Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program Requirements

Faculty

• Melanie Agnew, Dean
• Chante Jimenez, Assistant Dean of Teach Education
• Eleonor Castillo, Assistant Professor
• Marilee Coles-Ritchie, Professor
• Rebecca Penerosa, Associate Professor
• Lowell K. Oswald, Associate Professor and MAT Program Director

View Master of Arts in Teaching Courses

Admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching Program

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching is an integrated 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
• Impactful Curriculum Design
• Effective Assessment Methods
• Classroom Management
• Reflective Teaching Practice
• 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.

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.

Entrance to a teacher education program requires the following:

• A transcript demonstrating a 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Submission of either SAT scores (composite minimum 1000, reading minimum 450, math minimum 450) or ACT scores (composite minimum 21, verbal minimum 20, math minimum 19) from the past 6 years or passing scores on an appropriate Praxis II exam.

Note: Formal admission to the MAT Program does not guarantee a recommendation for licensure. Recommendation for licensure is made only upon successful completion of the MAT degree requirements. Therefore, a teaching license will not be recommended without full completion of the MAT, and the MAT will not be awarded without recommendation for a teaching license.

Student Teaching

Students must successfully complete all courses in the MAT before they are eligible to student teach. Student teaching is a full-time, 12-week experience and dual elementary/SPED or secondary/SPED is a 16-week experience.  Prior to student teaching, students must:

• 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

School of Education courses may only be repeated once. The student must:

• Maintain a grade point average of 3.00. Courses in which a grade of C- 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.

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 March and applications for May and August graduation are due in September. 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 C or higher in all graduate courses.
• Achieve a passing score on the appropriate Praxis II examinations.

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.

Elementary Education: Licensure to teach grades K-6

MAT in Elementary Education (Grades K-6)

Recommended Plan of Study for MAT in Elementary Education

Students may begin the Elementary MAT program in the summer or fall semester. The program can be completed in three semesters. If the three-semester schedule is not feasible due to outside commitments, students can meet with the program director to develop an individualized program plan that is best suited for their schedule.

First Semester (Summer or Fall)	Second Semester (Fall or Spring)	Third Semester (Spring or second Fall)
MAT 600 MAT 602 MAT 605  MAT 630 MAT 631 MAT 632 MAT 636	MAT 633 MAT 637 MAT 640 MAT 642 MAT 663 MAT 664  MAT 669	MAT 607 MAT 639

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

Accelerated MAT in Elementary Education Program Requirements

The Accelerated MAT program is open only to graduates of Westminster College who have completed the following courses as part of their undergraduate studies:  EDUC 302 Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society and EDUC 312 Specialized Education Services.  Students who are considering applying for the Accelerated MAT program should meet with the Program Director early in their undergraduate career, preferably before their junior year.

Completion of the Accelerated MAT in Elementary Education requires admission to the program and the following coursework:

MAT in Elementary Education with Licensure in Special Education

Recommended Plan of Study for MAT in Elementary Education with Licensure in Special Education

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

Secondary Education: Licensure to teach grades 6-12

The Secondary Education Program is for those who would like to teach at the middle or high school level. 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. Students who are seeking their MAT must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the program.

• Art
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Computer Science
• Earth Science
• English
• French
• History
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Science
• Physics
• Social Science
• Spanish 
• Special Education
• Theater

MAT in Secondary Education (Grades 6-12)

Requires admission to the program and the following coursework:

Recommended Plan of Study for MAT in Secondary Education

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.

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

Accelerated MAT in Secondary Education Program

Program Requirements

The Accelerated MAT program is open only to graduates of Westminster College who have completed the following courses as part of their undergraduate studies: EDUC 302 Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society and EDUC 312 Specialized Education Services.  Students who are considering applying for the Accelerated MAT program should meet with the Program Director early in their undergraduate career, preferably before their junior year.

Completion of the Accelerated MAT in Secondary Education requires admission to the program and the following coursework:

Recommended Plan of Study for Accelerated MAT in Secondary Education

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.

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

MAT in Secondary Education with Licensure in Special Education

Recommended Plan of Study for MAT in Secondary Education with Licensure in Special Education

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

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 in Special Education Program Requirements (Grades K–12, Mild/Moderate)

Students who are seeking their MAT in Special Education must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the program. Students have the option of preparing for a license in Mild/Moderate Special Education.

Recommended Plan of Study for MAT in Special Education

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

Master of Arts in Teaching to Master of Education Tracks

This program is designed for graduates of Westminster’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program who 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 the 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 to Traditional MED

MAT to MED with Trauma, Resilience, and Restorative Justice Emphasis

MAT to MED with Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Endorsement with an MAT in Elementary or Special Education

MAT to MED with Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Endorsement with an MAT in Secondary Education