Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 1 of 11
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Department of Teaching and Learning
CITC
Course Deletion
Page 122, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
TLSE 583. INITIAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (1-3)
CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 3/16/09
CITC
New Course
Page 122, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
TLSE 583A. INITIAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: LEARNING BEHAVIOR
SPECIALIST I (1-3). Supervised observation of students with disabilities in a variety of educational
settings. May be repeated to a maximum of 3 semester hours. S/U grading. PRQ: TLSE 540 or consent of
department.
CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 3/16/09
CITC
New Course
Page 122, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
TLSE 583C. INITIAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: VISION IMPAIRMENTS (13). Supervised observation of students with disabilities in a variety of educational settings. May be
repeated to a maximum of 3 semester hours. PRQ: TLSE 540 or consent of department.
CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 3/16/09
CITC
Other Catalog Change
Page 111, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
Department of Teaching and Learning (TL--)

Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education
The major in early childhood education … …. Students may also elect course work to fulfill special
education approval requirements for teaching exceptional children, birth through age six. Advisers
evaluate students’ prior course work, professional experience, and previous certifications to determine
individual programs leading to Type 04 certification and/or early childhood special education approval.
GCCC Section B 4/13/09, Graduate Council 5/4/09, CITC-CC 9/15/09, CITC 9/18/09
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 2 of 11
School of Nursing and Health Studies
CITC
New Course
Page 170, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
CIP CODE:
PHHE 684. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT TEACHING IN HEALTH EDUCATION (3-6). Student
teaching for eight weeks in middle school health education. Includes seminars of current issues in teaching.
Assignments to be arranged with the health education teacher certification coordinator. See “Teacher
Certification Requirements.” S/U grading. PRQ: Pass ICTS Subject Area Test of Content Knowledge in
Health Education, complete all other certification requirements, and consent of school.
CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 11/10/08
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog.
CITC
New Course
Page 170, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
CIP CODE:
PHHE 686. SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT TEACHING IN HEALTH EDUCATION (3-6).
Student teaching for eight weeks in secondary school health education. Includes seminars of current issues
in teaching. Assignments to be arranged with the health education teacher certification coordinator. See
“Teacher Certification Requirements.” S/U grading. PRQ: Pass ICTS Subject Area Test of Content
Knowledge in Health Education, complete all other certification requirements, and consent of school.
CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 11/10/08
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog.
CITC/ Other Catalog Change
Page 163, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
Pres. Peters/
BOT
Graduate Faculty
↓
The School of Nursing and Health Studies offers programs of graduate study leading to a Master of
Science (M.S.) in nursing, a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.); two post-master’s certificates of graduate
study—family nurse practitioner and nursing education; and two certificates of graduate study–health
education and public health. The school also offers the opportunity for simultaneous enrollment in the
M.S. in nursing and M.P.H. degree programs to qualified graduate students. In addition, students seeking
initial teacher certification or endorsement in health education may qualify for the M.A.T. or M.S.T.
degrees with specialization in health education.
↓
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 3 of 11
↓
The M.A.T. and M.S.T. degrees are administered by the university through the Graduate School with
specializations in various teaching content areas. The M.A.T. with specialization in health education leads
to initial teacher certification in health education for candidates with baccalaureate degrees. The M.S.T.
with specialization in health education leads to endorsement to teach health education 6-12 and middle
school for candidates who already hold a secondary teaching certificate in another content area.
Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening
Students in nursing and the M.A.T. are required to undergo criminal background checks and drug
screening. The nursing program and the M.A.T. specialization in health education may be unable to place
students in a clinical or student teaching settings if they have a positive drug screen or criminal background
check record; therefore, the student may not be able to complete the program of required courses.
BOT 3/26/09, CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 11/10/08
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog.
CITC/ Other Catalog Change
Page 166, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
Pres. Peters/
BOT
Courses Applied to M.S. in Nursing (21)
↓
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Specialization in Health Education, 6-12 and Middle School
A Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) with specialization in Health Education prepares candidates with a
baccalaureate degree to apply for secondary certification (Type 09) and middle school endorsement to
teach health in Illinois secondary and middle schools. Successful completion of this specialization leads to
health education initial teacher certification. Certification is granted on the basis of completion of an
accredited program of study in health education, two recommended courses regarding middle school
students and schools, and passing the required ICTS tests. By completing these requirements, students will
demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to assessment, diversity and special needs, human
development and learning, and pedagogy in the content area.
Admission
All applicants to the M.A.T. program must meet requirements for admission to the Graduate School and be
accepted for admission by the faculty admissions committee of the specialization in health education. The
completed application must include GRE scores, official transcripts verifying the applicant’s baccalaureate
degree, two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors that can provide supportive evidence
of the applicant’s professional qualifications and potential for success in graduate study, and a writing
sample that describes the applicant’s career goals and philosophy of health education.
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 4 of 11
Students may apply a maximum combined total of 18 semester hours of graduate credit earned as a
student-at-large at NIU or as transfer credit, with their adviser’s approval, from another institution toward
the M.A.T. degree.
Admitted candidates must pass the ICTS Basic Skills Test prior to enrolling in PHHE 622.
Deficiency Study
Students are expected to enter the degree program with background in anatomy, physiology, nutrition,
current health concepts including first aid and CPR, an introductory psychology course, and a basic
educational technology course. Students may demonstrate their basic psychology knowledge by taking EPS
300 or its equivalent. Students may demonstrate their basic knowledge of the use of computers in
education by completing ETT 229 or by passing a competency test. Students with inadequate background
in health content knowledge may be required to make up these deficiencies with faculty adviser approval.
Requirements
The student must complete at least 46 semester hours of graduate course work; at least 34 of the 46
semester hours must be in health education. All courses outside health education must be approved by the
school in advance.
The student must follow a program of study. This program will be designed by the student and his or her
adviser and will be built upon the program requirements below.
In lieu of a comprehensive examination, the student must submit a completed capstone research-based
project in the form of an electronic portfolio of a Teacher Work Sample to be reviewed by the faculty
adviser. The portfolio is completed in the last semester of course work and contains required artifacts and
reflections that demonstrate mastery of the professional teaching standards and degree requirements. If a
student’s portfolio fails to pass as the capstone project, it may be repeated once with permission of the
faculty member and approval of the school.
Program Requirements
Assessment (3)
ETR 520 - Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Diversity (3)
TLSE 557 - Systems for Integrating the Exceptional Student in the Regular Classroom (3)
Human Development and Learning (6)
EPS 519 - The Middle School Child (3)
TLCI 522 - Middle School Organization and Instruction (3)
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 5 of 11
Pedagogy in Health Education (34-42)
PHHE 502 - Community Health Programs and Issues (3)
PHHE 504 - Drug Education (3)
PHHE 506 - Sexuality Education (3)
PHHE 508 - Mental and Emotional Health (3)
PHHE 620 - Theories and Principles in Health Promotion (3)
PHHE 622 - Curriculum Development in School Health Education (3)
PHHE 624 - School Health Programs: Planning, Managing, and Evaluating (3)
PHHE 626 - Methods and Materials in School Health Education (3)
PHHE 682 - Clinical/Field Experience in School Health Education (1-3)
PHHE 684 - Middle School Student Teaching in Health Education (3-6)
PHHE 686 - Secondary School Student Teaching in Health Education (3-6)
One course from the following:
FCNS 602 - Issues in Eating Disorders and Obesity (3)
PHHE 510 - Death Education (3)
PHHE 512 - Consumer Health (3)
PHHE 605 - Biostatistics in Public Health (3)
BOT 3/26/09, CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 11/10/08
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog.
Pres. Peters/Other Catalog Change
Page 166, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
BOT
Courses Applied to M.S. in Nursing (21)
↓
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
↓
Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.)
Specialization in Health Education, 6-12 and Middle School
The Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) with specialization in Health Education prepares teachers
with secondary certification (Type 09) in another content area to teach health in Illinois secondary and
middle schools. Successful completion of this specialization leads to health education and middle school
endorsements. The endorsement is granted on the basis of 24 semester hours in health education, two
recommended courses regarding middle school students and schools, and passing the ICTS Subject Area
Test of Content Knowledge in Health Education. By completing these requirements, students will
demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to assessment, diversity and special needs, human
development and learning, and pedagogy in the content area.
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 6 of 11
Admission
All applicants to the M.S.T. program must meet requirements for admission to the Graduate School and be
accepted for admission by the faculty admissions committee of the specialization in health education. The
completed application must include GRE scores, official transcripts verifying the applicant’s baccalaureate
degree, evidence of a current Type 09 Illinois Teaching Certificate in a secondary content area other than
health education, two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors that can provide supportive
evidence of the applicant’s professional qualifications and potential for success in graduate study, and a
writing sample that describes the applicant’s career goals and philosophy of health education.
Students may apply a maximum combined total of 18 semester hours of graduate credit earned as a
student-at-large at NIU or as transfer credit, with their adviser’s approval, from another institution toward
the M.S.T. degree.
Deficiency Study
Students are expected to enter the degree program with background in anatomy, physiology, nutrition,
current health concepts including first aid and CPR, an introductory psychology course, and a basic
educational technology course. Students may demonstrate their basic psychology knowledge by taking EPS
300 or its equivalent. Students may demonstrate their basic knowledge of the use of computers in
education by completing ETT 229 or by passing a competency test. Students with inadequate background
in health content knowledge may be required to make up these deficiencies with faculty adviser approval.
Requirements
The student must complete at least 36 semester hours of graduate course work; at least 24 of the 36
semester hours must be in health education. All courses outside health education must be approved by the
school in advance.
The student must follow a program of study. This program will be designed by the student and his or her
adviser and will be built upon the program requirements below.
In lieu of a comprehensive examination, the student must submit a completed capstone research-based
project in the form of an electronic portfolio of a Teacher Work Sample to be reviewed by the faculty
adviser. The portfolio is completed in the last semester of coursework and contains required artifacts and
reflections that demonstrate mastery of the professional teaching standards and degree requirements. If a
student’s portfolio fails to pass as the capstone project, it may be repeated once with permission of the
faculty member and approval of the school.
Program Requirements
Assessment (3)
ETR 520 - Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 7 of 11
Diversity (3)
TLSE 557- Systems for Integrating the Exceptional Student in the Regular Classroom (3)
Human Development and Learning (6)
EPS 519 - The Middle School Child (3)
TLCI 522 - Middle School Organization and Instruction (3)
Pedagogy in Health Education (24)
PHHE 502 - Community Health Programs and Issues (3)
PHHE 504 - Drug Education (3)
PHHE 506 - Sexuality Education (3)
PHHE 508 - Mental and Emotional Health (3)
PHHE 620 - Theories and Principles in Health Promotion (3)
PHHE 622 - Curriculum Development in School Health Education (3)
PHHE 624 - School Health Programs: Planning, Managing, and Evaluating (3)
One course from the following:
FCNS 602 - Issues in Eating Disorders and Obesity (3)
PHHE 510 - Death Education (3)
PHHE 512 - Consumer Health (3)
PHHE 605 - Biostatistics in Public Health (3)
PHHE 626 - Methods and Materials in School Health Education (3)
BOT 3/26/09, CITC-CC 3/4/09, CITC 4/17/09, GCCC Section B 11/10/08
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog.
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Department of Geography
Pres. Other Catalog Changes
Page 213, 2007-08 Graduate Catalog
Peters/
(Please insert after the Master of Science)
BOT/
IBHE
Doctor of Philosophy in Geography
A student seeking admission to the Ph.D. program in geography must meet all the requirements for
admission to the Graduate School; must have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in geography,
environmental science, meteorology, soil science or related field; and should have a background equivalent
to that required for the B.S. degree at Northern Illinois University.
Requirements
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 8 of 11
The Ph.D. program in geography consists of at least 90 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the
baccalaureate degree, or 60 semester hours beyond the master’s degree. Students who are admitted to the
doctoral program without a master's degree must, as part of the doctoral program, complete a master's
degree in geography. Continuation in the doctoral program is subject to a recommendation from the
department upon completion of the M.S. degree. All students are required to register for GEOG 600,
Geography Seminar each fall and spring semester prior to admission to candidacy; complete 9 semester
hours in core courses (GEOG 604, GEOG 661, and GEOG 663), at least 6 semester hours in topical
advanced course work, at least 6 hours of applications experience under GEOG 602, and at least 9
semester hours in cognate fields outside the department. GEOG 799, Doctoral Research and Dissertation,
should be taken as soon as possible after passing the candidacy examination, with enrollment each
semester until completion.
The department chair, in consultation with the student’s adviser, will nominate an advisory committee to
be appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The advisory committee will consist of no fewer than
four members, including at least one adjunct or external faculty member. The advisory committee will
consult on selection of cognate and elective courses and also serve as the student’s candidacy examination,
dissertation, and dissertation defense committees.
Core Courses
GEOG 600 – Geography Seminar (½ )
(Registration in GEOG 600 is required each fall and spring semester prior to approval of the
dissertation proposal; hours do not count toward required hours for the degree)
GEOG 604 – Concepts in Geography (3)
GEOG 661 – Advanced Quantitative Methods for Geographic Research (3)
GEOG 663 – Geographic Research Procedures (3)
Advanced Topics Courses
At least 6 semester hours of topical advanced courses chosen from the following:
GEOG 622 - Advanced Vegetation Geography (3)
GEOG 662 - Advanced Urban Geography (3)
GEOG 664 – Advanced Economic Geography (3)
GEOG 670 – Advanced Climatology (3)
GEOG 702 – Advanced Soil Landscapes (3)
GEOG 753 – Advanced Human-Environmental Interaction (3)
GEOG 760 – Advanced Geospatial Science (3)
Cognate Elective Courses
Each student will complete at least 9 semester hours of electives in one or more cognate fields outside the
department. Cognate elective courses must be appropriate to the student’s program of study and approved
by the advisory committee.
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 9 of 11
Applications Experience
Each student must complete 6-9 semester hours of applications experience in a research setting with
industry, a public or private research organization, or a government agency. This experience must be
appropriate to the student’s program and approved by the advisory committee. Semester hours shall be
completed under GEOG 602, Internship.
Dissertation
The student must undertake an approved research problem and incorporate the results in a dissertation. The
dissertation will be a substantial contribution to knowledge, exhibiting original scholarship and the ability
to conduct independent research. An oral defense of the student’s work and dissertation is required in
accordance with Graduate School policy. The dissertation should be completed and successfully defended
within three years after admission to candidacy.
Candidacy Examination
The candidacy examination is a written examination based on the core courses, advanced topics courses,
cognate courses, and other elective graduate courses. The examination is to be taken within one semester
of completion of 30 semester hours of course work after the master’s. The student will be admitted to
candidacy after successful completion of the candidacy examination and oral presentation of a dissertation
research proposal approved by the advisory committee.
Language/Research-Tool Requirements
The research-tool requirement for the Ph.D. in Geography is fulfilled by successfully completing GEOG
661, which is required in the doctoral program. There is no general language requirement; the applicability
of a language tool will relate to the student’s field of study and will be made in consultation with the
student’s advisory committee.
Additional Requirements
At least once a year after admission to candidacy, each student will give an oral presentation of progress on
dissertation research to the advisory committee.
Students in the doctoral program are required to present one or more research papers at national or
international scientific conferences. These paper presentations may derive from research conducted with
members of the advisory committee, course requirements, the applications experience, or from the
dissertation.
BOT 6/19/08, IBHE 8/11/09, Graduate Council 12/3/07, GCCC Section B 11/12/07
Note: This was added for the 2009-10 Graduate Catalog, effective Spring 2010
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 10 of 11
BOT
Other Catalog Change
Page 218, 2008-09 Graduate Catalog
Master of Science in Teaching with Specialization in Geoscience Education
The Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences offers a master’s degree specialization in
Geoscience Education. Applicants admitted to the program must be certified to teach secondary school
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) (6-12) or certified to teach in the elementary
school (K-9) and who are actively seeking a science endorsement. Successful completion of this
specialization will provide the student with the courses and background necessary to pass the State of
Illinois Science Content Exam. After successful completion of the program and passing the Illinois State
Exam, students may apply for their Earth and Space and/or Environmental Science Endorsement(s)
through the State of Illinois. Other endorsements such as teacher-leadership are also possible depending
upon the individual’s selection of elective course work.
The central goal of the program is to empower teachers to implement generative and transformative
pedagogy by using research-based instructional practices and geoscience content. Five strands permeate
the program: (1) active learning through such approaches as project-based learning and inquiry, (2)
adolescent identity development, (3) meeting the challenges of diverse and special needs students, (4)
assessment of student learning in science, and (5) geoscience content knowledge. All participants will
show mastery of these strands through experiences targeting action research and teacher leadership.
Requirements
The student must complete at least 34 semester hours of graduate work. At least 28 of the 34 hours must be
in the geosciences. All courses outside the geosciences must be approved by the department in advance.
There are 22 hours of required core courses all candidates must successfully complete. In coordination
with their adviser, students will select the additional content courses from the general geoscience graduate
catalog per the candidate’s choice of endorsement(s) and their previous background.
Core Requirements in Department (22)
GEOL 529 - Inquiry-Based Field Experiences for Earth Science Teachers (3)
GEOL 595X - Teaching of Physical Sciences (3)
GEOL 610 - Geoscience Fundamentals I: Environments, Life and Global Cycles (4)
GEOL 611 - Geoscience Fundamentals II: The Composition, Dynamics and Structure of the Earth (4)
GEOL 612 - Geoscience Fundamentals III: Field Experiences and Applications
(4-6)
GEOL 613 - Identity Development, Literacy and Inquiry Methodologies in the Geoscience Classroom I (2)
GEOL 614 - Identity Development, Literacy and Inquiry Methodologies in the Geoscience II (2)
Additional Required Electives (12)
Received by the Graduate Council—November 2, 2009
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
First Meeting/2009-10 Academic Year
October 12, 2009
SECTION C – Items previously in Section B, now reported for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog
p. 11 of 11
Geology graduate-level courses 500 or above (12). May include up to 6 semester hours in approved
graduate-level courses outside the department in such disciplines as Biology, Chemistry, Geography, or
Physics.
(Note: GEOL 613 and GEOL 614 were approved by the GCCC pending verification of nonduplication
from ETRA, LEPT, and LTCY. As of April 24, 2009, this was not received. Verification of
nonduplication was received April 28, 2009.)
Graduate Council 5/4/09, BOT 6/25/09, GCCC Section B 4/13/09