Joint Bachelors of Science (BS) & Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program with NLU
Enjoy working with youth? Ever considered teaching as a possible career? If so, check out this exciting new joint B.S./M.A.T. program between Illinois Institute of Technology and teacher preparation expert National Louis University. This unique accelerated program allows IIT students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in a STEM discipline from Illinois Tech as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree from NLU and a teaching license, in as little as five years. Consider this opportunity to apply your STEM content expertise and impact future generations of learners!
This program is an excellent opportunity to broaden your STEM career options by graduating certified to teach secondary students in mathematics, biology, chemistry, or physics (grades 9–12). Qualified educators are in growing demand, and NLU’s history is rooted in providing exceptional teacher preparation. NLU’s alumni go on to find rewarding careers as teachers, coaches, principals, superintendents, and more, with many Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership winners among them.
Program Highlights
- Learning from practitioners: All of the M.A.T. program’s instructors are former teachers, ensuring the program’s coursework is rich with insights gained from real-world experience.
- Hands-on learning: All M.A.T. students gain hours of valuable experience connecting theory to practice in high school classrooms through observing, practicing, reflecting, and then leading lessons—all with the support of an experienced mentor teacher and university faculty.
- Culturally responsive education: NLU’s teacher preparation curriculum is based on a social justice and equity framework. M.A.T. candidates will learn how to differentiate instruction that reflects, embraces, and sustains the linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity of their learners.
- Individualized support: All students receive personalized guidance from an experienced NLU enrollment specialist and graduate adviser, who will collaborate closely with Illinois Tech faculty advisers and staff to ensure we’re meeting your needs.
- Benefits of the profession: Average starting salaries for a new teacher with a Masters Degree range from $59,894 to $64,042.1 There are also several scholarships, grants, and student-loan forgiveness programs available for M.A.T. teacher candidates.
New Scholarship Available! We are excited to announce that IIT & NLU have received National Science Foundation funding to provide select B.S./M.A.T. students with up to $30,000 in scholarship funds over two years.
NLU offers guaranteed admissions to the M.A.T. program for current undergraduates who meet a minimum 3.0 GPA, including 12 credit hours of upper-division coursework with a grade B or higher (conditional admission possible for those with GPA 2.5–2.9).
Interested to learn more? Fill out our Interest Form at go.iit.edu/nlu-teach. Interested students are encouraged to contact B.S./M.A.T Program Directors Andy Howard at Howard@iit.edu and/or Visho Thamotharan at vthamotharan@nl.edu. Prospective high school and transfer students should contact admission@iit.edu for more information.
1 Chicago Teachers Union, 2019, Salary Schedule for Full Time Appointed Teachers, accessed 20 September 2022, <https://www.ctulocal1.org/wp-