MAT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an M.A.T. degree and what content areas are involved?
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or English, and/or have a provisional teaching certificate in these disciplines. This initial certification program will prepare interested persons to receive a master’s degree while also preparing them to become certified to teach secondary mathematics or English. The program will consist of content specific classes, professional studies classes, content methods courses, and field-based and clinical experiences. Additional courses will emphasize use of technology and action research with pupils in diverse school settings.
When will the program begin?
Classes will begin in the Summer of 2009.
When will classes meet?
This program will offer evening courses for a cohort of part-time candidates but will become full-time during student teaching. Full-time student teaching status will be given to candidates who are teaching with a provisional certificate in a public school system.
What is the organization of the program?
The curriculum will be delivered over four semesters beginning with Summer I, Fall semester, Spring semester, and ending with Summer II. The MAT program is designed to provide courses and field experiences to support candidates’ educational foundation theory and knowledge during the first summer, and content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions with practica and internship experiences during fall and spring semesters. The last summer session will consist of completing an action research project and finishing content courses. Faculty in the Departments of Language and Literature and Mathematics will teach content courses. All professional education courses and clinical and internship experiences will be taught and supervised by education faculty and public school mentor teachers. Content specialists in math and English will teach the curriculum and methods for the respective disciplines. Our partnership school districts will serve as collaborative sites for field experiences and internships.
What are the objectives of the program:
The objectives of the program are to:
- Provide an alternative route for initial certification for those who have a bachelor’s degree, but do not hold a teaching certificate;
- Respond to Georgia’s need for more quality mathematics and English teachers;
- Produce highly qualified collaborative, reflective professional educators who are competent, caring and committed; and
- Respond to the BOR P-16 Office’s Double the Number, Double the Diversity Initiative