Teaching, Secondary Education (Master of Arts in Teaching, M.A.T.)

Dr. Kipton Smilie, Program Director
ksmilie@missouriwestern.edu
(816) 271-5952
missouriwestern.edu/education/mat

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)—Secondary is designed for the college graduate who did not pursue an education degree as an undergraduate, but now would like to enter the teaching profession.  An individual who earned a content area degree in a subject area offered at secondary schools at the undergraduate level is eligible for enrollment in this program.  The MAT degree program will provide such individuals with the training and field experience necessary to earn initial State of Missouri teacher certification in grades 9-12 or K-12, depending on the subject area.

Missouri Western offers the MAT in 13 different secondary curriculum areas.  Certification for grades 9 – 12 is available in eight areas:  biology, business, chemistry, English, health, mathematics, social studies, and speech & theatre.  Certification may be earned for grades K – 12 in five areas:  art, music-instrumental, music-vocal, physical education, and Spanish.  Students who are pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching degree in the areas of biology, chemistry, mathematics, or Spanish might qualify for TEACH grant assistance.

All students who successfully complete the MAT program and meet the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education minimum requirements will earn an initial teaching license in the State of Missouri. This is one of the quickest ways available for content area college graduates to attain certification.  Simultaneously with the initial teaching license, individuals who successfully complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program will earn a master’s degree.

All coursework for the MAT program is offered fully on-line to maximize flexibility for working adults. In addition to the online format, the program includes numerous opportunities for real time interactions with peers, colleagues, and professors. The program also includes a strong fieldwork component, through which students gain hands-on experience teaching and interacting with learners who are in diverse, inclusive, secondary or select K-12 classrooms.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching requires meeting all qualifications for acceptance to the Missouri Western Graduate School.

  • Submission of application for admission to the MWSU Graduate School.
  • Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree in one of the 13 content areas listed in the Overview, or a closely related field
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (from undergraduate work)
  • Passing score on the Missouri Content Assessment (MOCA) prior to admission or during the first two semesters of coursework. Conditional admission is allowed, prior to the applicant earning a passing score on the MOCA. Additional details will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
  • Statement of purpose: A one-page narrative, which describes his/her purpose for seeking admission to a graduate program, as well as what he/she hopes to gain from the experience.
  • No GRE is required.

Students who are accepted to this degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.

Content Courses 1
EDU 511Content Area Literacy3
EDU 515Fundamentals and Strategies for Teaching Learners with Exceptionalities3
EDU 521Teaching Students with Reading Deficits3
EDU 561Induction to the Teaching Profession5
EDU 565Instructional Methods for Secondary Learners3
EDU 604Seminar for Student Teaching Professionals1
EDU 667Teaching Critical Thinking through Technology, Collaboration and Differentiated Instruction3
EDU 676Behavioral Management & Interventions3
TSL 664Language and Culture3
Field and Clinical Experiences
EDU 562Participation in Teaching - Secondary Education1
EDU 603Internship in Teaching - Secondary Education2
EDU 607Professional Student Teaching - Secondary Education (Required to hold a Missouri Provisional Certification and have successfully completed 2 years of teaching in the content area)3-8
or EDU 608 Student Teaching-Secondary Education
Total Credit Hours33-38
1

In addition to the courses listed below, students will be required to take an Orientation Workshop (EDU 500).

 Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Pass Missouri Content Assessment in the content area in which earned bachelors degree (within first two semesters of study).
  2. Earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with no more than 6 credit hours of C in all required coursework.

University Graduation Requirements

  1. Satisfactorily complete all required coursework in the program;
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours;
  3. Satisfactorily complete the required capstone experience.