About the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

Candidates who complete the M.A.T. are expected to integrate theory and practice and demonstrate successful achievement in the following areas:

1. Application of research and inquiry for the improvement of classroom instruction.
2. Understanding of learners’ physical, cognitive and emotional development and the implications for learning and instruction.
3. Knowledge of the social contexts in which education occurs.
4. Skills and knowledge necessary to teach learners with special needs and diverse cultural backgrounds.
5. Ability to organize and manage a classroom on the basis of research, best practice, expert opinion, personal attributes and student learning needs.
6. Development of skills in pedagogical analysis including the identification of problems confronting classroom teachers, formulation of solutions for resolution of problems, implementation of solutions, and examination of the effect of classroom interventions on student learning.
7. Development of an appropriate and usable repertoire of teaching strategies and techniques.
8. Appropriate use of a variety of approaches to assess instructional outcomes.
9. Use of technology including computers and media for classroom and professional needs.
10. Knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate reading, writing and thinking in content area instruction.
11. Skills and abilities essential to instructional leadership.

The following courses are required for the M.A.T.:

• EMAT 501 Development and Learning Applied to Teaching
• EMAT 502 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Contemporary Education
• EMAT 503 Principles of Curriculum and Instruction
• EMAT 505 Methods of Teaching and Assessment
• EMAT 506 Inclusive Teaching for Diverse Populations
• EMAT 515 Research and Technology
• EMAT 5XX *Content and Reading Methods I
• EMAT 5XX *Content and Reading Methods II
• EMAT 507 **Internship I
• EMAT 509 **Internship II
• EMAT 511 Internship Seminar
• EMAT 512 Classroom Management: Theory and Practice
  
  * Which methods course is taken depends upon the specified content area. Students in Physical Education, who do not meet the reading requirement through their methods courses, will be expected to take an additional reading course to meet this requirement.
  
  For English, Foreign Languages, Health, History, Math, or Science certification, complete the appropriate methods courses below:
  EMAT 526 and 528 English and Reading Methods in Secondary Schools Part I/II
  EMAT 531 and 533 Foreign Languages and Reading in Secondary Schools Part I/II
  EMAT 518 and 520 Math and Reading Methods in Secondary Schools Part I/II
  EMAT 530 and 532 Social Studies and Reading in Secondary Schools Part I/II
  EMAT 527 and 529 Science and Reading Methods in Secondary Schools Part I/II
  EMAT 534 and 536 School Health and Reading Methods Part I/II
  
  Music
  EMAT 517 Teaching Music and Reading in the Elementary School
  EMAT 519 Teaching Music and Reading in the Secondary School
  
  Physical Education
  EMAT 514 Secondary School Physical Education
  EMAT 516 Elementary School Physical Education
  EDUC 583 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas Part II
  
  ** MAT candidates will complete an internship in a Professional Development school under the supervision of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor. This Internship will consist of a minimum of 100 days. In order to meet the 100 day requirement, interns are required to follow the calendar of the school district in which the PDS is located. Students will also be required to follow the University calendar with respect to attendance at the internship seminar. If an MAT intern is in a paid teaching position in his/her field during the internship semester, assigning a mentor teacher to that intern will be waived if the intern has demonstrated at least two years of successful teaching in that classroom prior to the academic year of the internship. “Successful teaching” will be determined through documented evaluation by a school administrator in a supervisory position that provides her/him sufficient knowledge of the intern’s teaching performance, as well as issuance of a contract for a third year in the position. If the MAT intern is not assigned to a mentor as per this policy, the mentoring fee will be waived for the intern. All other internship policies will apply to the intern: s/he will attend the MAT seminar course and will enroll in EMAT 507 and 509, with a university supervisor assigned.

Each candidate is expected to develop an approved plan of study for completion of necessary content area coursework. Accordingly, it is essential that each student and advisor meet to clarify the specific requirements for individual candidates.

All M.A.T. candidates must pass Praxis II exams required for certification in their content areas prior to graduation.