MAT Program Design
In the first year, you will enroll on a part-time basis, completing 15 credits of graduate coursework, including field experiences in NYS schools. Upon successful completion of this year, you will be eligible to apply for the New York State Education Department Transitional B teaching certificate. This certificate qualifies you to teach full time for three years.
While you teach full time, you will complete 15 graduate credits in the second year of the program and 12 graduate credits in the third and final year. During this period, a mentor teacher in the school setting and an Empire State College faculty member will supervise your work.
The program offers a strong foundation in teaching linked to content, child and adolescent development, and learning technologies. Courses are delivered online with opportunities for face to face instruction. You will have full access to Empire State College’s online resources including the online library and academic support for graduate-level skill development. The blended course delivery (in-person meetings and online coursework) requires that students possess computer literacy and are able to participate in this technology rich program.
Successful completion of the second and third years of the program (for a total of 42 credits) results in the award of a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Once you successfully pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination written assessment of teaching skills (ATS-W), you also will be eligible for the New York State initial teaching certificate. After one additional year of successful teaching you will be eligible for professional certification.
MAT Curriculum
| Term | Credits | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Total 42 credits | ||
Year One - Introductory Year (15 credit hours) |
||
| Fall | 6 | Effective Urban Schools (EDU-660515)* Child and Adolescent Development (EDU-660511)* |
| Spring | 6 | Teaching and Learning (EDU-660513)* Exceptionalities: Individualized Learning (EDU-660514)* |
| Summer | 3 | Teaching Diverse Learners (EDU-660512) |
Year Two - First In-service Year (15 credit hours) |
||
| Fall | 6 | Teaching and Curriculum (EDU-660521) Mentored Teaching 1 (EDU-660522) |
| Spring | 6 | Educational Evaluation (EDU-660523) Mentored Teaching 2 (EDU-660524) |
| Summer | 3 | Content Area Study (EDU-660529) |
Year Three - Second In-service Year (12 credit hours)** |
||
| Fall | 6 | Literacy (EDU-660531) Mentored Teaching 3 (EDU-660532) |
| Spring | 6 | Literacy Across the Curriculum (EDU-660533) Mentored Teaching: Teaching Portfolio (EDU-660534)*** |
* Each course integrates structured field experiences in NYS schools. Successful completion of these courses is required for NYS Transitional B teaching certificate.
** Successful completion of MAT program leads to the NYS initial teaching certificate.
*** Meets Empire State College’s MAT project requirement.
