Overview of the Program
This Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree program in Education with a concentration in Initial Licensure in Secondary Education is designed specifically for and only available to candidates who already possess an undergraduate degree with a major in one of eight Virginia Department of Education-approved teacher licensure areas (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science) and who decide to pursue a teaching license after graduation or at the end of their undergraduate career.
This three-semester graduate licensure program starts with foundational pedagogical concepts and skills, with the subsequent semesters building on those experiences. Candidates who complete the program will participate in field experiences in addition to student teaching, as well as be fully equipped with essential teacher “tool-kit” skills for successful classroom instruction.
Graduates of this program will:
- Learn how to be an educator through hands-on and practical learning experiences
- Design and deliver curricula that effectively impact student learning
- Implement cutting-edge best practices for classroom instruction
- Value diversity of and collaborate with colleagues, parents, and students
- Experience fieldwork hours in diverse school settings in addition to student teaching
- Learn from nationally recognized faculty who consistently deliver real, formative support
- Be reflective practitioners who continually evaluate their instruction,
- Value lifelong learning, engage in professional development, and conduct educational research
- Help alleviate the Virginia teacher shortage
*Our programs specifically prepare students for a Virginia Teaching License. Contact the Education Support Center for more information on how to be eligible for an out-of-state license after completion of our program.
Program Overview
Master of Arts in Teaching (33 credits)
- Foundations and teaching methods/pedagogy (12 credits)
- Literacy (3 credits)
- Field experiences and student teaching (9 credits)
- Theory, Diversity, and Differentiation (9 credits)
Questions? Contact the MSME Department to schedule an appointment with an advisor.
Virginia Department of Education Content Area Competencies
In order to be eligible for a teaching license with an endorsement in a specific content area, you have to show the Virginia Department of Education that you have taken coursework that covers specified content for the endorsement area. See the VDOE content area competencies for each content area. Connect with our department for assistance with a transcript review to determine satisfactory completion of these requirements.
