Master of Arts Teaching - Secondary Education

Degree: Master of Arts Teaching

Accreditation: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Program Description: The M. A. T.  Program consists of two separate tracks.

California University of Pennsylvania Master of Arts Teaching program consists of two different  tracks. Each track is a separate program and has different course requirements.

Initial Teacher Secondary Certification (on campus courses)

Advanced Studies in Secondary Education -  100 % online (web-based) program (for practicing teachers)

Initial Teacher Certification

(Courses offered at the main campus)

 

This track provides initial teacher certification in the following areas:
Art Education K -12, Biology 7-12, Chemistry 7-12, Communications 7-12, Earth Science 7-12, English 7-12, Foreign Language K-12 (French or Spanish), Mathematics 7-12, Physics 7-12, and Social Studies 7-12. 

The program is designed for individuals with a background in each area or those individuals wishing to make a career change into secondary teaching.  

Total Number of Graduate Credits:  36 graduate credits for certification and Master’s degree.  The number of undergraduate required courses varies by area of desired certification*.  Students may be credited with undergraduate courses completed in their certification area.

In addition to the required graduate courses, students need to take  the "Teaching of …" undergraduate courses (EDS - 4xx) for Math, Science, English/Communications, Social Studies, or Foreign Language.  These courses are only offered in the fall semester.  All "teaching of " courses require graduate courses SEC 705 and SEC 710 as prerequisites.

Curriculum: Initial Teacher Education Track - Required graduate courses for certification

*Note: Spring 2008 is a transition year for a code change - MSE  to SEC.  Please use course titles.

Select 1 of the courses listed below (3 credits)

Initial Teacher Certification Track Content Requirements Vary

For example: Biology certification requires different undergraduate courses than English.  Each applicant will need to compare their transcripts with required undergraduate courses to determine what, if any, undergraduate (or graduate) content courses still need to be completed.  This is done on an individual basis.

* Most students will need to take one or more undergraduate courses

Click on this link to see the all the Master of Arts Advisement Sheets. 

Undergraduate Requirement form

To determine which undergraduate courses you will need in order to get your certification, download the undergraduate  requirement form.  Complete the undergraduate course form and send the form and  transcripts (photocopy) for a  content requirement review.  Specify which certification area you are interested in.  Send forms and transcripts to:

Dr. Joseph Zisk

Dept. of Secondary Education, Box 75

250 University Avenue

California, PA 15419

zisk@cup.edu  724-938-4487

Sending in transcripts and forms to Dr. Zisk is not applying to the program.  Interested students will need to make application to the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

Admission Criteria for Initial Teacher Certification Track

1) A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 or a 3.00 by calculation of your last 48 credits. (this is a state requirement)

2) Completed Cal U Application for Admission to the School of Graduate Studies and Research

3) Complete set of official transcripts

4) Three letters of recommendation

5) Current Resume

6) Copies of approved Pennsylvania Act 34 (Criminal Record) clearances and Pennsylvania Act 151 (Child Abuse) clearances. Forms may be pick-up in Keystone 202 or by going to the Pa Dept. of Education web site.

7) Copy all of your Praxis I Scores.  A passing score of Praxis I test is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. You must take the three sections listed below. 

i.    PPST Reading Test #10710
ii.   PPST Writing Test #20720
iii.  PPST Math Test #10730

• Consult the Praxis Web Site for current Praxis information at  http://www.ets.org/praxis

California University of PA -- Master of Arts Teaching web site

Advanced Studies in Secondary Education Track (100% online)

(Web-based courses)

California University of Pennsylvania, a comprehensive regional institution of higher education and
a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

California University of Pennsylvania's Master of Arts Teaching degree in Advanced Secondary Studies is a completely online (web-based) graduate program for middle and high school teachers. The 30-credit MAT degree program is aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification process.  The courses and activities use data from teachers' own practices to reflect on their work and the work of their students to develop a deeper understanding of student learning.  At the completion of this program, graduates will have a "jump start" if they decide to apply for National Board teaching certification.

The MAT program is based upon NBPTS's Five Core Propositions:

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
• Teachers are members of learning communities.

Total Number of Credits: 30 Credits

Curriculum: Advanced Studies in Secondary Track
Tri-fold MAT brochure
Global Online Video

Admission Criteria for Advanced Studies in Secondary Education

1. 3.00 GPA or 3.0 in your last 48 credits or a 35 on the Miller's Analogy Test
2. Completed Cal U Application for Admission to the School of Graduate Studies and Research
3. Complete set of official transcripts
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Current resume
6. Copy of a valid teaching certificate

 California University of Pennsylvania web site for Advanced Studies in Secondary Education - Online

More information about the online Master of Arts Teaching online track program may be found at http://www.cup.edu/go/index.jsp .   

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Updated Feb. 22, 2007