Teacher Certification/MAT Advising

Pursuing Teacher Certification through SMCM

SMCM does not offer a major in education. Students choose a major and then take courses that are pre-requisites for our one-year, accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree as electives. Upon graduation from SMCM with the B.A., students have a break of 5-6 weeks and then begin the masters program in earlyJuly, completing the degree, with certification, by the middle of the following June.

Many future elementary teachers major in Psychology because several of the courses in that major are also required for certification; however, we encourage future elementary (EDEL) and elementary with early childhood certification (EDEL with EDEC) seekers to pursue a major in any field for which they have a passion. Future secondary teachers (EDSC) major in English, math, one of the sciences, a modern foreign language, theater, or - to certify in social studies, in history, political science, or economics. Future teachers of art and music major in the appropriate discipline.

The Master of Arts in Teaching Degree Catalogue Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching program (M.A.T.) at St. Mary's College of Maryland is an accelerated year-long intensive and challenging program leading to initial certification, at the graduate level, in Maryland in one of the following areas: Elementary Grades One to Six and Middle School, Elementary with Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education (English, math, biology, chemistry, physics, Spanish, French, German, social studies, or theater), or in K-12 education in music or art. The program theme is The Masterful Teacher: A Reflective Educator Facilitating Communities of Diverse Learners; and the program incorporates, as implied, an emphasis on developing the habit of and disposition to reflect, developing future teachers competence in teaching all students in ways that help narrow the achievement gap, developing expertise in using technology to enhance instruction particularly to help motivate all students to achieve, and developing knowledge of and skill in creating classrooms that are sites of ethical behavior and social justice. The program begins in early July, shortly after graduation from most four-year institutions, and runs throughout the summer; participants begin work in the local public schools during August, and are in K-12 classrooms from the opening day of the academic year. They spend half their time in the public schools and half their time taking graduate level classes, some of which are held on site at their schools. During the spring semester, participants are in the schools all day every day, while taking additional methodology courses after the end of the public school day. The second summer session provides opportunities for completion of the master's project and reflection on all aspects of teaching, as well as mentoring in preparation for taking full-time responsibility for a classroom as a beginning professional. This intense program not only prepares M.A.T. candidates to become effective classroom teachers, able to be reflective facilitators of interactive learning communities, but allows them to develop advanced technology and research skills that will help them to maintain the process of professional development on their own.

Program Pre-Requisites

M.A.T. program participants must take the following courses prior to beginning the program. These are undergraduate courses available every semester at SMCM and often available at community colleges and other four-year institutions as well. All prerequisite course work must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

GPA Requirements - All Applicants

• 2.75 cumulative
• 3.0 major
• 3.0 education courses (outlined below)

Elementary Candidates (grades 1-5 plus middle school) (EDEL)

• Educational Psychology - EDUC/PSYC 368 (F, S, Su, community college)
• Exceptionality - EDSP/PSYC 336 (F, S, Su, community college - Introduction to Special Education/Mainstreaming = possible titles there)
• Child in America - EDUC 206 (F, S, Su, community college - Foundations of Education or history/philosophy of education course)
• Infant and Child Development - PSYC 331 (academic year only)
• ESL Across the Curriculum- EDUC XXX (4cr) (F, S, Su)(prerequisites include EDUC 293 and EDUC/PSYCH 368)
• Language Acquisition and Phonemic Awareness - EDUC 296 (3 cr) (formerly EDUC 293.02) (F, S, community college - Foundations of Reading)
• 11-12 credits of math
• 11-12 credits of science
• American history or U.S. government
• course work reflecting non-western perspectives (often taken routinely as part of the major)
• course work required to meet SMCM foreign language requirement for graduation (a semseter or the equivalent of study of a foreign language)

Secondary Candidates (grades 7-12) (EDSC)

• Major in the appropriate content field with appropriate breadth/depth
• Educational Psychology - EDUC/PSYC 368 (F, S, Su, community college)
• Exceptionality - EDSP/PSYC 336 (F, S, Su, community college - Introduction to Special Education/Mainstreaming = possible titles there)
• Child in America - EDUC 206 (F, S, Su, community college - Foundations of Education or history/philosophy of education course)
• Adolescence - PSYC 333 (or Lifespan, PSYC 230) (academic year only; lifespan at community college - titled Human Development across the Lifespan)
• ESL Across the Curriculum- EDUC XXX (4cr) (F, S, Su)(prerequisites include EDUC 293 and EDUC/PSYCH 368)

• Language Acquisition and Phonemic Awareness - EDUC 296 (3 cr.) (formerly EDUC 293.02) (F, S, community college - Foundations of Reading)
• course work reflecting non-western perspectives (often taken routinely as part of the major)
• course work required to meet SMCM foreign language requirement for graduation (a semester or the equivalent of study of a foreign language)

K-12 Candidates (grades Pre-K-12 in art, music, theater)

• Major in the appropriate content field with appropriate breadth/depth
• Educational Psychology - EDUC/PSYC 368 (F, S, Su, community college)
• Exceptionality - EDSP/PSYC 336 (F, S, Su, community college - Introduction to Special Education/Mainstreaming = possible titles there)
• Child in America - EDUC 206 (F, S, Su, community college - Foundations of Education or history/philosophy of education course)
• Lifespan, - PSYC 230 (academic year only; lifespan at community college - titled Human Development across the Lifespan)
• ESL Across the Curriculum- EDUC XXX (4cr) (F, S, Su)(prerequisites include EDUC 293 and EDUC/PSYCH 368)
• Language Acquisition and Phonemic Awareness (formerly EDUC 293.02) (3 cr) (F, S, community college - Foundations of Reading)
• course work reflecting non-western perspectives (often taken routinely as part of the major)
• course work required to meet SMCM foreign language requirement for graduation (a semester or the equivalent of study of a foreign language)

Music majors also must complete any four 1 cr. methods courses in strings, brass, percussion, etc.

Courses SMCM Typically Offers

• Educational Psychology - EDUC/PSYC 368 (fall, spring ,summer)
• Exceptionality - EDSP/PSYC 336 (fall, spring, summer)
• Child in America - EDUC 206 (fall, spring, summer)
• ESL Across the Curriculum- EDUC XXX (4cr) (F, S, Su)(prerequisites include EDUC 293 and EDUC/PSYCH 368)
• Language Acquisition - EDUC 296 (fall, spring)
• Adolescence, Lifespan - (at least once a year).

Why should I pursue teacher certification at SMCM?

• You will graduate with a degree from a well-respected liberal arts institution; our placement rate for future teachers is almost 100% and school districts tell us that they like SMCM graduates because they know how to think, have a solid content knowledge base, and a strong understanding of child and adolescent development.
• You will be immersed in the life of public schools, gaining a rich array of experiences that will enhance your understanding of teaching and learning. Our extensive field experiences and our year-long internship program are designed to ensure that our future teachers have the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to succeed in the profession.
• You will be part of a cohort of individuals who share similar passions and an idealism about their role in making the future better for our K-12 students.
• We are a small school and our teacher certification programs reflect the size of the institution; we certify between 25 and 35 teachers a year. Thus we can provide a great deal of individual support, guidance, and mentoring to our future teachers.
• We have strong partnership agreements with our local public schools; we have worked with them to develop an America Reads Tutor Corps, to develop technology courses that future teachers and their cooperating teachers take together, to create communities of pre and in service teachers in our literacy courses, and to learn not just from the faculty on the campus, but from a strong cadre of exceptional teachers in the field who are viewed as adjuncts to the faculty in the Educational Studies Department.
• You will be able to take classes from faculty members who have all had public school teaching experience, who regularly spend time in the public schools, who are actively engaged in school-based research and curriculum development, and who are passionate about teacher education.

Note. Contact Dr. Lois Stover, ltstover@smcm.edu, Dr. Lin Muilenburg, lymuilenburg@smcm.edu, Dr. Angela Johnson, acjohnson@smcm.edu, Dr. Katy Arnett, kearnett@smcm.edu, or Mrs. Leslie Moore, llmoore@smcm.edu, with questions.