Master of Arts in Teaching

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 four-to-six 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

Jamie O'Callaghan, MAT Program Coordinator
Email: jocallag@montana.edu 

Master of Arts in Teaching-Elementary Track

Pedagogical Courses
EDCI 552Human Development and the Psychology of Learning3
EDCI 563Language and Literacy Teaching and Assessment 3
EDCI 553Inclusive Strategies for Classroom Organization3
EDCI 543Introduction to Curriculum Design and Assessment1
EDCI 555Technology, Instructional Design, and Learner Success2
EDCI 519Addressing Equity in Linguistic and Cultural Diversity3
Methods Courses
EDCI 539Methods of Teaching: K8 Arts and Health Enhancement through Inquiry Camp (contains embedded field experience)3
EDCI 565Methods of Teaching: K8 Mathematics2
EDCI 566Methods of Teaching: K8 Science2
EDCI 567Methods of Teaching: K8 Language Arts2
EDCI 568Methods of Teaching: K-8 Social Studies2
EDCI 569Reflective Inquiry in Rural Education3
Field Experiences
EDCI 595Student Teaching6
EDCI 598Internship1
Total Credits36

Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary Track

Pedagogical Courses
EDCI 552Human Development and the Psychology of Learning3
EDCI 521Content Literacy3
EDCI 553Inclusive Strategies for Classroom Organization3
EDCI 543Introduction to Curriculum Design and Assessment1
EDCI 519Addressing Equity in Linguistic and Cultural Diversity3
EDCI 556The Legal, Social, and Practical Basis of Schooling3
EDCI 555Technology, Instructional Design, and Learner Success2
EDCI 569Reflective Inquiry in Rural Education3
Methods Courses
EDCI 538Supporting SEL in Diverse Learners (contains embedded field experience)3
EDCI 554Methods of Secondary Teaching5
Field Experiences
EDCI 595Student Teaching6
EDCI 598Internship1
Total Credits36

Applicants to the Master’s of Arts in Teaching program will be required to submit an application containing the following components (all are required):

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) in the Spring semester prior beginning their MAT degree program. Prerequisite courses are offered in the Spring semester. All admission offers to theElementary Educationtrack 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.