2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Teaching and Learning

The M.S. in Teaching and Learning requires either a thesis option or a culminating research experience option.  The following sequences are offered.

Teaching and Learning Sequence

This 30-hour degree sequence is designed for current educators that want to deepen their understanding of education and their practice of teaching.

This 30-hour degree program requires:

• 15 hours: TCH 407, TCH 409, TCH 411, TCH 478; EAF 410
• 9 hours of an area of concentration design with an advisor. Areas of concentration often include educational technology, literacy, science education, or library information
• 6 hours of research experience: Either TCH 481 and TCH 482 or 6 hours TCH 499 (Thesis)

Bilingual/ESL Sequence

This 30-hour degree sequence is designed for current educators that want to deepen their understanding of education and their practice in teaching bilingual and/or ESL students. Program completion would complete the coursework needed for the Bilingual or ESL endorsement for the Illinois State Board of Education.

This 30-hour degree program requires:

• 18 hours: TCH 409, TCH 419, TCH 420, TCH 424, TCH 498AXX, and ENG 461 (ESL) or TCH 427 (Bilingual)
• 3 hours: Elective (preferably from TCH)
• 9 hours of research experience: EAF 410 and either TCH 481 and TCH 482 or 6 hours TCH 499 (Thesis)

This 36-hour degree program requires:

• 27 hours: TCH 452, TCH 455, TCH 462, TCH 463, TCH 464, TCH 465, TCH 467, TCH 471, TCH 474
• 6 hours of professional capstone course sequence on literacy coaching (TCH 456 and TCH 466)
• 3 hours of electives

This 66-hour degree requires:

• 21 hours: TCH 501, TCH 562, TCH 564, TCH 574, TCH 576, TCH 579, TCH 580
• 15 hours: of an area of concentration: (could include TCH 500 Independent Study and/or TCH 598 Professional Practice) courses selected with the assistance of an advisor based on student area of interest
• 15 hours of research methods: EAF 415, EAF 508, or EAF 509; TCH 533, TCH 536, TCH 595A13, and TCH 595A14.
• 15 hours of dissertation research
• A passed doctoral examination
• Other university requirements for Ed.D. degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog.

Scholarly Development Requirement (in lieu of Residency Requirement): A doctoral student is expected to work with one or more faculty scholar/mentors to demonstrate scholarly development as a joint or single author. This demonstration is to be completed after 18 semester hours of coursework and prior to undertaking the comprehensive doctoral examination. The demonstration of scholarly development may take the form of, but is not limited to, one of the following: prepare and submit a manuscript for publication; prepare and deliver a conference paper or presentation or prepare and submit a grant proposal for funding. Such scholarly work should be directed to at least a statewide audience.

Reading Teacher

The Illinois State Board of Education has identified six areas of study required of all teachers whose major teaching assignment is reading. All teachers assigned departmentalized responsibility in reading or language arts must meet this 24-semester hour requirement. The M.S.Ed. in Reading Program offers all coursework leading to the endorsement of a reading teacher.

Reading Specialist

Coursework leading to the Reading Specialist is offered in the M.S.Ed. in Reading and Literacy Program. The program leading to the K-12 Reading Specialist Certificate requires the completion of 36 semester hours in reading and related educational areas. Students working on the Reading Specialist must first have a current teaching certificate. Other requirements, including any tests required for certification, can be found at the Teaching and Learning website.

Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in Library Information Specialist

The Post-Baccalaureate Library Information Specialist Certificate provides 18 hours of coursework that prepares teachers to work in school libraries. The program is available to certified teachers and to students who have completed the bachelor's degree and are working on their initial certification. It is designed to help students receive endorsement as Library Information Specialist and to pass the Illinois content area examination. The course of study requires satisfactory completion of the following courses: TCH 416, TCH 440, TCH 442, TCH 445, TCH 449, and TCH 454. Some of these courses may apply as electives to a degree program. Information on admission is available from the School of Teaching and Learning.