MA in Teaching Curriculum & Courses

SAIC’s Master of Arts (MA) in Teaching program educates graduate students (teacher candidates) for teaching art, design, and visual culture in elementary and secondary schools. Through this 42-hour graduate program (Fall 2021), teacher candidates become critical, creative, and reflective instructors of contemporary art and culture while fulfilling the current State of Illinois requirements for PK–12 Visual Arts licensure. The MAT is designed to be a full-time program completed in four semesters (two years).

Coursework in the MAT program balances artmaking and learning about the theory and practice of education with experiences of teaching in a wide range of school settings. All education coursework is arts-focused, taught by faculty who combine expertise in art and cultural theory with deep knowledge of teaching. MAT teacher candidates are encouraged to take electives in emphasis areas outside SAIC's Department of Art Education.

Interwoven throughout their art and education coursework, teacher candidates experience teaching in elementary and secondary schools in the Chicago area. Teacher candidates observe in schools and other educational settings (such as Local School Council and School Board meetings), design and teach short projects during visits to schools as part of their education coursework, and participate in seven-week Apprentice Teaching placements at the elementary and secondary levels. MAT coursework and teaching experiences prepare teacher candidates to work with English Language Learners, to support students in reading in their content area, and to differentiate instruction for students with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.

MAT Program Guide 2024-25
*See the Testing Requirements section of this page for an update from the ISBE regarding the edTPA

Curriculum Overview: Students beginning MAT coursework in Fall 2021

Course Sequence Beginning Fall 2021

Teacher candidates complete 550 hours of preclinical (during core Art Education courses and Practicum) and clinical (during Apprentice Teaching) teaching experiences under the supervision of a mentor teacher in a school setting and a SAIC Art Education Faculty Supervisor.

During the initial SAIC MAT orientation, teacher candidates will be given information on how to complete the Chicago Public School (CPS) Fingerprint-based background check. If the results of the teacher candidate’s background check do not meet the Chicago Public School district’s standards, the candidate cannot continue in the MAT program.

Candidates teaching in schools are considered mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) when observing or teaching in school settings. Candidates must complete the Illinois Department of Human Services Mandated Child Abuse Reporter on-line training and have a record of their completed training on file in the SAIC Licensure Office at the beginning of the teacher preparation program (before visiting schools).

SAIC's Master of Arts in Teaching teacher preparation program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. The MAT degree meets the current requirements for the State of Illinois PK-12 Visual Arts Professional Educator License. SAIC's teacher preparation coursework contributes to (and may meet) the teacher licensure requirements for other states and countries. The SAIC Licensure Specialist works with graduating teacher candidates to identify steps to investigate how to become licensed in other places.

The State of Illinois Board of Education testing, assessment, and coursework requirements periodically change. As a result, candidates for Illinois licensure may be required to complete a different set of courses, tests, and/or assessments than those noted above if they delay graduation and licensure.

Teacher candidates must successfully complete all of their program coursework, and meet ISBE mandated tests before recommendation for licensure.

Sample MAT Student Agreement 2023

There are two tests that the Illinois State Board of Education requires teacher preparation candidates to complete and pass during and upon completion of a teacher preparation program. It is important to understand that these tests are mandated by the State of Illinois. The SAIC Department of Art Education is obligated to ensure all candidates have met these legal requirements before recommending the candidate for licensure.

Candidates must pass the following tests:

For information on the current scores needed to meet ISBE requirements, contact the SAIC Art Education Licensure Specialist.

*The Illinois State Board of Education has temporarily removed the requirement of passing the edTPA for teacher licensure. Please review the edTPA Addendum at the link below for more information.

edTPA Addendum-ISBE Testing Change August 2023

• Transfer Credits: A minimum of 36 credits must be completed at SAIC. Up to 6 hours of transfer credits may be requested at the time of application and are subject to approval of the Teacher Education Committee at that time. Transfer credits will not be evaluated or accepted after beginning the MAT Program.
• Fees: Candidates are responsible for all fees related to testing, edTPA assessment, and background checks. Candidates are also responsible for any TB tests, physical exams, etc. that may be required by school districts in which the department places a teacher candidate for Fieldwork or Apprentice Teaching.

• Full-time status minimum requirement: 12 credit hours first year in the program; 9 credit hours second year in the program.
• Completion schedule: Teacher candidates have a maximum of four years to complete the program. This includes time off for leaves-of-absence.

Visit the graduate admissions website or contact the graduate admissions office at 312.629.6100, 800.232.7242 or gradmiss@saic.edu.