The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in STEM Education is designed for professionals and recent college graduates who already hold a degree in science, mathematics, or information technology/business discipline and who wish to teach science in either a middle school or high school. Completion of the program will result in both a master’s degree and teacher certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Students will complete a sequence of six courses that are grounded in research-based principles and focus on teaching instructional best practices in the STEM fields followed by a seventh class which is comprised of a twelve-week student teaching practicum. Students will also design, complete, and present a research project and comprehensive teaching portfolio.
Program Delivery
The 30-credit M.A.T. is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and can be completed in 18 months. Cohorts of 10-15 students will complete a sequence of six modules using a combination of monthly face-to-face meetings, online interactions, and video-conferencing. Each module will be 3 credits. At the beginning of the program, students will be assigned an experienced cooperating teacher in their certification area in a local school as a mentor and approximately 25 hours of observation and co-teaching per module will be required.
During the 12-week student teaching practicum (12 crs.), students will implement principles from the modules and assume responsibilities for planning, instruction, and assessment. Two capstone projects, a professional portfolio and the results of a research project, will be presented at the end of the program. The sequence for completing the M.A.T. is as follows:
- One module during the first summer. (3 crs.)
- Four modules during the first academic year. (12 crs.)
- One module during the second summer (3 crs.)
- Student teaching during the fall semester of second academic year. (12 crs.)
- Presentation of professional portfolio and research project during December of fall semester of second academic year.
- Assistance with job placement during the spring semester of the second academic year.
M.A.T. Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a science, mathematics or information technology/business discipline from a regionally accredited institution.
- Official undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts sent to Shippensburg University.
- Completed application including a statement of intent summarizing their motivations and goals for entering the teaching profession.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Passing scores on two teacher certification exams required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test and Praxis II Subject Assessment. More information can be found at the Educational Testing Services website (www.ets.org).
The M.A.T. is designed for students who already have content expertise in a science, mathematics, or information technology/business discipline that is consistent with one or more of the secondary (grades 7-12) licensure areas in Pennsylvania: biology, chemistry, physics, earth and space science, environmental science, and general science, mathematics, or information technology/business.
Applicants may also pursue Middle Level (grades 4-8) certification. The M.A.T. directors will review each applicant’s transcripts and Praxis examination scores as part of the admissions process. Applicants are encouraged to register for the Praxis examinations as soon as possible to ensure that scores are available by the application deadline. Final M.A.T. program admission is contingent upon passing the Praxis examinations.