Designed for:

The masters of teaching degree at WOU is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a teaching license who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject area. This program culminates in a master’s degree and preliminary licensure with a single subject endorsement. The objective of the program is to provide in-depth preparation in the theory of pedagogy of teaching. Students complete student teaching and a final Action Research Project.

To start, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended

Finishing will take:

• 5-7 terms
• 56 credits
• An Action Research Project

Begin your Master of Arts in Teaching program:

• Summer Term: Five Term Program (Accelerated Pathway)
• Fall Term: Seven Term Program (Part-time Program)
• Winter Term: Six Term Program (Full-Time Program)

Where you will take classes:

• Online/distance summer, fall, winter, and spring

Technology you will need:

• Computer with internet connection
• Video conferencing capability (e.g. Zoom)

What you will learn:

University courses are closely linked to classroom experience so teacher candidates can explore theories and practices learned in their studies. Cohorts allow candidates to work together to complete the program. Teaching proficiencies that define what teachers should know and be able to do upon completion of the program are threaded through each course. Assessment of the proficiencies occurs through classroom activities, course assignments, teaching evaluations, and production of an edTPA.

Learning outcomes:

1. Plan instruction that supports student progress in learning and is appropriate for the development level of students.
2. Establish a classroom climate conducive to learning.
3. Engage students in planned learning activities through the edTPA.

Deadlines and key dates:

Completed applications received after the priority deadline may be considered until the cohort is full or placed on a waitlist. Apply today!

• Summer Term: Five-Term Accelerated Program
  • February 15th for June start (Applications received after March 15th may have limitations on site placements)
• Fall Term: Seven-Term Part-Time Program
  • May 1st for September start
• Winter Term: Six-Term Full-Time Program
  • October 15th for January start

Detailed application requirements:

STOP: All MAT applicants must complete a transcript review request before completing the full application. The following items will be required for this process:

• Identify the content area you wish to pursue
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended.
  • The transcript review will identify if you need to take any prerequisite courses before starting the MAT program. Please view the FAQs tab for a list of endorsement areas we offer and their prerequisite requirements. Upon completion of the review process, you be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing prerequsite coursework.
    • Music Endorsement students may be required to complete a program audition.

• Transcripts
  • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from all Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
  • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.

Application materials for MAT provided in the Graduate Application Portal post-transcript review:

• Application Fee $60
• Current Resume
  • Save as PDF with your first and last name in the title.
• Essay Questions
  • Provided post-transcript review
• Character Background Questionnaire
  • Provided post-transcript review
• Two Recommendations and EDA form
  • Two references verifying your success working with youth. Each reference will need to complete an EDA form (reference copy) that is attached to their online recommendation request.
• EDA Form with Signature from Applicant
  • Please review the form (applicant copy) and upload it with your signature.

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

MAT Initial Licensure Curriculum Overview:

The MAT is a 47-62 credit, cohort program. Students complete 39 credits of MAT program coursework, 15 credits of practicum and student teaching, and either 2 or 3 credits of Computer Science Education coursework.

Students also have the option to pursue the ESOL or ESOL/Bilingual endorsement as a secondary endorsement while enrolled in certain MAT cohorts (both online cohorts and the March campus-based cohort are eligible).

University courses are closely linked to classroom experience so teacher candidates can explore theories and practices learned in their studies. Cohorts allow candidates to work together to complete the program. Teaching proficiencies that define what teachers should know and be able to do upon completion of the program are threaded through each course. Assessment of the proficiencies occurs through classroom activities, course assignments, teaching evaluations, and the production of two work samples.

Your plan of study:

Once admitted to the Master of Arts in Teaching program, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.

Course Sequence for the Accelerated MAT: Summer Start
Accelerated Online (Four Terms)

Course Sequence for Part-Time MAT: Fall Start
Part-Time Online/Hybrid Program (Seven Terms)

Course Sequence for Full-Time MAT: Winter Start
Full-Time Online/Hybrid Program (Six Terms)

Overview

The online/hybrid Master of Arts in Teaching program provides a unique opportunity to juggle life’s demands and a teacher preparation program. The candidate who satisfactorily completes this program is awarded the graduate degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and is recommended for an Oregon Preliminary teaching license and a single subject endorsement.

The online/hybrid program incorporates a blend of face-to-face and online instruction and takes five-seven terms to complete, including summer session. At least half of each course in the program is delivered using an online course management system. This means that students in this program only have to come to campus for traditional class meetings about one Saturday a month. The final term of the program is full time student teaching in a school.

The program is designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject area and wish to pursue licensure in teaching. The objective of the program is to provide in-depth preparation in teaching theory and pedagogy. We accept applicants on a competitive basis for each cohort. The MAT is a 56-credit hour program of prescribed courses.

 Frequently asked questions

• When does this program begin?
• How long does the program take to complete?
• Endorsement areas offered and Prerequisite coursework requirements:
• Will I need to spend time in a classroom while in this program?
• How much time do I have to spend in a classroom as part of this program?
• Why am I required to be part of a cohort?
• How much does the program cost?
• What about technology?
• Employment during the MAT program
• What if I would like to get two endorsements rather than just one?
• I’ve submitted my transcripts to the graduate office, what does it mean when it says I also have to have a transcript review?

When does this program begin?

New cohorts in the online program can choose whether they would like to take the accelerated, part-time, or full-time pathway.

• Accelerated Pathway: Summer start (June)
• Part-Time Pathway: Fall start (September)
• Full-Time Pathway: Winter start (January)

How long does the program take to complete?

The online MAT program takes five to seven terms to complete. Generally students register for between six and nine credits each term. Students can choose to start Summer, Fall, or Winter based on their personal scheduling needs.

Endorsement areas offered and Prerequisite coursework requirements:

The subject you will be licensed to teach once you have completed the program will depend upon the NES subject area exam(s) you are able to pass, and the transcript review completed for your prerequisite coursework. Because of the way this program is designed, the assumption is that you have the appropriate grasp of the subject area you wish to teach as a result of your previous academic work. All of the coursework you receive in this program is focused on the specifics of the teaching profession, not the attainment of greater knowledge in a particular subject area. Consequently, the subject you are licensed to teach at the conclusion of the program should be related to your previous academic preparation. There are specific subject areas that WOU can recommend that you teach once you complete this program. If prerequisites are not provided below, please consult with MAT Coordinator.

Note: WOU does not offer an elementary multiple subjects endorsement.

Will I need to spend time in a classroom while in this program?

This program is field-based, relying heavily upon experiences in a classroom to allow for application of coursework. Requirements for field experience and student teaching are woven throughout the program (as you can see illustrated on the enclosed schedule). The six credits of field experience will be taken during the fall and winter term of your final term in your program, prior to your full time student teaching in the spring. For those field experience credits, you start out doing things such as guided observations in a classroom and small-group work with students. The field experience then builds into responsibility for teaching a full lesson or two. By the time you complete your last field experience, the expectation is that you are prepared enough to be able to begin your student teaching.

How much time will I spend in a high school classroom as part of this program?

The time that you need to be in a classroom to meet the requirements of the field experience depends upon the number of credits for which you are registered. Each credit hour of field experience that you register for equates to 30 hours in a high school classroom, spread out evenly over the course of the term. For instance, if you register for a one credit field experience, you need to be able to spend 30 hours in a classroom during that term, which would work out to three hours a week, either all on the same day or split between two days.

Once you get to the student teaching component of the program, the expectation is that you are in a traditional high school classroom and are responsible for all activities in the classroom with each credit you register for being roughly equivalent to the number of weeks you need to be in the classroom. The first five credits of student teaching are configured such that students are required to be in the schools teaching lessons for half days during the 10 weeks of the term. The last 10 credits of student teaching require that students be in school teaching full-time for all 10 weeks of the term. While we are responsible for solidifying your placement for the field experience and student teaching components, it is helpful for us if you have conversations with schools in your area to find out who might be willing/interested in having you placed. A mandatory orientation for the practicum experiences will be held in mid-August prior to your final term in the program.

Why am I required to be part of a cohort?

The cohort model design is a way to provide built in community and support for you as you progress through the challenges of the program. Research supports the cohort model’s success.  Thus, the cohort model design of the program makes it necessary for all candidates to begin the program at their designated start term and complete the program in the designated number of terms for their cohort, following the outlined sequence. Candidates must take courses as assigned to their cohort by the MAT coordinator, or step out of the program and re-apply / join another cohort. Students who find they cannot stay on the designated schedule must meet with the coordinator of the program to seek solutions. Students who modify their own program plan without meeting with the coordinator for options, will be dropped from the program.

How much does the program cost?

Please use the tuition calculator to get an estimate of your costs.

What about technology?

The online program uses the Internet to deliver much of the coursework. Students are expected to connect to the Internet and participate in online portions of the courses. Western Oregon University uses Canvas for their online course management system.

Employment During the MAT program

Can I keep a full-time job while enrolled in this program, given the time I need to spend in a classroom?

Several scenarios might be possible depending upon your particular situation. Some people have the ability to flex the time that they work in their job. If you are able to do this, and can work things out so you can spend the required time in the classroom during the field experience portions of the program (amounting to about two hours a day when registered for a three credit field experience), this program could be a match for you. By the time the student teaching comes around, you would need to be free from full-time job responsibilities to concentrate on your classroom responsibilities.

If you’re not able to flex your time in your job, all hope is not lost. There might be a school program in your area that is conducted in the evenings or on the weekends (like alternative school or GED completion program). Conducting your work with these kinds of programs would be limited to the field experience portions of the program, but that would at least help you get through the first couple terms of the program while continuing to meet obligations of your current employment.

If you’re already involved in a school environment (teaching in a private school, teaching in a public school with a transitional license, or working as an instructional assistant), you probably won’t have much challenge meeting the field requirements for this program, as long as we can insure that you would have full responsibility for a classroom during the student teaching portion of the program.

What should I do if I come into the program on an emergency license?

If you come into the program on an emergency license:

Many students in the MAT program come into the program already hired as a full time teacher of record in their own classroom, on an emergency license.  If you are on an emergency license, please be sure you understand the requirements of your license as outlined by your district, and be sure the discipline you are teaching in matches the endorsement area for which you have applied and been accepted into the program.  In the beginning 3-4 terms of the program, you will be enrolled in classes that will increase your understanding of the field of education in general. The last three terms of the program, you will continue with foundational coursework and participate in your practicum (ED 609, ED 616, ED 697) experiences.  You will complete the practicum requirements in your own classroom.  You will not have a clinical teacher assigned by WOU, but you will have a mentor assigned to you from your building. This could be the principal, another teacher in your content area, etc.  You will work with them to understand their role as a mentor teacher, and they will conduct the mentor teacher observations. You will also have a University Supervisor assigned from WOU.  All practicum requirements apply to you while you are in the practicum classes, and you must complete the coursework for practicum.

What should I do if I’m offered a teaching job, while I’m in the program?

If you are offered a job on an emergency license, while you are in the program:

At times, MAT students are offered a full-time teaching job on an emergency license, after they have begun the program. If this happens to you, you MUST check with both the MAT coordinator and the site director, before accepting the job, to be sure that the job fits within your admitted endorsement area and path to licensure. You cannot take a job outside of your endorsement area and have it count toward your licensure, nor can you switch endorsements after you have entered the program. In rare cases, if a student has coursework completed in an additional area from their admitted endorsement, there may be exceptions, but at all times, the students MUST first check with the coordinator and site director. There are no exceptions to these guidelines.

What if I would like to get two endorsements rather than just one?

Secondary teacher candidates (TC) interested in adding an additional subject area endorsement, need to declare this interest at admission. Teacher candidates will have their application reviewed for admission to both subject areas upon applying to the program. Candidates applying for dual endorsement must demonstrate content in the second area on undergraduate/ postgraduate transcripts. Dual endorsement secondary track teacher candidates will spend some of their practicum time in the second endorsement area as well. Additionally,

•  A passing score on each NES test is required for both endorsement areas

•  Both methods courses are required for the add-on endorsement (ED 534/ED 536), in addition to the methods courses for the primary endorsement. This will incur extra work in the 2nd and 3rd terms of the program and will incur an extra cost.

• Because of this, if there is a schedule conflict for pedagogy courses, every effort will be made to find an alternative.  However, a dual endorsement is not guaranteed in the MAT program and it may not be possible to graduate with a dual endorsement if the conditions above are outside the scope of what the program can offer.  For example, if a candidate cannot come to campus for one of the content pedagogy courses, and both needed courses are held at the same time on Saturday

I’ve submitted my transcripts to the graduate office, what does it mean when it says I also have to have a transcript review?

Each endorsement area includes required prerequisite coursework that has to be completed by the incoming teacher candidate to show content knowledge for teaching.  Proof of degree through transcripts is not enough to determine eligibility.  For the transcript review, please send copies of your unofficial transcripts to Olivia Flores (floreso@wou.edu) before you submit your application. The transcript review will identify if you need to take any prerequisite courses before starting the MAT program. Please see here for a list of endorsement areas that we offer and their prerequisite requirements. Upon completion of the transcript review, you will then receive a “transcript review verification form” to upload with your MAT application in TK20. This is a separate task from sending your transcripts to the graduate office.