M.A. in Teaching
https://www.montana.edu/academics/teaching-graduate/
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is a professional graduate program designed for applicants with a bachelor's degree in a field outside education to complete pedagogical coursework and field experiences required for initial educator licensure recommendation to teach in Montana's public elementary or secondary schools. Each distinct licensure track in either elementary or secondary education is a professional master’s degree program that is completed over five to seven semesters, depending on the field experience pathway chosen.
The MAT at MSU-Bozeman is distinguished from other similar programs in that it has an intentional focus on place-conscious approaches to teaching with an emphasis on teaching in Montana’s rural school districts.
The Master of Arts in Teaching program offers two field experience pathways: one for those individuals seeking a traditional student teaching experience, and another pathway for those hired to teach in a Montana public school provisionally (through Class 5 licensure). Please reach out to program staff or the Master of Arts in Teaching website for information about this pathway.
Contact Information
Dr. Molly Cashion, Director of Alternative Pathways
Email: molly.cashion@montana.edu
Program Learning Outcomes
- Content Pedagogy - The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.
- Student Development - The teacher understands how students learn and develop, and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development.
- Diverse Learners - The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
- Multiple Instructional Strategies - The teacher understands and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
- Motivation & Management - The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- Communication & Technology - The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
- Planning- The teacher plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
- Assessment- The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.
- Reflective Practice - The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
- School & Community Involvement - The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well-being
- In addition, the State of Montana ARM 10.58.501(1)(a)-(m) requires that successful teacher candidates: demonstrate understanding of and ability to integrate knowledge of the history, cultural heritage, and contemporary status of American Indians and tribes in Montana; demonstrate understanding of personal cultural and socioeconomic biases and teaching style differences that affect one's teaching; demonstrate the ability to foster contextual and experiential learning and to build connections between academic learning and the skills required in the present and future workforce.
Master of Arts in Teaching-Elementary Track
Pedagogical Courses | ||
| EDCI 552 | Human Development and the Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| EDCI 563 | Language and Literacy Teaching and Assessment | 3 |
| EDCI 553 | Inclusive Strategies for Classroom Organization | 3 |
| EDCI 543 | Introduction to Curriculum Design and Assessment | 1 |
| EDCI 555 | Technology, Instructional Design, and Learner Success | 2 |
| EDCI 519 | Addressing Equity in Linguistic and Cultural Diversity | 3 |
Methods Courses | ||
| EDCI 539 | Methods of Teaching: K8 Arts and Health Enhancement through Inquiry Camp (contains embedded field experience) | 3 |
| EDCI 565 | Methods of Teaching: K8 Mathematics | 2 |
| EDCI 566 | Methods of Teaching: K8 Science | 2 |
| EDCI 567 | Methods of Teaching: K8 Language Arts | 2 |
| EDCI 568 | Methods of Teaching: K-8 Social Studies | 2 |
| EDCI 569 | Reflective Inquiry in Rural Education | 3 |
Field Experiences | ||
| EDCI 595 | Student Teaching | 6 |
| EDCI 598 | Internship | 1 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary Track
Pedagogical Courses | ||
| EDCI 552 | Human Development and the Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| EDCI 521 | Content Literacy | 3 |
| EDCI 553 | Inclusive Strategies for Classroom Organization | 3 |
| EDCI 543 | Introduction to Curriculum Design and Assessment | 1 |
| EDCI 519 | Addressing Equity in Linguistic and Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| EDCI 556 | The Legal, Social, and Practical Basis of Schooling | 3 |
| EDCI 555 | Technology, Instructional Design, and Learner Success | 2 |
| EDCI 569 | Reflective Inquiry in Rural Education | 3 |
Methods Courses | ||
| EDCI 538 | Supporting SEL in Diverse Learners (contains embedded field experience) | 3 |
| EDCI 554 | Methods of Secondary Teaching | 5 |
Field Experiences | ||
| EDCI 595 | Student Teaching | 6 |
| EDCI 598 | Internship | 1 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
For those in a Montana Class 5 provisional license, a portfolio course may be included.
It is highly recommended that you reach out to Dr. Molly Cashion, Director of Alternative Pathways to discuss the MAT program before applying. Endorsement verification and Praxis scores will be needed as part of the application process for this program, but are not included within the Montana State University Graduate School application. Applicants to the Master’s of Arts in Teaching program will be required to submit an application containing the following components (all are required):
- Online application to Montana State University Graduate School with $70 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
- Endorsement Verification Form for required endorsement area sought – must be approved by program faculty prior to admission
- Official score for Praxis Content Area Exam required for endorsement area sought
- Personal Statement
- Professional and Academic Background: Summarize your work experience, academic preparation and experiences with children or adolescents
- Qualifications and Strengths: Highlight the skills, traits, and knowledge that make you well-suited for your endorsement area
- Motivation and Professional Insight: Explain why you want to teach and how you envision engaging with the realities, challenges and rewards of your endorsement area
- Submit Resume/CV containing all previous work experience and education, with relevant work with youth included
- Submit 3 Letters of Recommendation, one recommendation from each category
- Current/previous employer
- Personal (particularly if the recommender can speak to applicant's previous experience working with youth)
- Academic
International Applicants will need to follow the Montana State University Graduate School policies for admission, including required English language proficiency exams TOEFL/IELTS).
Elementary Education Track
Students admitted to the Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education track will pursue coursework leading to recommendation for licensure in Elementary Education K-8. Elementary teachers are licensed to teach in a self-contained classroom in Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
Students admitted to this track will be required to complete or show transcript evidence of six credits of prerequisite coursework (below) prior to beginning their MAT degree program. Prerequisite courses are offered in the Spring or Summer semesters. All admission offers to the Elementary Education track are provisional, pending successful completion of the following two courses:
M 419 Ratio and Proportion in School Mathematics
EDCI 561 Language Acquisition: Decoding and Encoding
Secondary Education Track
Students admitted to the Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education track will pursue coursework leading to recommendation for licensure in one of the areas of endorsement offered (English, Mathematics, General Science Broadfield, Social Studies Broadfield) for grades 5-12. This track allows teachers to teach in the subject area grades 5-12.