Educational Studies

The Educational Studies department offers elective course work in education at the undergraduate level and a Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program leading to a Maryland state teaching certification and a Masters degree at the graduate level.

Students wishing teacher certification may major in any field for which they have a passion and take education courses as electives that are pre-requisites for our one-year, accelerated "Master of Arts in Teaching" (M.A.T.) degree. Students will earn a B.A. degree in their major and a masters of arts in teaching upon completion of the M.A.T. program.

The M.A.T. program makes certification possible in the following areas:

• Elementary: Grades1-6 and middle school (it is also possible to add early childhood certification to the elementary certification)
• Secondary: Grades 7-12 in English, math, social studies, biology, chemistry, physics, and modern languages.
• K-12: Art, music, and theater majors may also certify in their discipline

All of the teacher certification programs available through this M.A.T. degree have full program approval from the Maryland State Department of Education and lead to reciprocity for certification in a majority of other states.

St. Mary's Project (SMP)

While educational studies is not a major, some students choose to complete St. Mary's projects with an educational focus in conjunction with their major area of study. Examples include:

• Literacy acquisition and instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL) students
• Weighing the Issues: Building body image in first-graders
• Accommodations: Are they really preparing students with Attention Deficit Disorder for post-secondary education?
• The Montessori learning environment
• Disconnected: A call for goals-based curriculum in education
• Different is the world: A review of the research regarding inclusion in educational and recreational settings
• Public education lobbying: A case study in St. Mary's County

Travel Abroad

Students who participate in the M.A.T. program have the unique opportunity to gain cross-cultural awareness of education by completing a portion of their student teaching abroad. In the past St. Mary's students have student taught in Costa Rica, The Gambia, Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales.

Life After St. Mary's

Students who participate in the Masters of Arts in Teaching program typically go on to become teachers. The educational studies department at St. Mary's boasts an impressive 100% PRAXIS (national teacher licensing exams) pass rate and a 100% job placement rate for its graduates.

Additionally you may find educational studies alumni pursuing careers as counselors, curriculum specialists, and social workers.

Half of all St. Mary's students go on to graduate or professional school. Educational studies students attended schools such as:

Special Opportunities

The educational studies department at St. Mary's offers many service opportunities for students from all majors. St. Mary's students often tutor in after-school programs, serve as mentors for middle school age youth, and volunteer as reading buddies or assistants in local classrooms.

Educational studies students also have access to a wide range of coursework and resources aimed at encouraging the use of technology in the classroom. Students have the opportunity to develop electronic portfolios, technology-based lessons, and webquests.

For more information, visit the Educational Studies Department Web site at

http://www.smcm.edu/educationstudies/prospective/ed_minor.html