Secondary Education, EdM
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure
Through the Master of Education and the Certificate of Advanced Study, experienced teachers are prepared to become more competent and better informed practitioners who serve as leaders for educational reform in local schools and school districts.
Also offered are master's degree programs leading to teacher licensure for individuals who have a degree in a field other than education and wish to become teachers. The three majors leading to licensure are Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2), Elementary Education (Grades 1 - 6), and Secondary Education (Grades 9 - 12). In addition to completing the courses required for an Ed.M. degree, students in these programs follow the same sequence of professional education courses as undergraduate students.
Only master’s students wishing to become licensed teachers in one of these three areas should apply to the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education majors. Master’s degree candidates who do not wish to become teachers, or who are already teachers, should apply to the major in Curriculum and Instruction.
Two doctoral degree programs are offered. The Ph.D. program prepares degree candidates for careers involving research and scholarship, including those in colleges and universities where research is generally combined with teacher education. The Ed.D. program prepares scholarly practitioners for leadership positions in teacher training institutions, state education agencies, and public school districts.
Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed in a calendar year, while the M.S. or M.A. often takes longer. The Ed.M. with licensure typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require four to five years of full time study.
Admission
Interested applicants should start at the College of Education Graduate Programs website. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: a statement of purpose, updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program. Note: The master's with teacher licensure program only admits students for the fall term.
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction's TOEFL requirement for full status admission is greater than 102; the minimum score for limited status is 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the internet-based test, and 213 on the computer-based test. International applicants must also submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances. Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid. In addition, individual academic programs may require a higher score or evidence of spoken English language proficiency. Contact your proposed program of study office for the minimum TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS requirement for admission. For additional details, refer to the Graduate College Handbook English Proficiency Requirement for Admission.
Faculty Research Interests
For information about specific faculty research interests, current grants, and publications, please visit the Faculty Finder.
Facilities and Resources
Departmental resources consist of cooperation with Children's Research Center, Center for Small Urban Communities, as well as other resources in the College. Students who are interested in second language acquisition can become a part of the SLATE program. The department is connected to the University of Illinois Writing Project and the following journals: International Journal of Education & the Arts, Journal of Curriculum Studies, and American Educational Research Journal. The department also has available resources and some workshops provided during the academic year. Program areas (including CREATE, DELTA, Language & Literacy, and MSE) offer discipline-specific resources.
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding. The Council on Teacher Education entitles candidates seeking a Professional Educator License and provides accreditation of professional education programs. Each student completing a degree program is assigned a graduate adviser, who is available to assist the student with planning the program of study and determining degree requirements, courses and timelines for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at the GradMAP pages website.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note: Graduate students employed as Staff by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Award or Scholarship.
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure
Students interested in receiving licensure choose a concentration in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science: History.
Concentration/licensure requirements are separate from degree requirements, although they may count toward the degree as well.
Students may also select a concentration in Bilingual-Bicultural Education or Digital Learning.
Additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Psychology of Learning in Education | ||
| Child Language and Education | ||
| Sociocultural Influence on Learning | ||
| Adjustment in School Settings | ||
| Personality and Soc Dev | ||
| Psychology of Classroom Management | ||
| Adult Learning and Development | ||
| Learning and Human Development with Educational Technology | ||
| Early Adolescent Development | ||
| Assessing Student Performance | ||
| Developments in Educational Psychology | ||
| Global Issues in Learning | ||
| Philosophical and Social Foundations Courses in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
| Foundation of Higher Education | ||
| Elective Hours: | 24 | |
400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) | ||
500-Level Hours Required in Education:12 hours | ||
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Field Placement Information | http://education.illinois.edu/sce |
| Choose a Concentration | English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science: History |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure, English Language Entitlement
The following are required to meet the Illinois Approved Program for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a secondary education (grades 9-12) English Language Arts entitlement. Please note these requirements are separate from degree requirements, although they may count toward the degree as well.
The Council on Teacher Education oversees licensure requirements. School and Community Experiences coordinates all aspects of field placement.
Course Requirements*
Foundation Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology | ||
EPSY 485 meets this requirement | ||
| Philosophical and Social Foundations Courses in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
Content-Area Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in English or 32 semester hours of Language Arts are required. Either option must include coursework from the following content-area courses: | ||
One course in introductory study of literature | ||
One course in English (British) literature | ||
One course in American literature | ||
One course in multicultural literature | ||
One course in study of works of Shakespeare | ||
One advanced course in descriptive grammar | ||
Professional Education Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CI 401 | Introductory Teaching in a Diverse Society (Section E) | 3 |
| CI 403 | Teaching a Diverse High School Student Population (Section E) | 3 |
| CI 404 | Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students (Section E) | 3 |
| CI 473 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
| EDPR 442 | Educational Practice in Secondary Education | 12 |
| EPSY 485 | Assessing Student Performance | 4 |
| SPED 405 | General Educator's Role in Special Education | 3 |
| or SPED 517 | Disability Issues in Special Education | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Content & Professional Education GPA | 2.5 |
| Graduate GPA | 3.0 |
*State rules mandate that no course with a grade lower than a C- be used toward licensure, endorsement, or approvals. This means courses lower than a C- cannot be used.
Requirements are subject to change without notice due to changes in State law and/or rule.
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure - Mathematics Entitlement
The following are required to meet the Illinois Approved Program for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a secondary education (grades 9-12) Mathematics entitlement. Please note these requirements are separate from degree requirements, although they may count toward the degree as well.
The Council on Teacher Education oversees licensure requirements. School and Community Experiences coordinates all aspects of field placement.
Course Requirements*
Foundation Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology | ||
EPSY 485 meets this requirement | ||
| Philosophical and Social Foundations Courses in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
Content-Area Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in Mathematics or 32 semester hours of math is required. Either option must include from the following: | ||
Standard 3-course calculus sequence | ||
Real Analysis | ||
Linear Algebra (matrices) | ||
Probability or statistics | ||
Geometry | ||
Professional Education Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CI 401 | Introductory Teaching in a Diverse Society (Section M) | 3 |
| CI 403 | Teaching a Diverse High School Student Population (Section M) | 3 |
| CI 404 | Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students (Section M) | 3 |
| CI 473 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
| EDPR 442 | Educational Practice in Secondary Education | 12 |
| EPSY 485 | Assessing Student Performance | 4 |
| SPED 405 | General Educator's Role in Special Education | 3 |
| or SPED 517 | Disability Issues in Special Education | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Content & Professional Education GPA | 2.5 |
| Graduate GPA | 3.0 |
*State rules mandate that no course with a grade lower than a C- be used toward licensure, endorsement, or approvals. This means courses lower than a C- cannot be used.
Requirements are subject to change without notice due to changes in State law and/or rule.
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure - Sciences Entitlement
The following are required to meet the Illinois Approved Program for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a secondary education (grades 9-12) Sciences entitlement. Please note these requirements are separate from degree requirements, although they may count toward the degree as well.
The Council on Teacher Education oversees licensure requirements. School and Community Experiences coordinates all aspects of field placement.
Course Requirements*
Foundations Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology | ||
EPSY 485 meets this requirement | ||
| Philosophical and Social Foundations Courses in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
Content-Area Courses:
Science: Biology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in Biology or 32 semester hours in the sciences is required. In either instance, it must include coursework from the following: | ||
| One year (2 semesters) introductory Biology | ||
| Two advanced courses in biology or related fields, including one laboratory | ||
| One course in Calculus | ||
| Two courses in Chemistry | ||
| One course in Physics | ||
| One course in Earth Science | ||
| One course in Astronomy | ||
Science: Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in Chemistry or 32 semester hours in the sciences is required. In either instance, it must include coursework from the following: | ||
| one year (two semesters) of introductory college chemistry | ||
| two courses in organic chemistry, including lab | ||
| one course in analytical chemistry, including quantative analysis | ||
| one course in physical chemistry | ||
| one course in biochemistry or inorganic chemistry | ||
| Related required coursework: | ||
two courses in calculus | ||
two courses in physics | ||
one course in biological science | ||
one course in earth science | ||
one course in astronomy | ||
Science: Earth and Space Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in earth & space science or 32 semester hours in the sciences is required. Either option must include coursework from the following: | ||
| One course in astronomy | ||
| One course in atmospheric science or meteorology | ||
| One year of introductory geology, including physical and historical (GEOL 107 and GEOL 208) | ||
| One introductory course in history of life (GEOL 143) OR advanced course in paleontology | ||
| One course in earth materials (GEOL 333 or GEOL 432) OR mineralogy & petrology (GEOL 436) | ||
| One course in sedimentary geology (GEOL 440) OR sedimentology | ||
| One course in structural geology (GEOL 411) | ||
| Additional Science Required: | ||
One course in biology | ||
One course in calculus | ||
One course in chemistry | ||
One course in physics | ||
Science: Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A major in Physics or 32 semester hours in the sciences is required. In either instance, the coursework must include the following: | ||
| One year introductory physics sequences similar to UIUC PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 213, PHYS 214 (this includes study in electricity and magnetism, mechanics, thermal, and quantum physics) | ||
| Advanced course in classical mechanics | ||
| Advanced course in electricity and magnetism | ||
| Advanced course in quantum physics | ||
| One course in advanced physics laboratory | ||
| Related required coursework | ||
Two courses in calculus | ||
One course in chemistry, including lab | ||
At least one biological science course | ||
One course in earth science | ||
One course in astronomy | ||
Professional Education Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CI 401 | Introductory Teaching in a Diverse Society (Section S) | 3 |
| CI 403 | Teaching a Diverse High School Student Population (Section S) | 3 |
| CI 404 | Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students (Section S) | 3 |
| CI 473 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
| EDPR 442 | Educational Practice in Secondary Education | 12 |
| EPSY 485 | Assessing Student Performance | 4 |
| SPED 405 | General Educator's Role in Special Education | 3 |
| or SPED 517 | Disability Issues in Special Education | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Content & Professional Education GPA | 2.5 |
| Graduate GPA | 3.0 |
*State rules mandate that no course with a grade lower than a C- be used toward licensure, endorsement, or approvals. This means courses lower than a C- cannot be used.
Requirements are subject to change without notice due to changes in State law and/or rule.
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure
- Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of Education.
- Students will demonstrate awareness and application of the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) standards in their teacher preparation course work and field experiences.
- Students will display the expectations of professionalism related to success in the field of education and beyond (fairness, commitment to collaboration, community, reflective practice, and attention to 21st century skills and practices).
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Interim Head of the Department: Michaelene Ostrosky
Director of Graduate Studies: Emma Mercier
Graduate admissions information: Mitzi Koeberlein
Department of Curriculum & Instruction website
Program website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
Graduate Student Services Office email
College of Education
College of Education website
Admissions
College of Education Overview of Admissions & Requirements
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements
for the degree of Master of Education in Secondary Education with teaching licensure - Social Science: History Entitlement
The following are required to meet the Illinois Approved Program for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a secondary education (grades 9-12) Social Science: History entitlement. Please note these requirements are separate from degree requirements, although they may count toward the degree as well.
The Council on Teacher Education oversees licensure requirements. School and Community Experiences coordinates all aspects of field placement.
Course Requirements*
Foundation Courses:
Content-Area Courses:
Professional Education Courses:
Other Requirements
*State rules mandate that no course with a grade lower than a C- be used toward licensure, endorsement, or approvals. This means courses lower than a C- cannot be used.
Requirements are subject to change without notice due to changes in State law and/or rule.