2009-2010 Master of Arts in Teaching

Program Director: Robert Shaw

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching is an integrated, stream-lined degree program that leads to licensure for students who already have earned a bachelor's degree. The program combines classroom instruction and extensive experience in diverse K–12 classrooms throughout the program.

Students in the program will study:

Learners and their Development
Subject Matter and Curriculum Goals
Teaching
Culture and Society

A unique focus of the program prepares graduates to teach all students using effective, differentiated teaching strategies. Graduates will know how to design curriculum that connects to the knowledge and skills of students and their families. A travel seminar further strengthens graduates' understanding of another culture and graduates' skills at learning about new cultures.

Program Options

Early Childhood Education: licensure to teach Kindergarten to third grade
Elementary Education: licensure to teach grades 1–8
Secondary Education: licensure to teach grades 6–12
Dual Licensure for Early Childhood Education and Elementary:
Kindergarten to eighth grade
Special Education: adds a K–12 Special Education license to an Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary License

Note: Current federal regulations require that a criminal background check and fingerprint assessment be passed before applicants can be recommended for licensure. Should the Utah State Board of Education change its requirements for teaching licensure, the MAT Program will change accordingly.

Admission to the Program

See the Admission to the College section for admission requirements.

Student Teaching

Students must successfully complete all courses in the MAT before they are eligible to student teach. Student teaching is a full-time, 10-week experience.

Submit the completed Request for Student Teaching form by the first Monday in March to student teach in the Fall semester or by the first Monday in October to student teach in the Spring semester.
Be approved to student teach by the MAT faculty.
Obtain a Student Teaching License on the USOE website.

Appeal Process: A student has the right to appeal a decision denying admission to the MAT program or denying the opportunity to student teach. The student has fifteen days after receiving a denial letter to petition the Dean, in writing, for reconsideration.

Retention in the Program

The student must:

Maintain a grade point average of 3.00. Courses in which a grade of B- or lower is awarded do not count toward graduation requirements.
Complete the program within six years, or begin to lose credit for courses older than six years.

Academic Probation and Suspension Policy

See the Grading and Academic Standards section for graduate academic probation and suspension policies.

Appeals for Readmission

See the Grading and Academic Standards section for information on appeals for readmission.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for graduation should apply to the Registrar's Office approximately two regular semesters prior to planned completion of graduation requirements. Applications for December graduation are due in September and applications for May and August graduation are due in October. Please see the Academic Calendar for more specific dates. Candidates are notified of remaining degree requirements within four weeks after applying for graduation.

To be eligible for a MAT degree, students must satisfy the following conditions:

Meet all credit hour and other course requirements.
Maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above.
Be enrolled at Westminster College during the semester in which they wish to graduate.
Maintain good academic standing.
Earn a grade of B or higher in all graduate courses.
Complete the Praxis II test.

Note: Only graduate-level coursework may be applied toward degree requirements.

The final responsibility for being informed about, and adhering to, graduation requirements rests with the student.

Early Childhood (MATECE, Grades K–3) or Elementary (MATELED, Grades 1–8), or Early Childhood and Elementary (MATECE & MATELED, Grades K–8) Program Requirements

Students who are seeking their MAT must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the program. Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education candidates must have a major or minor in their baccalaureate degree from the list below. If they do not have such a major or minor they may consult the MAT Program Director for guidance.

Art	Music
Communication	Physical Science
Computer Science	Psychology
English	Social Science
Fine Arts	Spanish
French	Special Education
History	Speech
Mathematics	Theatre

MAT in Early Childhood Education (MATECE) or in
Elementary Education (MATELED)

MATECE OR MATELED		Credit Hours
I.	Required Courses
	MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 601 Technology and Teaching MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 604 Learning Theory MAT 605 Diversity and Learning MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar MAT 630 ECE/ELED Methods & Management MAT 631 Math for ECE/ELED Teachers MAT 632 Science Methods MAT 633 Mathematics Methods MAT 634 Language Arts Methods MAT 635 Reading Methods MAT 636 Social Studies Methods MAT 637 Creative Arts Methods MAT 638 ECE Student Teaching (6) or MAT 639 Elementary Student Teaching (6) MAT 640 ECE/ELED Methods Seminar	3 2 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 1
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE MATECE OR MATELED		45
Requires completion of the requisite Praxis Test before candidate is recommended for licensure.

Recommended Plan of Study for MATECE or MATELED

Full-time MAT students may begin the program in the Summer or Fall semesters. Students who begin in the Summer take foundations courses in the Summer, methods courses in the Fall, and student teach in the Spring semester. Students who begin in the Fall take foundations courses in the Fall, methods courses in the Spring, and then student teach in the following Fall semester.

First Semester (Summer or Fall)	Second Semester (Fall or Spring)	Third Semester (Spring or Second Fall)
MAT 600 MAT 601 MAT 602 MAT 604 MAT 605 MAT 630 MAT 631	MAT 632 MAT 633 MAT 634 MAT 635 MAT 636 MAT 637 MAT 640	MAT 606 MAT 607 MAT 638 or MAT 639

Part-time students develop a schedule in consultation with an advisor to take additional semesters to complete the program.

Combined MAT in Early Childhood Education (MATECE) and in Elementary Education (MATELED) upon completion of either MATECE or MATELED

MATECE OR MATELED		Credit Hours
I.	Prerequisite Courses	45
	Completion of MATECE or MATELED
II.	Required Courses	7
	For MATECE candidates who have completed their MATELED: MED 636 Early Literacy Instruction MAT 638 ECE Student Teaching For MATELED candidates who have completed their MATECE: MED 658 Reading & Writing in the Content Area MAT 639 Elementary Student Teaching	3 4 3 4
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE COMBINED MATECE AND MATELED		52
Requires completion of the requisite Praxis Test before candidate is recommended for licensure.

Secondary Education (MATSED, Grades 6-12) Program Requirements

Students who are seeking their MAT must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the program. Secondary Education candidates must have a major or minor in their baccalaureate degree from the list below. If they do not have such a major or minor they may consult the MAT Program Director for guidance.

Art	Mathematics
Biology	Physical Science
Chemistry	Physics
Computer Science	Social Science
English	Spanish
French	Special Education
History	Theatre

Completion of the MAT in Secondary Education (MATSED) requires admission to the program, and the following coursework.

MATSED		Credit Hours
I.	Core Courses	36
	MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 601 Technology and Teaching MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 604 Learning Theory MAT 605 Diversity and Learning MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar MAT 610 Managing the Inclusive Classroom MAT 611 Secondary Methods & Management MAT 612 Secondary Methods Seminar MAT 613 Curriculum Design & Assessment MAT 614 Reading, Language & Literacy MAT 615 Secondary Student Teaching	3 2 3 2 3 2 1 3 3 1 4 3 6
II.	Content Methods Courses	3-6
	Students must register for the content methods course chosen from the following that reflects their expected area of licensure. Students seeking licensure in a second content area must take a second methods course that reflects the area of licensure for their second content area of interest. MAT 616 Methods of Teaching Secondary School History/Social Science (3) MAT 617 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science (3) MAT 619 Methods of Teaching Secondary School English (3) MAT 621 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Art (3) MAT 622 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Mathematics (3) MAT 624 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Foreign Languages (3) MAT 625 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Theatre (3)
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE MATSED PROGRAM		39-42
Requires completion of the requisite Praxis Test in the student's major, or major and minor, before candidate is recommended for licensure.

Recommended Plan of Study for MATSED

Full-time MAT students may begin the program in the Summer or Fall semester. Students who begin in the Summer take foundations courses in the Summer, methods courses in the Fall, and student teach in the Spring semester. Students who begin in the Fall take foundations courses in the Fall, methods courses in the Spring, and then student teach in the following Fall semester.

First Semester (Summer or Fall)	Second Semester (Fall or Spring)	Third Semester (Spring or Second Fall)
MAT 600 MAT 601 MAT 602 MAT 604 MAT 605 MAT 611	MAT 610 MAT 612 MAT 613 MAT 614 Subject Methods (MAT 616-625)	MAT 606 MAT 607 MAT 615

Part-time students develop a schedule in consultation with an advisor to take additional semesters to complete the program.

MAT in Early Childhood Education (MATECE) or in Elementary Education (MATELED) with licensure in Special Education (SPED)

MATECE or MATELED with SPED		Credit Hours
I.	Required Courses	45
	MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 601 Technology and Teaching MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 604 Learning Theory MAT 605 Diversity and Learning MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar MAT 630 ECE/ELED Methods & Management MAT 631 Math for ECE/ELED Teachers MAT 632 Science Methods MAT 633 Mathematics Methods MAT 634 Language Arts Methods MAT 635 Reading Methods MAT 636 Social Studies Methods MAT 637 Creative Arts Methods MAT 638 ECE Student Teaching (6) or MAT 639 Elementary Student Teaching (6) MAT 640 ECE/ELED Methods Seminar	3 2 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 1
II.	Special Education Courses	20
	MAT 671 Methods of Instrn & Curr for K–6 SPED MAT 672 Methods of Instrn & Curr for 7–12 SPED MAT 673 Special Education Assessment MAT 674 Special Education Behavioral Supports MAT 676 Special Education Student Teaching	4 4 4 4 4
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE MATECE OR MATELED WITH SPED ENDORSEMENT		65
Requires completion of the requisite Praxis Test(s) before candidate is recommended for licensure. See Program Director for current requirements.

Recommended Plan of Study for MATECE or MATELED with SPED

Full-time MAT students may begin the program in the Summer or Fall semester.

First Semester (Summer or Fall)	Second Semester (Fall or Spring)	Third Semester (Spring or Second Fall)	Fourth Semester (Second Fall or Spring)
MAT 600 MAT 601 MAT 602 MAT 604 MAT 605 MAT 630 MAT 631	MAT 632 MAT 633 MAT 634 MAT 640 MAT 671 MAT 673	MAT 635 MAT 636 MAT 637 MAT 672 MAT 674	MAT 606 MAT 607 MAT 638 or MAT 639 MAT 676

Part-time students develop a schedule in consultation with an advisor to take additional semesters to complete the program.

MAT in Secondary Education (MATSED) with licensure in Special Education (SPED)

MATSED with SPED		Credit Hours
I.	Required Courses	36
	MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 601 Technology and Teaching MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 604 Learning Theory MAT 605 Diversity and Learning MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar MAT 610 Managing the Inclusive Classroom MAT 611 Secondary Methods & Management MAT 612 Secondary Methods Seminar MAT 613 Curriculum Design & Assessment MAT 614 Reading, Language & Literacy MAT 615 Secondary Student Teaching	3 2 3 2 3 2 1 3 3 1 4 3 6
II.	Content Methods Courses	3-6
	Students must register for the content methods course chosen from the following that reflects their expected area of licensure. Students seeking licensure in a second content area must take a second methods course that reflects the area of licensure for their second content area of interest. MAT 616 Methods of Teaching Secondary School History/Social Science (3) MAT 617 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science (3) MAT 619 Methods of Teaching Secondary School English (3) MAT 621 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Art (3) MAT 622 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Mathematics (3) MAT 624 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Foreign Languages (3) MAT 625 Methods of Teaching Secondary School Theatre (3)
III.	Special Education Courses	20
	MAT 671 Methods of Instrn & Curr for K–6 SPED MAT 672 Methods of Instrn & Curr for 7–12 SPED MAT 673 Special Education Assessment MAT 674 Special Education Behavioral Supports MAT 676 Special Education Student Teaching	4 4 4 4 4
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE MATECE OR MATELED WITH SPED ENDORSEMENT		59-62
Requires completion of the requisite Praxis Test in the student's major, or major and minor, before candidate is recommended for licensure.

Recommended Plan of Study for MATSED with SPED

Full-time MAT students may begin the program in the Summer or Fall semester.

First Semester (Summer or Fall)	Second and Third Semesters		Fourth Semester (Second Fall or Spring)
MAT 600 MAT 601 MAT 602 MAT 604 MAT 605 MAT 611	MAT 610 MAT 612 MAT 613 MAT 614 Subject Methods (MAT 616–625)	MAT 671 MAT 672 MAT 673 MAT 674	MAT 606 MAT 607 MAT 615 MAT 676
	Students will take half these courses in one semester and half in the next; based on a plan developed in consultation with their advisor.

Part-time students develop a schedule in consultation with an advisor to take additional semesters to complete the program.

MAT Followed by MED Degree Program

This program is designed for graduates of Westminster's Master of Arts in Teaching Program to pursue an endorsement and an MED degree or a general MED degree. The following admissions policies apply to these MAT graduates only. All other MED policies apply to these students.

Admission to the Program

The requirement for admission is completion of Westminster College's Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

A candidate for admission must submit the following materials to the Admissions Office:
A completed Application for Graduate Admission form with a $40 application fee.
Westminster transcript showing successful completion of the Westminster College Master of Arts in Teaching degree with an overall GPA of 3.0.

Upon completion of these steps, the individual's application materials are submitted to the Graduate Education Admissions Committee.

MAT followed by Traditional M.Ed.

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	MAT Required Courses	9
	All students must take: MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar	3 3 2 1
II.	Elective Courses	21
	Students may choose classes from the following: MED 602 Teaching and Learning Theory (3) MED 605 Contemporary Issues in Education (3) MED 610 Diversity in Education (3) MED 613 Theories of Adult Learning and Development (3) MED 615 Education, Schools and Politics (3) MED 616 Information Technology (3) MED 617 Instructional Design with Technology (3) MED 621 Foundations of ESL Instruction (3) MED 622 Language Acquisition and Assessment (3) MED 634 Teaching Adults (3) MED 635 Adult Ed Program Planning & Evaluation (3) MED 651 Learner-Centered Environments (3) MED 658 Reading and Writing in the Content Area (3) MED 660 Directed Studies (1–3)
III.	Capstone Course	2
	All students must take MED 608 Special Topics.
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE TRADITIONAL M.E.d.		32

MAT followed by Basic Reading Endorsement and completion of M.Ed.

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	MAT Required Courses	9
	All students must take: MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar	3 3 2 1
II.	Basic Reading Endorsement (RDG)	21
	This program is designed for students who already hold a teaching license and are seeking to become qualified to be a reading teacher at the elementary or secondary level. Students must be admitted to the M.Ed. program. MED 612 Models and Processes of Literacy (3) MED 630 Children's/Adolescent Literature (3) MED 631 Writing in the Classroom (3) MED 632 Assessment of Reading Processes (3) MED 633 Diagnostic Teaching for Reading Comprehension (3) MED 636 Early Literacy Instruction (3) MED 658 Reading and Writing in the Content Area (3)
III.	Capstone Course	2
	All students must take MED 608 Special Topics.
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE RDG ENDORSEMENT FOLLOWED BY COMPLETION OF M.E.d.		32

MAT followed by Distance Learning Endorsement and completion of M.Ed.

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	MAT Required Courses	9
	All students must take: MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar	3 3 2 1
II.	Educational Technology/Distance Learning Endorsement (DLE)	16
	This program is designed for students who already hold a teaching license and are seeking to gain a strong background for teaching and learning through technology, exploring the online environment as a teaching medium, and teaching through the EDNET system. This endorsement is largely conducted during the summer. Students seeking admission need to contact the M.Ed. Program Director for details on the admissions process. Students complete the following classes to gain the endorsement: MED 610 Diversity in Education (3) MED 616 Information Technology (3) MED 617 Instructional Design with Technology (3) MED 618 Online Education: Teaching & Learning at a Distance (3) MED 619 Distance Learning Field Experience (1) MED 672 Instructional Technology (3)
III.	Elective Courses	5
	Students may choose classes from the following: MED 602 Teaching and Learning Theory (3) MED 605 Contemporary Issues in Education (3) MED 613 Theories of Adult Learning and Development (3) MED 615 Education, Schools and Politics (3) MED 622 Language Acquisition and Assessment (3) MED 634 Teaching Adults (3) MED 651 Learner-Centered Environments (3) MED 658 Reading and Writing in the Content Area (3)
IV.	Capstone Course	3
	All students must take MED 608 Special Topics.
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE DLE ENDORSEMENT FOLLOWED BY COMPLETION OF M.E.d.		32

MAT followed by ESL Endorsement and completion of M.Ed.

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	MAT Required Courses	9
	All students must take: MAT 600 Culture, Family and Community MAT 602 Introduction to Education MAT 606 Travel Seminar MAT 607 Teaching and Research Seminar	3 3 2 1
II.	English as a Second Language Endorsement (ESL)	18
	This program is designed for students who already hold a teaching license and a bachelor's degree, and are seeking to become qualified to be an ESL teacher at the elementary or secondary level. Students must be admitted to the M.Ed. program. MED 620 ESL, Family and Community MED 621 Foundations of ESL Instruction MED 622 Language Acquisition and Assessment MED 623 ESL Methods I MED 624 ESL Methods II: Content and Assessment MED 625 Assessment for ELL in Content Areas	3 3 3 3 3 3
III.	Elective Courses	3
	Students are encouraged to take: MED 615 Education, Schools and Politics (3) but may choose an elective class from the following: MED 602 Teaching and Learning Theory (3) MED 605 Contemporary Issues in Education (3) MED 613 Theories of Adult Learning and Development (3) MED 616 Information Technology (3) MED 617 Instructional Design with Technology (3) MED 634 Teaching Adults (3) MED 651 Learner-Centered Environments (3) MED 658 Reading and Writing in the Content Area (3)
IV.	Capstone Course	3
	All students must take MED 608 Special Topics.
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ESL ENDORSEMENT FOLLOWED BY COMPLETION OF M.E.d.		32