Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with an Emphasis in Middle School Education

 

This program is offered by the School of Education and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

Learning Outcomes

The goals of the MAT with an emphasis in middle school education are to cultivate graduates who are:

• Knowledgeable of the history of middle school education, characteristics of students in early adolescence and principles and foundations underlying best practices.
• Proficient in designing, adapting and modifying effective assessment plans, instructional strategies and curricula and/or intervention plans based on current research regarding cognitive, social and emotional development of students in early adolescence. 
• Reflective about their roles as educators to improve learning outcomes, and who collaborate with families and other members of the community to advocate for inclusive and equitable educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. 
• Capable of recognizing, valuing and responding to the unique individual abilities and differences of students in early adolescence. 

Emphasis in Middle School Education

The emphasis in middle school education is designed to prepare candidates to meet Missouri initial teacher certification requirements in one of the following areas:

• Language Arts (5-9)
• Mathematics (5-9)
• Science (5-9)
• Social Science (5-9)

Required Coursework

The following 27 hours of courses and 14 hours of field experiences are required to earn the MAT with an emphasis in middle school education. Students are advised that Missouri initial teacher certification may require more hours than are listed for the MAT degree. Students must consult an advisor in order to obtain a personalized program of study.

Foundations

• CMAT 5000 Teaching in a Diverse Society (3 hours)
• CMAT 5700 Middle School History and Philosophy (3 hours)
• CMAT 5015 Inclusive Practices and Methods for Teaching English Learners (3 hours)
• CMAT 5140 Digital Pedagogy and Assistive Learning Technologies (3 hours)

Methods

• CMAT 5170 Classroom and Behavioral Management (3 hours)
• CMAT 5009 Writing Instruction (3 hours)
• CMAT 5380 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas (3 hours)
• CMAT 5390 Differentiated Reading Assessments and Intervention (3 hours)

Content Methods (3 hours)
(Based on certification content area)

• CMAT 5350 Arts and Humanities Methods (3 hours)
  or CMAT 5360 STEM Methods (3 hours)

Clinical Experience

Practicum

• CMAT 5001 Introductory Teaching Practicum (1 hour)
• CMAT 5100 Practicum: Middle School Language Arts (2 hours)
  or CMAT 5101 Practicum: Middle School Mathematics (2 hours)
  or CMAT 5102 Practicum: Middle School Science (2 hours)
  or CMAT 5103 Practicum: Middle School Social Science (2 hours)
• CMAT 5199 Practicum Seminar (1 hour)

Apprentice Teaching

• CMAT 5200 Apprentice Teaching: Middle School Language Arts (9 hours)
  or CMAT 5201 Apprentice Teaching: Middle School Mathematics (9 hours)
  or CMAT 5202 Apprentice Teaching: Middle School Science (9 hours)
  or CMAT 5203 Apprentice Teaching: Middle School Social Science (9 hours)
• CMAT 5096 Apprentice Teaching Seminar (1 hour)

Total: 41 credit hours

Other Certification Requirements

• CMAT 5505 Psychological Foundations of Education (3 hours)
• SPED 5860 Psychology of the Exceptional Student (3 hours)
• Content area courses as required for initial state certification (to be determined in consultation with advisor)

Content Areas

Students choose one of the following content areas in which to seek Missouri initial teacher certification. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their content area in order to be recommended for certification.

Language Arts (24 hours)

• 3 hours of Composition
• 6 hours of American Literature
• 6 hours of World Literature
• 3 hours of Modern Grammar
• 3 hours of Oral/Interpersonal Communication
• 3 hours of Young Adult Literature

Mathematics (24 hours)

• 4-5 hours Calculus I (MATH 1610)
• 4-5 hours Calculus II (MATH 1620)
• 14-16 hours from the following: (to be determined in consultation with advisor)
  • Statistics
  • Geometry
  • Discrete Mathematics

Science (24 hours)

• 4-5 hours of Biology with lab
• 4-5 hours of Chemistry with lab
• 4-5 hours of Physics with lab or Physical Science with lab
• 9-12 hours of coursework addressing:
  • Astronomy
  • Environmental Science
  • Physical Geology
  • Meteorology

Social Science (24 hours)

• 3 hours of Economics
• 3 hours of Geography
• 3 hours of American Government
• 6 hours of American History (to include 18th, 19th, 20th Century)
• 6 hours of World/European History
• 3 hours of Young Adult Literature

All of the above courses are required to complete the requirements for Missouri initial teacher certification in the middle school education program.

Admissions

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Additional Requirements

Admission to Teacher Certification

Admission to teacher certification is a significant milestone in a candidate's academic career. This means that a candidate is formally accepted in the initial teacher certification program and on track to meet the requirements of both the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Webster University.  

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Completion 15 hour of graduate credit, including CMAT 5000 and 5001, with grades of B or better. 
• Successful completion of Passport Tasks 1-5.
• Minimum professional GPA of 3.0 and Content GPA (if applicable) of 3.0.  This must be maintained throughout the program.

After 15 hours of graduate credit, candidates will be restricted from registering in further coursework until admitted to teacher certification status. 

Candidates must be admitted to teacher certification in order to take specified EDUC or CMAT coursework courses.  

Requirements for Missouri Initial Teacher Certification

Prior to or upon Admission, students must make available official academic transcripts to the Coordinator of Educator Certification in the School of Education to complete an evaluation of coursework. Based on this transcript evaluation, the Coordinator of Educator Certification will identify the exact number of credit hours that an MAT candidate will require to complete initial teacher certification with respect to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements. Prior coursework, such as transfer courses and content area courses, will be identified from the students' transcripts. Using this evaluation, an academic advisor, in conjunction with the Coordinator of Educator Certification, will prepare a personalized program of study for the student. Students may be required to take more than the required coursework listed for the emphasis area. Students should talk to their advisor and the teacher certification professionals at Webster University throughout their program to understand how any changes to DESE requirements are accommodated in their personalized program of study.  

Background Checks

Students are required to obtain various annual background checks prior to field experiences. The state requires current fingerprint clearance prior to issuing the teaching certificate.

State Assessments

To obtain a teaching licensure in Missouri, students are required to complete a number of state assessments. State required assessments are administered by designated agencies, and students are required to pay all associated fees. All state assessments are administered in a digital format. Students must pass the state-required Missouri Content Assessment before Apprentice Teaching Orientation.

Practicum

Students must complete a 5000-level practicum and accompanying practicum seminar with a grade of B or better. To enroll in a practicum, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted. Candidates must meet with the Coordinator of Field Placement prior to applying for practicum. 

Apprentice Teaching

Apprentice Teaching and the accompanying apprentice teaching seminar are required for all initial certifications. To enroll in apprentice teaching, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted.  

Prior to apprentice teaching students must have: 

• met all course and departmental assessment requirements, including formal acceptance of teacher certification status. 
• successfully completed practicum and practicum seminar with a grade of B or better. 
• passed the state-required content assessment examination. 

Apprentice Teaching placements are made by the Field Experience Office. Placements will be arranged with the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County School Districts along with private and independent schools. All candidates for certification must complete either their practicum or apprentice teaching in a diverse setting.