About the MAT Program

“Empowered Minds Learning Together”

Since the first Master of Arts in Teaching Degree was awarded in 1952, Rockford College has granted over 1,100 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 College 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 College offers several programs of study which meet the professional requirements for teachers in Illinois and most other states. 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 College, 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 programs

We offer a thesis option (32 hours) and a non-thesis option (36 hours) for MAT tracks.

On-campus programs

Undergraduate initial certification programs. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has granted approval for Rockford College to offer initial certification programs in 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 programs. Several programs are offered through the Master of Arts in Teaching degree at Rockford College, some of which enable a teaching candidate to earn an initial teaching certificate. Programs are available for those who seek elementary, secondary, or special education teaching certificates. All secondary content areas that are approved for the undergraduate program are approved for the MAT as well.

Certification Tracks

Elementary Certification
Secondary Certification
Special Education Certification

Off – campus

Instructional Strategies

Length of the program

Most 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.