Become a Licensed Illinois Middle School Teacher with an M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education
Turn your subject-matter strength into a Grades 5 to 8 Illinois teaching license. NLU's AMLE-recognized M.A.T. pairs a master's degree with a concentration in science, math, literacy, or social science, and it is built for working adults who keep their job while they train for the classroom.
- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- AMLE Recognized for Middle-Level Teaching
- Illinois PEL, Grades 5 to 8 Endorsement
- 4 Content-Area Concentrations
Request More Information
Program at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Teach your content area to students in Grades 5 to 8
- Apply what current research shows about young adolescent development
- Build content-area literacy within your subject
- Teach English learners and students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms
- Complete two practica and an 11-week student teaching placement
- Qualify for the Illinois PEL endorsed for Grades 5 to 8
Full Course List
Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Evidence of 15 semester hours of content coursework in your endorsement area
- Online application at nl.edu with official transcripts
- Minimum 220 on the ISBE Middle Grades Content Area Test before the practicum
- Up to two content deficiencies allowed at admission, completed before the practicum
NCE's programs are built for students that also need their 9 to 5 job to pursue their dream.
Choose a concentration in Science, Literacy, Mathematics, or Social Science. Your prior content coursework counts toward the Grades 5 to 8 endorsement, so the degree you already earned does real work here.
NLU holds Association for Middle Level Education recognition and runs a four-course Young Adolescents in Context sequence built specifically for Grades 5 to 8, not bolted onto elementary or high school.
33 semester hours make you eligible for the Illinois PEL; 36 complete the master's. Be in your own classroom while you finish, on a schedule built around your current job.
Where Will Your M.A.T. Take You?
Illinois middle schools need teachers who know their subject, and the Grades 5 to 8 endorsement is the credential that proves it. Nationally, middle school teaching offers roughly 40,500 openings every year this decade as teachers retire and move on (BLS, 2024 to 2034).
NLU’s M.A.T. graduates leave with an Illinois PEL endorsed in their content area, a master’s degree, and at least 11 weeks of full-time student teaching behind them. The median salary for middle school teachers is $62,970 (BLS, May 2024), and a master’s typically lifts your pay on the district salary schedule.
How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps
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Request Information
Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment advisor will reach out to talk through your content-area background and which concentration fits your transcript.
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Map Your Content Coursework
Your advisor reviews your transcripts against the 15-hour content requirement for your endorsement area and flags any gaps. You can be admitted with up to two.
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Apply and Choose Your Track
Submit your application at nl.edu and confirm your track. Next start: September 21, 2026. If you already hold an Illinois PEL, ask about the shorter licensure-focused pathway.
Take the First Step
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to map your content background to the right concentration and pathway.
Take the First Step- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- AMLE Recognized for Middle-Level Teaching
- Illinois PEL, Grades 5 to 8 Endorsement
- 4 Content-Area Concentrations
*Salary data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Middle School Teachers (SOC 25-2022), May 2024.
**Job openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Middle School Teachers, 2024 to 2034 projections.
***Credit hours, concentrations, and curriculum: SmartCatalog, National Louis University, Middle Grades Education M.A.T. Traditional Program (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).