in a secondary setting in the candidate’s subject endorsement area under the guidance of a classroom cooperating teacher. The intern will be supported and evaluated by the university supervisor. Candidates must meet the requirements for Transition Point Two: Admission to the Student Teaching Internship Semester to begin the internship. Subsequently, candidates must meet the requirements for Transition Point Three: Completion of the Student Teaching Internship Semester. Attendance at scheduled edTPA seminars and Colloquium is required.

The College of Education Student Manual provides details and guidelines for meeting the criteria for successful completion of the Internship Semester and the process for obtaining the Illinois Professional Educator License. Successful completion includes

• Satisfactory completion of the Internship by meeting or exceeding all assessment benchmarks.
• Prepare and present documentation of positive impacts on student learning from your internship teaching (Positive Impact Presentation).
• Complete all State required assessments at the time of the internship (Content Area Test).

Capstone Experience

• Positive Impact Presentation
• edTPA – portfolio to be submitted and achieve a passing score prior to licensing.

 Clinical Experience (Pre-Professional Hours)

• 100 hours – all pre-professional hours are embedded in the MAT coursework and must be completed prior to student teaching).

Each course will describe the number of hours required to be completed in classrooms and the nature of the experience that a candidate must complete.

Lutheran Teacher Diploma (Optional) 20 hours: Meets Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Theology requirements to enter the commissioned ministry for educators

• THY 2000 The Old Testament
• THY 2200 Faith of the Christian Church
• THY 3100 The New Testament
• THY 3200 Christian Life
• THY 3300 History of Christian Biography
• THY 4410 World Religions
• EDUC 4900 Lutheran Teachers: Vocation and Methods

Subject Area endorsements for Secondary Education

English/Language Arts – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours/12 upper division semester hours at the undergraduate level and 1 graduate level coursework in English Language Arts studies. Candidates are required to pass State Test #111 English Language Arts.

Coursework

• ENG-6150 Literature and Related Media for Adolescents (3 hours)
  General survey of adolescent literature and related media materials for grades 6 through 12 including criteria for evaluation and study of trends and issues. Course is offered every other year (odd years) Fall semester in the evening.
  
  
• ENG-6380 Literary Theory and Criticism (3 hours)
  Various contemporary critical approaches to the study of literature and to research tools and methods used in literary studies. Course is offered every year Fall semester in the morning/afternoon.
  
  
• ENG-6520 Twentieth Century American Fiction (3 hours)
  Forms and themes in American fiction from World War I to the present. Writers include Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, Morrison. Course is offered on a rotating schedule. Next class is Spring 2018.
  
  
• ENG-6540 Modern Drama (3 hours)
  Development of Western modern drama. Dramatists include Ibsen, Chekov, Shaw, O’Neill, Pirandello, Williams, and Beckett. Course is offered on a rotating schedule. Next class is Spring 2018.

Mathematics – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours/12 upper division or graduate level coursework in Mathematics. Candidates are required to take 1 graduate level coursework in Mathematics and to pass State Test #115 Mathematics. Concordia offers both an endorsable major and minor in Mathematics.

Coursework

• MAT-6200 Topics in Statistics (3 hours)
  Introduction to basic statistical concepts and applications in the classroom. Course is offered every semester.
  
  
• MAT-6220 Topics in the History of Mathematics (3 hours)
  Major trends in mathematics from earliest times to the seventeenth century with a focus on the outstanding contributions and applications to the classroom. Course is offered every other year (even years) Spring semester.
  
  
• MAT-6230 Topics in Problem Solving with Number Theory (3 hours)
  Problem solving techniques with applications to natural phenomena, games, and puzzles. Use of principles of Number Theory to solve problems. Course is offered every other year (odd years) Spring semester.
  
  
• MAT-6370 Topics in College Geometry (3 hours)
  An introduction to the Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries and their axiomatizations with applications to the classroom. Course is offered every other year (even years) Fall semester.

Physical Education – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours/12 upper division or graduate level coursework in Physical Education. Candidates are also required to take 1 graduate level coursework in Physical Education and pass State Test #144 Physical Education. Concordia also offers Special Certification in K-12 Physical Education – see Specialists K-12 Programs.

Coursework

• PES-6420 Physiology of Exercise (3 hours)
  Scientific basis for the development of physical fitness and conditioning programs. Bioenergetics of human movement; physiological adaptations during and following exercise with emphasis on developing a comprehensive literature review.
  
  Prerequisite: PES-3400 or BIO/PES-2111 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
  Course is offered every Fall semester.
  
  
• PES-6660 Curriculum Design (2 hours)
  Theories and processes of curriculum development, implementation, and assessment for the middle and secondary school setting with an emphasis on developing a comprehensive review of current physical education curriculums. Course is offered every Fall semester.
  
  
• PES-6410 Biomechanics (3 hours)
  Function of the skeletal, articular, and neuromuscular systems in producing efficient movement. Application of mechanical principles in performing sport skills, dance, and adaptive activities with an emphasis on developing a comprehensive literature review. Prerequisite: PES 3400 or BIO/PES-2111 or equivalent with a grade of C or better. Course is offered every Spring semester.
  
  
• PES-6431 Physical Growth and Motor Development (3 hours)
  Physical growth, motor skill acquisition and learning and motor performance primarily from infancy through adolescence with emphasis on developing a comprehensive literature review on the principles of motor development. Course is offered every Spring semester.
  
  
• PES-6740 Measurement and Evaluation in Human Performance (3 hours)
  Theory, practice, and analysis of tests and evaluation procedures related to the study of human performance with emphasis on developing a comprehensive literature review. Course is offered every Spring semester.
  
  
• PES-6210 Fitness Testing and Exercise Prescription (3 hours)
  Techniques for conducting fitness assessments and developing exercise prescriptions. Prepares the practitioner to develop personal fitness programs based on the results of fitness assessments and other relevant information and apply those techniques to clients during the course of the semester. Computer applications.
  
  Prerequisite: PES‐3400 Applied Anatomy and Physiology or equivalent.
  Course is offered every Fall semester.
  
  
• PES-6123 Nutrition for Human Performance (3 hours)
  Presentation and application of appropriate foundational nutrition relative to exercise, the reduction of disease, body composition and weight control with emphasis on developing a comprehensive literature review. Prerequisites: PES‐3400 Applied Anatomy and Physiology, PES‐4101/BIO‐4100 General Nutrition, or permission of instructor. Course is offered every Spring semester.
  
  
• PES‐6950 Independent Study (1‐3 hours)
• PES‐6970 Independent Research (3 hours)

Science – Biology Designation – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Science, 12 semester hours in Biology, and coursework in 2 other Science designations. Candidates are also expected to take 1 graduate-level Biology course and pass State Test #105 Science – Biology.

Coursework

• BIO-4901 Seminar in Biology (3 hours)
  Readings, discussion and oral and written presentations of current topics in selected areas of natural science. Prerequisite: Senior college standing and 16 hours of natural science. Course is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

Science – Chemistry Designation – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Science, 12 semester hours in Chemistry, and coursework in 2 other Science designations. Candidates are also expected to take 1 graduate-level Chemistry course and pass State Test #106 Science – Chemistry.

Coursework

• CHE-4900 Seminar in Chemistry (3 hours)
  Readings, discussion and oral and written presentations of current topics in selected areas of natural science. Prerequisite: senior college standing and 16 hours of natural science. Course is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

Social Science – History Designation – This endorsement requires 32 semester hours in Social Science, 12 semester hours in History, and coursework in 2 other Social Science designations. Candidates are also expected to take 1 graduate-level History course and pass State Test #114 Social Science – History.

Coursework

• EDU-6030 The Impact of ESEA on the Educational Landscape
  Tracing the research streams of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and its impact on American educational policy, this course examines the ideologies and people that influence curriculum development and instructional practices through a historic lens.

Professional Instructional (Methods) Courses (6 hours)

Choose one of the following per your chosen major:

• EDSC-6602 Teaching English: Middle/Secondary Schools
  This course develops the pre-service teachers understanding of English and Language Arts content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required.   Admission to the College of Education.
  
  
• EDSC-6606 Teaching Mathematics: Middle/Secondary Schools
  This course develops the pre-service teachers understanding of mathematics content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required. Admission to College of Education.
  
  
• EDSC-6605 Content and Methods for Teaching Physical Education at the Middle and Secondary Levels
  This course examines learning theories, instructional and teaching strategies and assessment techniques for directing motor learning experiences.  This course develops the pre-service teacher to teach middle and secondary school students in Physical Education.  Field experience required. Admission to College of Education.
  
  
• EDSC-6618 Teaching Science: Middle and Secondary Schools
  This course develops the pre-service teachers understanding of science content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required.  Admission to the College of Education.
  
  
• EDSC-6619 Teaching Social Science: Middle and Secondary Level
  This course develops the pre-service teachers understanding of social studies content and the methodology necessary to teach middle and high school students.  Field experience required. Admission to College of Education.

Choose one graduate-level course in chosen major.

Seminar in Higher Education (EDU 6015)

In addition to the base program curriculum, international students attending face-to-face classes on the CUC campus are required to take the Seminar in Higher Education, a 3-credit course.

Course Description

This course will serve as an introduction to the U.S.-based higher education learning environment. Students will work to understand Concordia University Chicago’s academic conventions, technological systems and communication culture while developing English grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

The Seminar in Higher Education is an excellent opportunity for students to further develop critical skills to help them to be successful in their academic program. This 3-credit course is mandatory for international students attending face-to-face classes on the CUC campus. 

Course Objectives

• Developing knowledge about local and academic culture
• Building grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
• Conducting graduate-level research with the use of electronic and library resources
• Developing note-taking strategies for coursework
• Reflecting on the U.S.-based education system

Academic support for work in students’ current coursework will also be provided during or after class. Guest speakers include representatives from the campus library, writing center and technology services.

Student feedback for the Seminar in Higher Education

• After taking the Seminar, I have the ability to perform more professionally in my assignments.

• The instructor was very dynamic and a good listener. He gave feedback and made sure all the students understood.

• The hands-on activities after the lessons helped my learning experience.

• The professor truly cares for the students. He helps students individually and encourages us to support our peers.