The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree programs prepare candidates for both an Illinois teaching credential and a master’s degree. The MAT in Elementary Education program specifically prepares candidates for an Illinois K - 9 teaching certificate, necessary to teach in self-contained elementary classrooms. Middle school coursework further prepares candidates for content-area endorsements, required for teaching in departmentalized middle school settings. A special feature of the Columbia College Chicago program is that the fine arts are woven into coursework, in keeping with the focus on the arts at the College. This program prepares teachers to be both artists and scientists, able to skillfully blend content and creative pedagogy into the dynamic art of teaching.

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