Why Elms for your Master of Arts in Teaching degree?

  • Earn your initial Massachusetts state license, which enables you to teach in more than 40 states, islands, and territories.
  • Specialize in one of 15 academic disciplines.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a master’s degree and an Initial Massachusetts state license as an educator. The licensure is reciprocal with those of more than 40 states, islands, and territories.

We offer M.A.T. programs in:

  • Biology (8-12)
  • Chemistry (8-12)
  • Early Childhood (PreK-2)
  • Earth & Space Science (8-12)
  • Elementary (1-6)
  • English (5-12)
  • English as a Second Language (PreK-6) and (5-12)
  • General Science (5-8)
  • History (5-12)
  • Humanities (5-8)
  • Mathematics (5-8) and (8-12)
  • Math/Science (5-8)
  • Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) or (5-12)
  • Physics (8-12)
  • Reading Specialist (all levels)

Mary Kate Sullivan ’20

Photo of MaryKate Sullivan and a summer reading program student

“My favorite part of teaching is watching my students experience that ‘light bulb moment’ when reading. Having a solid foundation in literacy is so important for them.”

As a first grade teacher in Springfield, MA, Mary Kate chose the reading specialist track because she loves helping students become lifelong readers.

Read Mary Kate’s story.

Lauren Martin ’24 MAT

Lauren Martin

Lauren Martin ’24 MAT works for Springfield Public Schools and is currently enrolled in the master of arts in teaching program through Elms College’s Cynthia A. Lyons Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE). She chose this program after learning about the college’s investment in the community, as well as the financial support they offer.

“Being a part of the CEUE is giving minority teachers like myself the space to have an affinity group, where we can talk about specific issues happening in our classroom and bring unique ideas and unique solutions back to our schools. Being a CEUE student now is definitely the place where I need to be.” 

Curriculum

Click to view course requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).

Middle and Secondary Requirements (5-8) and (8-12). Prerequisite: EDU 6200 Development and Learning.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 5106Introduction to Technology in Education3
EDU 5109Students with Special Needs3
EDU 5203Pre-Practicum2
EDU 5204Pre-Practicum Seminar1
EDU 5205Middle & Secondary Methods3
EDU 5206Middle & Secondary Culture & Curriculum3
EDU 5403Models of Inclusion3
EDU 6000Reflective Teaching Practice3
EDU 6600Seminar in Professional Education3
An Initial Practicum in the Field of Licensure3
Choose One3
EDU 6104 Literacy Across Disciplines (all but English & Spanish)3
EDU 6407 Bilingualism & Applied Linguistics (Spanish)3
EDU 7202 Struggling Readers – Middle/Secondary (7-12)3
EDU 7901Educating English Language Learners3

Early Childhood Education (PreK-2) Requirements. Prerequisite: EDU 6200 Development and Learning.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 5002Social Studies and Science Methods3
EDU 5104Methods in Math Instruction3
EDU 5109Students with Special Needs3
EDU 5106Introduction to Technology in Education3
EDU 5203Pre-Practicum2
EDU 5204Pre-Practicum Seminar1
EDU 5402Assessment of Students3
EDU 6000Reflective Teaching Practice3
EDU 6101Writing Workshop3
EDU 6202Curriculum for Early Childhood Inclusion Settings3
EDU 6600Seminar in Professional Education3
EDU 7000Early Childhood Initial Practicum3
EDU 7901Educating English Language learners3
EDU 7908Developing Language & Literacy I3
EDU 7909Developing Language & Literacy II3

Elementary Education (1-6) Requirements. Prerequisite: EDU 6200 Development and Learning.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 5002Social Studies and Science Methods3
EDU 5104Methods in Math Instruction3
EDU 5106Introduction to Technology and Education3
EDU 5109Students with Special Needs3
EDU 5203Pre-Practicum2
EDU 5204Pre-Practicum Seminar1
EDU 6000Reflective Teaching Practice3
EDU 6101Writing Workshop3
EDU 6600Seminar in Professional Education3
EDU 7001Elementary (1-6) Initial Practicum3
EDU 7901Educating English Language learners3
EDU 7908Developing Language & Literacy I3
EDU 7909Developing Language & Literacy II3

English as a Second Language (PreK-6) or (5-12) Requirements. Prerequisite: EDU 6200 Development and Learning.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 5109Students with Special Needs3
EDU 5203Pre-Practicum2
EDU 5204Pre-Practicum Seminar1
EDU 6000Reflective Teaching Practice3
EDU 6101Writing Workshop3
EDU 6407Bilingualism and Applied Linguistics3
EDU 6502Issues in ESL/Bilingulism3
EDU 6504Methods in Teaching ESL3
EDU 6600Seminar in Professional Education3
EDU 7004ESL (PreK-6) Initial Practicum3
EDU 7908Developing Language & Literacy I3
EDU 7909Developing Language & Literacy II3
EDU ####ESL Initial Practicum3

Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) or (5-12) Requirements. Prerequisite: EDU 6200 Development and Learning.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 5104Methods of Teaching Mathematics3
EDU 5106Introduction to Technology in Education3
EDU 5109Students with Special Needs3
EDU 5203Pre-Practicum2
EDU 5204Pre-Practicum Seminar1
EDU 5402Assessment of Students3
EDU 5403Models of Inclusion3
EDU 6000Reflective Teaching Practice3
EDU 6101Writing Workshop3
EDU 6600Seminar in Professional Education3
EDU 7901Educating English Language Learners3
EDU 7908Developing Language & Literacy I3
EDU 7909Developing Language & Literacy II3
Choose One3
EDU 7308 No-Fault Classroom Management3
PSY 5103 Psychology of Behavioral Managment3
EDU ####Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities Initial Practicum and Seminar3

Reading Specialist (all levels) Requirements. Prerequisites: Child & Adolescent Development and at least one survey course in reading.

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
EDU 7200Struggling Readers – Primary – PreK-2 (Assessment & Instruction)3
EDU 7201Struggling Readers – Elementary – 3-6 (Assessment & Instruction)3
EDU 6101Writing Workshop3
EDU 7006Reading Specialist Elementary Initial Practicum & Seminar3
To complete the second reading specialist practicum at the middle/secondary level:
EDU 6102Issues of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Children’s Literature3
EDU 6104Literacy Across the Disciplines3
EDU 6107Administration of Literacy Programs3
EDU 7103Reading Specialist Middle School/Secondary Initial Practicum and Seminar3
EDU 7108Research on Learning and Literacy3
Pass Reading Specialist MTEL
EDU 7202Struggling Readers – Middle/Secondary – 7-12 (Assess. & Instruction)3
EDU 7901Educating English Language Learners3