MA in Teaching
Degrees offered
Campuses
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, Music, or World languages (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 World Languages 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. 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 (PreK-3), 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.
Programs of Study
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students pursue the program on a full-time or a part-time basis. 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.
For admission to teacher certification programs, we look for candidates with a strong academic background and 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA. Our admissions process does take into account the whole candidate so a percentage of students with lower GPAs can be admitted to the program who show promise based on test scores, recommendations and/or work experience. The candidate and his/her advisor prepare and approve a Program of Study designed to meet certification requirements.
The following degree requirements pertain to all MAT candidates:
- completion of all courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 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 or qualifying GPA of 3.0submitted 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 will 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.
Curriculum
Core Courses taken by all content fields
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.
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 if seeking dual certification