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Secondary Education with Initial Licensure

Turn your subject-area degree into a teaching career through a 33-credit MAT designed for aspiring educators and career changers. Complete online coursework and a full-year residency in your community while preparing for Illinois secondary teacher licensure.

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Secondary Education with Initial Licensure

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Degree Level
Master of Arts in Teaching
Delivery
Fully Online
Time to Degree
3 Semesters
Credit Hours
36 Total, 36 in Major
Careers
Postsecondary, Teachers
Secondary Education with Initial Licensure students at EIU

Why Study Secondary Education with Initial Licensure at EIU?

  • Be prepared to teach after three semesters of focused study
  • Complete academic coursework online
  • Pursue a residency placement in your local community
  • Learn from faculty with experience in schools and educator preparation
  • Build on the subject-area expertise you already possess
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"I didn't expect to get real experience this early, but by my sophomore year I was already working on projects that felt like actual marketing work. It made me feel confident that I'm ready for what comes next."
Alex Wilcoxon
Marketing | Junior
Alex Wilcoxon, Marketing at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • Complete a full-year residency in a secondary school
  • Plan and deliver instruction in your content area
  • Receive coaching and feedback from educators and EIU faculty
  • Apply literacy, assessment and differentiation strategies
  • Develop experience working within a school community
Hands-On Experience, Secondary Education with Initial Licensure students at EIU

What You'll Learn

EIU’s MAT in Secondary Education provides an accelerated route to initial teacher licensure for candidates who already hold a qualifying degree in an approved content area. Licensure areas include English, mathematics, history and social science, several sciences, business, family and consumer sciences, technology and select world languages.Students complete online coursework followed by a full-year, full-time school residency.

View in Catalog
$75,777
Median Salary 4 Years After Graduation

Career Outcomes

  • Education Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Mathematical Science Teachers,…
  • Middle School Teachers
  • Agricultural Sciences Teachers,…
  • Biological Science Teachers,…
  • Forestry & Conservation Science…
  • Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, & Space…
  • Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Environmental Science Teachers,…

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Grow Rapidly
Preparation Needed Extensive (5/5)
Personality Fit Social

Financing Your Degree Under the 2026 Rules

Federal graduate lending changed on July 1, 2026 - Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers and new federal borrowing caps now apply to graduate students. Here's why the math still works at EIU:

Estimated total for this degree: ~$16,524 (tuition and fees)

  • ✓ That's only about 17% of the new $100,000 lifetime graduate borrowing limit - leaving room for whatever comes next in your career.
  • ✓ A typical full-time year here runs about $8,262 - well under the new $20,500 annual federal loan limit, so federal loans alone can cover tuition and fees.
  • ✓ Working? If your employer offers it, they can provide up to $5,250 per year tax-free toward your education - at EIU's rates, that can cover a good share of a part-time master's.

Estimates use 2026-2027 Illinois-resident tuition and fees and typical full-time enrollment. Your actual costs and aid depend on your program, enrollment, FAFSA, and prior borrowing.

Talk to EIU Financial Aid →
17% of lifetime limit

$16,524 total, just 17% of your $100,000 federal graduate borrowing limit

Connect With Us

Dr. Daniel Carter
Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator (TLF)
djcarter@eiu.edu
2176 Buzzard Hall
217-581-7885
Dr. Daniel Carter Message Dr. Carter

Message Dr. Carter

or email djcarter@eiu.edu directly
Jill Rennels-Hutti
Interim Dean, College of Education, Health & Human Services
jrrennelshutti@eiu.edu
1423
217-581-6348
Jill Rennels-Hutti Message Jill

Message Jill

or email jrrennelshutti@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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Eastern Illinois University is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

EIU's programs, resources, and facilities are available to all students regardless of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. Discrimination precluded by federal and state statutes is strictly prohibited.