The Master of Arts in Teaching is designed for the student with no previous background or preparation in education who wishes to acquire teaching certification in elementary or secondary education or English for speakers of other languages. Students interested in international training and development may seek secondary certification in an appropriate content area.
Admission to the Program
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must earn a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and earn a passing score on the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Assessments (PPST®). Passing scores (as set by the District of Columbia teaching licensing agency) are Reading 172, Writing 171 and Math 174.
Students seeking secondary education certification must have completed sufficient course work in the subject in which they are seeking licensure, including English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, health and physical education, social studies, performing arts, music, studio art, or foreign language - French, German, Spanish.
Students seeking certification in English for speakers of other languages must be proficient in English. It is strongly recommended that native speakers of English have some background in at least one other language. International students are expected to demonstrate competence equivalent to a score of 600 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to be endorsed for certification.
Degree Requirements
A total of 39 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 33 hours of course work and 6 hours of student teaching with required seminar.
Students’ undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated individually; based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional course work to meet certification requirements.
Option to Waive Course Work in Master’s Programs: Students with the appropriate prior study or professional experience in the field of education may be permitted to waive up to 6 credit hours of course work without replacement. The waiving of credit hours and the specific courses to be waived are determined and approved by the adviser and the SETH dean upon admission to the master’s program.
In addition, one of the following may be required: an assessment provided by an educational institution or organization which has criteria and evaluation procedures approved by the School of Education, Teaching & Health; or a portfolio developed in a one-credit independent study offered by SOE and submitted for evaluation and approval to the advisor and SETH dean.
Comprehensive examination.
Students submit an electronic professional portfolio.
All students must complete the Praxis II Exam prior to graduation.
Course Requirements
All course work must be approved by the director of the M.A.T program. Evaluation of field performance may involve videotaping of classroom teaching.
Core (9 credit hours)
EDU-521 Foundations of Education (3)
EDU-541 Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children (3) or
EDU-545 Overview of All Exceptionalities: The Arts in Special Education (3)
EDU-620 Theories of Educational Psychology and Human Development (3)
Student Teaching (6 credit hours)
EDU-699 Student Teaching with required seminar (6)
Early Childhood Education (24 credit hours)
EDU-609 Effective Teaching for Diverse Learners (3)
EDU-619 Children’s Literature: A Critical Literacy Perspective (3)
EDU-623 Topics in Literacy Education (3) Literacy, Technology, Media, and the Arts in Early Childhood Education (3)
EDU-623 Topics in Literacy Education (3) Theoretical Models and Methods for Early Childhood Education Across the Curriculum (3)
EDU-625 Advocacy and Leadership in Early Childhood Education (3)
EDU628 Special Topics in Early Childhood Education: Play and Learning (3)
3 credits from:
EDU-621 Social Science Research (1)
3 credit hours from:
EDU 647 Global and Multicultural Education (3)
ANTH 635 Race, Gender and Social Justice (3)
SOCY 553 Multiculturalism (3)
TESL 527 Cultural Issues in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3)
Elementary Education (24 credit hours)
EDU-519 Uses of Technology in Education (3)
EDU-601 Teaching Reading in the Elementary School (3)
EDU-602 Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary School (3)
EDU-603 Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School (3)
EDU-604 Teaching Science in the Elementary School (3)
EDU-608 Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (3)
EDU-609 Effective Teaching for Diverse Learners (3)
EDU-619 Children’s Literature: Multicultural and International Approaches (3)
Secondary Education (24 credit hours)
EDU-520 Reading, Writing, and Literature across the Curriculum (3)
EDU-522 Principles of Effective Methods and Instruction (3)
EDU-540 Methods, Materials, and Management in Secondary Education I (3) (or other approved courses)
EDU-542 Methods, Materials, and Management in Secondary Education II (3)
Four elective courses (12 credit hours), normally with half taken in the academic discipline of the designated teaching area, and the other courses taken within the School of Education
English for Speakers of Other Languages (24 credit hours)
TESL-500 Principles of Linguistics (3)
TESL-501 English Language Teaching I (3)
TESL-502 English Language Teaching II (3)
TESL-503 Structure of English (3)
TESL-523 Second Language Acquisition (3)
TESL-524 Reading and Writing in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3)
TESL-527 Cultural Issues in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3)
TESL-531 Language Assessment (3)
Ongoing Assessment of Academics and Professional Performance
Students must be admitted to the M.A.T program before enrolling in methods courses (EDU-601-609, EDU-522/EDU-540, or TESL-501/502).
To enroll in EDU-699 Student Teaching, students must:
Receive a positive evaluation from the Teacher Education Committee based on established criteria
Earn a grade of B- or better in
EDU-521 Foundations of Education and
EDU-620 Theories of Educational Psychology and Human Development
Earn grades of B or better in methods courses