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Graduate Studies > Master of Arts in Teaching > About the Program
"Empowered Minds Learning Together”Since 2003, Rockford University has granted more than 1,300 master of arts in teaching degrees. Our graduates have gone on to establish themselves as exceptional teachers throughout Rockford, the state and the nation.
The Rockford University Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed to help students develop further knowledge in one or more academic disciplines, to increase understanding of the educational process, and to enhance various skills involved in teaching.
Rockford University offers several programs of study which meet the professional requirements for teachers in Illinois and most other states including the new Early Childhood Education program. Candidates may also complete the course work necessary for a Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I) in Special Education, a Reading endorsement, or a middle school endorsement in a variety of subject areas.
Rockford University, in cooperation with Performance Learning Systems (PLS), also offers several graduate-level courses designed to provide practical, up-to-date teaching strategies for practicing educators. These courses are acceptable as an area of concentration in the Instructional Strategies program and as electives in all other programs.
Our programsWe offer a thesis option (32 hours) and a non-thesis option (36 hours) for MAT tracks.
On-campus programsUndergraduate initial certification programsThe Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has granted approval for Rockford University to offer initial certification programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education. Apart from the students who major in elementary and special education, teacher candidates who plan to earn a secondary teaching certificate major in their content areas can earn a secondary education minor. Program approval has been granted in the following secondary content areas: social sciences (history), science (biology and chemistry), mathematics, English, theatre arts, visual arts (K-12), physical education (K-12), and foreign language - French, German, and Spanish (K-12).
Graduate initial certification programsSeveral programs are offered through the Master of Arts in Teaching degree at Rockford University, some of which enable a teaching candidate to earn an initial teaching certificate. Programs are available for those who seek early childhood, elementary, secondary, reading or special education teaching certificates. All secondary content areas that are approved for the undergraduate program are approved for the MAT as well.
Certification TracksNon-Cert TracksInstructional Strategies
MAT in Education
Length of the programMost students can reasonably complete the MAT degree in two or three years, depending upon the number of courses taken per semester. Students have up to five years to complete all degree requirements.
Endorsement Plans of Study
