Master of Arts in Teaching
The M.A.T. program is designed to prepare exceptionally qualified teachers who are responsive to the needs of diverse learners. It provides professional coursework and experience that lead to initial teacher certification for candidates who have completed a baccalaureate degree.
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) are required to submit evidence of a passing score (based on Maryland requirements) on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Tests (Reading, Math, and Writing) or Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests. Consistent with regulations for teacher certification set forth by the state of Maryland, qualifying scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE may be substituted for Praxis Core or Praxis I performance (please refer to http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/testing_info/praxis1.aspx for details on Basic Skills). In addition, applicants to the M.A.T. program must have an undergraduate degree with a major or significant coursework in the desired certification area.
Transcripts will be reviewed to determine if content area qualifications are met for the type of certification sought. In particular, applicants for elementary certification must meet course requirements in English, mathematics, science, and social studies. For certification in secondary teaching in grades 7-12, a major and/or 27-30 credits in the area of certification are required. Secondary education certification programs focusing on grades 7-12 are offered in biology, chemistry, earth/space science, English, mathematics, physics, and social studies. For specialty area certification in grades PK-12, a major and/or 27-30 credits in the area of certification are required. Grades PreK-12 specialty area certification programs are offered in art, French, music (both instrumental and vocal), and Spanish.
Admitted candidates will meet with an advisor to outline a sequence of courses. In addition to required courses, the program includes two school-based field experiences and an internship that meets certification requirements for the state of Maryland. Candidates complete a minimum 100-day internship in professional development schools over two consecutive semesters. The second semester is a full-time experience that includes the development of a performance-based portfolio assessment. Candidates in the program who are full-time teachers of record in the area of certification register for the Professional Growth Experience option and complete internship requirements in the school where they are employed. Candidates must teach within a designated commuting time from the Baltimore Campus.
Education candidates must meet the knowledge, skills, and disposition standards as set forth by our accrediting body. Candidates will be assessed by faculty at two transition points before Internship I to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and recommendation for continuation in the program. Candidates who fail to meet these standards in the area of dispositions will have a Professional Assessment Form filed with the department chair by a Loyola faculty member. The resulting Professional Assessment Review may result in removal from the program and/or internship for the protection of both the Loyola candidate and the K-12 students. Complete details of this procedure are available in the student handbook.
The M.A.T. program requires candidates to demonstrate proficiency in technology skills for teaching that can be accomplished through candidate's previous coursework, passing a technology skills assessment offered by the department (an administration fee is charged), or by passing the foundations course, Introduction to Educational Technology (ET 605 ). Candidates who are unable to pass the technology skills assessment are required to take a three-credit technology course.
In order to complete the requirements for graduation, M.A.T. candidates in elementary and secondary areas must submit passing results for the Praxis II: Content Knowledge test and provide proof of taking the Praxis II pedagogy test related to the certification area. Art and Music candidates must provide passing scores for the Praxis II exams in the respective content area. Candidates for certification in French or Spanish are required to submit proof of passing the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and the Writing Proficiency Test. For May graduates, candidates are responsible for providing official Praxis II. /ACTFL exam scores by May 1. January graduates are responsible for providing official Praxis II/ACTFL scores by December 15. September graduates are responsible for providing official Praxis exam scores by August 15. Praxis II and ACTFL testing requirements are listed on the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) website: http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/. Candidates submit an electronic application for graduation to Records the first week of the final semester.
The M.A.T. program has been approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Maryland State Department of Education using recognized state and national standards and includes Maryland-approved reading courses.