Graduate Studies

Alternative Teacher Licensure

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Alternative Teacher Licensure is a two year residency program wherein candidates are hired by a school district on a provisional teaching license, are paid as the instructor of record, and take courses in the School of Education over that two year period. Assuming a candidate is successful, they will earn a full Professional Educator License and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree at the end of that two year residency period. Currently, WIU’s School of Education offers this program for those interested in teaching Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Music, Physical Education, English, History, Mathematics, Science, Special Education, Visual Arts, French, or Spanish.

Why Choose Alternative Teacher Licensure at WIU?

Western Illinois University has a long history of successfully preparing candidates to enter the teaching field. In fact, WIU was founded as the Western Illinois Normal School in 1899. That tradition of preparing transformational teacher leaders is still at the core of the WIU School of Education Mission. Additionally, WIU is the first and only public university in the state who has this Alternative Licensure/MAT pathway to earning a full Professional Educator License.

Our Faculty

The School of Education faculty are comprised of scholar-practitioners representing a vast variety of disciplinary expertise and teaching experience, ranging from Early Childhood Education to Higher Education; and, ranging from the deeply theoretical to the very practical. Full time School of Education faculty members all have terminal degrees (PhD/EdD) and utilize their distinctive disciplinary orientations and accompanying methodologies to collectively address pressing educational, intellectual, and social concerns. These concerns are addressed in coursework that prepares our graduates to tranformationally impact educational practice, both within traditional school settings, and throughout society. Additionally, faculty regularly provide professional development and publish important research/scholarship that impacts educational understanding and practice in important ways.

Other Information

For additional information about the School of Education programs, please visit wiu.edu/education.

Quick View

Degrees Available:

  • M.A.T.

Locations:

  • Macomb
  • Quad Cities

Required GPA:

  • Cumulative: 2.75

Admission Requirements:

  • Transcripts

Interesting Facts: Fall 2023

  • Currently enrolled: 266
  • International: 3
  • Minority: 59
  • Students with Assistantships: 1

Department Contact Information:

MAT Coordinator
Dr. Andrea Hyde
am-hyde@wiu.edu

Coordinator of MAT Residency
and Licensure
Kristen Barclay
kk-barclay@wiu.edu