Secondary Education, M.A.T.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. An application for graduate admission.
2. Official copies of transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate). An undergraduate grade average of “B” or better is required.
3. Official scores on the Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Record Exam. Minimum scores at or above 50 percentile rank.
4. Three recommendations by individuals in relevant professional fields.
5. In addition to materials required as part of the Graduate School application process, candidates for the M.A.T. program also must submit a letter of interest that describes their commitment to the teaching profession, recent experience working with teenagers, and their philosophy of teaching and learning – see below for fuller description and explanation.
6. A passing score on a discipline-specific PRAXIS II exam as approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) in the applicant‘s desired concentration area - only the test on content knowledge is required, not the test on pedagogy. The PRAXIS II test numbers and passing scores are listed in the table below:

To ensure that candidates for the M.A.T. degree are aware of all of the expectations for high school teachers, applicants must have recent experiences in secondary education or related settings. Appropriate experiences may include substitute teaching, lateral entry employment, or tutoring. For those candidates who lack related experiences, a minimum of three visits to an area high school must be arranged to assist a teacher of their content (Math, Science, English, Social Studies or Spanish) with at least three mini-lessons to the whole class. A short reflection on those experiences should be included in the letter of interest submitted as part of the application process. Access to schools is sometimes difficult with security clearances, so Watson College faculty encourage applicants to begin this process early in the semester they plan to apply for graduate admission. For questions about options for fulfilling this requirement, or for students who experience any difficulties in gaining access to a high school, please contact the M.A.T. Program Coordinator. Final selection for admission is based upon consideration of academic record, Miller Analogies or Graduate Record Exam scores, letter of application, recommendations and successful completion of the PRAXIS II. An interview with a committee of Watson College of Education faculty and public school personnel also may be required.

Students who seek professional improvement or licensure renewal but do not intend to pursue a degree may register for undergraduate courses through procedures established for non–degree students. NOTE: Licensure requirements change and requirements must be adjusted to accommodate new mandated competencies and guidelines.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Master of Arts degree (M.A.T.) in secondary education provides professional preparation for (a) “licensure-only” students who already have a degree and wish to gain teacher licensure and (b) lateral-entry teachers. The 33-semester hour program is comprised of 27 semester hours in professional education competency areas and 6 hours in the content specialization. The M.A.T in secondary education is offered in the following specialties: English, social studies, mathematics, and science. The MAT program is a full time, “one-year” program, based on a cohort model. The program is comprised of a core of professional studies with extensive time in the field for the integration of theory and practice.