2018-2019

MA in Teaching

Graduate School Department

Degrees offered

Master's

Campuses

Main Campus
Anne Arundel Community College
Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC)

Summary

Teachers guide human as well as academic development as they help students in multidimensional families live cooperatively in multicultural communities, develop constructive moral values, and learn to work independently as well as collaboratively in groups. Teachers model sensitivity to the needs of all children and youth whose diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and talents enrich schools and classrooms.

At the same time, teachers engage students actively in the basic tasks of education:

  • understanding the dimensions and using the skills of language and literature, mathematics, the natural sciences and the social sciences;
  • thinking critically, analyzing and solving problems, drawing conclusions based on evidence, extending levels of thinking, developing concepts, making meaning of information studied and experienced;
  • using tools of technology efficiently and wisely; and,
  • developing the ability to reflect upon and evaluate what they have learned.

Program Objectives

Preparation of teachers to meet these challenges requires a combination of elements. A strong academic content background in the specific content area (if secondary) and in the liberal arts (if elementary) of appropriate breadth and depth is needed, together with research-based professional study of the following subjects: child and adolescent development, addressing the needs of diverse students (e.g., struggling readers, English language learners, those with special needs, gifted and talented), theories of behavior and learning styles, effective models of teaching, understanding of Maryland Common Core and national SPA standards, methods of organizing and planning, strategies for managing disruptive behaviors, techniques for formative and summative assessment of student learning, analyzing and using student data to inform instructional practice, and the outcomes of instruction.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program at Notre Dame of Maryland University is designed to provide this comprehensive preparation. The Program requires strong liberal arts preparation as evidenced in prior graduate and/or undergraduate study, professional course work on the NDMU campus integrating research-based theory and practical application, and an extended internship, when possible, in a high performing, high needs professional development school under the tutelage of a university-selected mentor-teacher who has demonstrated the ability to impact student achievement.

Instructors in the Program are faculty from NDMU and successful, experienced educators and personnel from area schools and school systems.

MAT Certification Programs are offered in:

    • Secondary Education: Business, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, or Theatre.  
    • Art, or Music (PreK-12):  (Because NDMU’s World Languages Program is nationally recognized by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL),teacher candidates who are seeking certification in Maryland for Spanish or French are required to achieve a passing score of “Advanced Low” or better on BOTH the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Written Proficiency Test (WPT), both of which are administered by an interviewer/proctor who is certified by ACTFL.  Note that some teacher candidates in lieu of the OPI may elect to take the OPI(c) which is a computer version of the OPI. Teacher candidates may take these two assessments at any time during their Program of Study but prior to their methods course of study. Teacher candidates are encouraged to explore opportunities that will enable them to meet the “Advanced Low” standard/score, including participation in study abroad, volunteer and service learning opportunities, language clubs, and film festivals and by viewing films and television programs in the world language they will be studying. More information about these assessments can be found at www.languagetesting.com ). Please see your School of Education advisor for information on registration and interview preparation).
    • Early Childhood Education, alone or as dual certification with Elementary Education
    • Special Education, alone or as dual certification with Elementary (1-8) or Secondary Education (6 - Adult)
    • Elementary Education (1-6)

All Programs meet the teacher education standards set forth in the Maryland Essential Dimensions of Teaching and are fully approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

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Programs of Study

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students pursue the program on a full-time or a part-time basis. Full-time MAT students typically register for nine credits each term over a period which spans two summer sessions and the intervening academic year. However, many full-time students take advantage of the Graduate Education Intern program which is a ten-month accelerated opportunity for students to intern for two semesters in the morning while completing all course requirements in the afternoon/evening. Part-time students take one or two courses a term and commit to the internship the second year; they will usually complete the program in two years.

At entrance, the student's liberal arts preparation will be thoroughly evaluated. A candidate whose record is lacking in breadth or depth in specific liberal arts areas will be required to take additional courses which must be completed to meet degree requirements. The candidate will also submit an essay which will be critiqued for writing skills and will engage in a formal interview to be assessed on oral communication skills and the candidate’s potential effectiveness, ability to persevere and suitability for the classroom. The candidate and his/her advisor (the Director of Post-baccalaureate Teacher Certification Programs or Program Coordinator at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center) prepare and approve a Program of Study designed to meet certification requirements.

Upon successful completion of the methods courses, each student will be further evaluated to determine eligibility for the internship. Each student is expected to demonstrate aptitude for teaching and development of appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The student must be recommended by the methods instructors and field experience personnel who may seek other appropriate information.

The following degree requirements pertain to all MAT candidates:

    • completion of all courses with an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher;
    • attainment of a grade of B or better in all methods courses (indicated by an asterisk [*] in the curriculum section);
    • passing score on the Praxis Core or other MSDE approved test submitted prior to undertaking the internship;
    • passing score on the Praxis II exam(s) specified for the expected area of certification, submitted prior to certification stamping;
    • attainment of a grade of B or better in the internship course required for certification; 
    • completion of an e-portfolio to demonstrate competency in teaching.  Students may also be required to complete and submit an edTPA portfolio during the internship semester; and,
    • each student must complete at least 36 graduate credits. Up to six credits of relevant graduate course work at the B level may be transferred from other accredited institutions, with the approval of the Dean of the School of Education.

This Program is available at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC) as well as on the Baltimore Campus. Selected courses from the Program are also offered at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) when enrollment warrants.

Curriculum

Core Courses

          EDU-519 Human Development and Learning (3)
          EDU-538 English Language Learners for the Classroom Teacher (3)
          EDU-556 Technology for Instruction and Management (3)
          EDU-604 Analytic, Reflective and Research Seminar (3)
          SPE-526 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (3)
                    

Secondary Education

          EDU-544 Educational Assessment (3)
          EDU-552 Global Perspectives in Teaching (3) 
          EDU-580 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas I (3)
          EDU-551 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas II (3)

          Methods of Teaching in the Secondary School—one selected from the following:

          EDU-520 Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Schools*
          EDU-530 Art, PreK-12 (3)*
          EDU-531 English (3)*
          EDU-532 World Languages (3)*
          EDU-533 Mathematics (3)*
          EDU-537 Science (3)*
          EDU-539 Social Studies (3)*

          Student Teaching—select one from the following:

          EDU-601 Internship: Student Teaching in Secondary School (6) Or
          EDU-605 Internship: Student Teaching in Art, PreK-12 (6)

Elementary Education

          EDU-509 Processes and Acquisition of Reading (3)
          EDU-510 Elementary Reading Materials (3)
          EDU-511 Assessment of Reading
          EDU-513 Science and Social Studies in the Elementary School (3)*
          EDU-542 Instruction in Reading (3)*
          EDU-592 Mathematics in the Elementary School (3)*
          EDU-602 Internship: Student Teaching in the Elementary School (6)

Early Childhood with Elementary Education

          EDU-515 Curriculum and Methods in Early Childhood Education (3)*
          EDU-603 Internship: Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (3)

          Taken concurrently with EDU-602

          *Indicates a methods course; students must earn a grade of B or higher.

Special Education with Elementary or Secondary Education

          SPE-543/SPE-544  Assessment of Special Needs Populations I (3)
          SPE-546        Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs (3)
          SPE-570        Individualizing the Curriculum (Elementary) (3) Or
          SPE-571        Vocational Skills in Special Education Methods (Secondary) (3)
          SPE-576        Communication Skills for the School-Based Professional (3)
          SPE-601        Internship: Student Teaching in Special Education (3) 
          Taken concurrently with EDU-601 or EDU-602

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