MST + License

Master of Science in Teaching Secondary School Mathematics for Students Seeking Licensure Heading link

Please click here to apply.

The purpose of the Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics (MST) option for students seeking licensure is to prepare students to successfully teach mathematics at the secondary level. This program is designed so that students, in particular those switching careers, can both obtain the MST degree and fulfill the requirements for an Illinois secondary school teaching license.

For admission to this program, students should have a background comparable to the coursework listed in the admission requirements section below. Other applicants will be required to take appropriate courses to make up for any deficiencies in their mathematical preparation. The GRE is not required. Some full-time MST students may hold teaching assistantships.

Applicants need to have satisfied all the state of Illinois teaching license testing requirements.  Please see the Council on Teacher Education website for more information on these requirements.

 

Required Course Credits Heading link

For the degree, students are required to earn 32 semester hours of adviser-approved graduate credit, with at least 12 semester hours of work completed at the 500 level. Additional classes carrying 38 hours of credit are required for certification. Many of the courses are offered in the late afternoon and early evening. Some courses are also offered during the summer. At the conclusion of the program, the student should have completed 70 credit hours. An overview of the distribution of those credits among the main course classifications is shown in the table below.
Field Hours
Admission Requirements 22
Higher level courses 32
Teaching courses 20
Education / Instruction courses 18

Detailed Course Requirements Heading link

Additional Requirements Heading link

As part of the program, one full semester of supervised student teaching in a secondary school is required for certification. The candidate registers for MTHT 438 and 439 during that semester. For further information, see the Council on Teacher Education’s Student Handbook and Secondary Student Teaching Handbook.Substitutions may be possible with the approval of an advisor.

For more information

Always consult your adviser when you have questions. In addition, consult your Graduate Catalog and the current UIC Timetable for more complete details regarding degree programs. For details regarding licensure, consult your adviser for the latest information. Licensure is subject to the most recent legislation and regulations (i.e., there is no ‘grandfathering’).