| The UMBC Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is a NCATE and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved graduate program for career changers and recent graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree seeking initial teaching certification. Students are introduced to pedagogy, including curriculum planning, instructional design, assessment and human development as well as a subject-specific methods course. In keeping with Maryland’s Redesign of Teacher Education (1996). The MAT incorporates competency-based course work and a Professional Development School internship program for every student in the program. The course work integrates content and pedagogy as recommended by the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) (1996), the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). All MAT candidates’ competencies in essential teaching and content knowledge will be evaluated through performance-based assessments. Graduates of this program will meet all Maryland certification requirements, receive initial teacher certification in their area of specialization, and extend their understanding of issues germane to teaching and learning. |
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| There are two delivery models for the
UMBC MAT program. The campus-based model provides evening
courses for students who work in other professional fields
during the day (link to campus-based MAT information).
The STEM delivery model is school-based with all potential
students required to apply for admission to both the UMBC
Graduate School and STEM. All STEM students must be free
to work full time in schools while they are completing
the MAT program. STEM placements are awarded on a competitive
basis and include a stipend and service requirement. |
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| The MAT program is based on a four-semester (or equivalent) sequence that requires completion of 36 credit hours. The majority of MAT students are studying as part time students. |
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| To fortify content understandings and be highly qualified as well as certified, students may be required to take additional content coursework. This course work is may be needed to satisfy discipline specific requirements as defined by UMBC, MSDE/NCATE approved program requirements. Student’s undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts will be reviewed in advising sessions before admission to determine if additional courses are needed to fulfill these requirements. All students will receive a written copy of the review of their transcripts indicating any additional content coursework that must be successfully completed prior to beginning the 100 day internship. |
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| MSDE requires both early childhood and
elementary school teachers to complete 12 credits of reading
methods courses and secondary school teachers must complete
6 credits of reading. In the MAT, 24 credits of the content
core, various content area foundations and methods, as
well as the accompanying internship are also required.
Secondary teachers will have three hours of content-related,
discipline specific electives to complete their 36-hour
program. All students are required to complete each core
course with a grade of “B” or better, and
pass their portfolio presentation. |
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| A major goal of the program is to integrate theory and practice. Consequently, field experiences are incorporated throughout the program in a variety of ways. Elementary MAT teacher candidates will have opportunities to work with children and teachers through their methods and reading courses. |
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| Early Childhood MAT teacher candidates
participate in a different semester-long field experience
that is linked with a three-credit study group during
each of the first 3 semesters. Students spend three hours
on two mornings a week in the field for a minimum of 72
hours over the course of each semester. |
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| Secondary track MAT teacher candidates
will also have field experiences built into their methods
and reading courses, in addition to a separate practicum
course. The field experiences may be scheduled a variety
of ways. It is typically scheduled as a 3-hour block once
a week. |
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| Clinical experience, sometimes referred to as student teaching or internship, is intended to be a full-time experience lasting at least 100 days and spanning two semesters. During this period of time, it is expected that the candidate will gain as much experience in teaching as possible. Ideally, at the conclusion of the clinical experience, a candidate will be ready to accept full responsibility for a classroom and do so successfully. |
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| The candidate is expected to be devoted
full-time to Phase II of the internship and participate
in the seminar course. The candidate may take methods
courses during Phase I of the internship. Any part-time
non-school work is unacceptable during Phase II of the
internship. |
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| For more information regarding the models
for clinical experience and UMBC Professional Development
Schools, contact Dr. Sue Small (small@umbc.edu),
Director of Professional Development Schools or Trach
Irish, Office of Field Experiences (tirish1@umbc.edu). |
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| In some cases, candidates may wish to pursue two areas of certification. This means that it will be necessary to complete two special methods courses and demonstrate academic competence in both areas of certification. During the field experience course and clinical experience, candidates will observe and participate in both areas of certification. |
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| The MAT program culminates in a portfolio (written and electronic) based on the performance outcomes developed by NCATE, the Interstate New Teacher’s Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and MSDE and includes teacher performance assessments, including their portfolio presentation, as well as their knowledge of content and pedagogy and dispositions toward teaching diverse students. |
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| The MAT is a UMBC graduate program. Applicants must be accepted and admitted to the UMBC Graduate School and the UMBC Department of Education. Minimum admission requirements include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and passing scores on Praxis I, according to MSDE certification criteria. |
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| The first step in the application process is to schedule a personal interview with an advisor of the program and submit transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate study for analysis. |
