The Master or Arts in Teaching (MAT) is designed to prepare individuals who are seeking initial certification to be a classroom teacher.  Graduate candidates may pick one of the following areas of licensure at high school level:  biology, business/marketing, English, family and consumer sciences, French, mathematics, Spanish or social studies;  or graduate candidates may pick one of the following areas for certification grades K-12:  art, music or physical education.

Conceptual Framework
   The conceptual framework for the initial graduate licensure program consists of six related concepts.  The six concepts are 1) Instruction, 2) Subject Area Content, 3) Learners, 4) Society, 5) Curriculum and 6) Scholarship.

   The conceptual framework of Teacher as Education Leader moves those preparing for educational careers through a program committed to self-discovery and pedagogical study.  The commitment requires the candidate to search for a deeper understanding of self and others while examining the moral, social and political implications of teaching and learning in a democracy.  This search is conducted through a model which includes faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the College of Business, the College of Education and school professionals working collaboratively with each other and teacher candidates to explore the every-changing roles and responsibilities of leaders in today's society.

   To ensure knowledge of content, MAT teacher candidates are required to achieve the South Carolina passing score on the PRAXIS II Specialty Area Examination prior to the internship semester.  Candidates for the MAT in Spanish and French must achieve a passing score on the PRAXIS II Specialty Area Examination prior to admission to the program.  In addition successful graduates must obtain a satisfactory score on the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching before earning teacher certification.  

   MAT teacher candidates must demonstrate dispositions that reflect the highest standards of the profession as they relate to graduate candidates, their families and their communities.  The Richard W. Riley College of Education has established appropriate criteria for professional dispositions in the following areas:  professional commitment; communication skills; interpersonal skills; classroom personality; emotional make-up; and academic integrity.  Further information about the criteria is distributed to teacher candidates in a dispositions booklet.

   The MAT curriculum covers a variety of subjects from professional core courses to courses specific to the graduate candidate's content area.  Acquired competencies emphasized in this program will enable graduates to assume leadership roles in their classrooms, departments and schools.