Teaching, MA

Program Overview

Coppin State University has long been known for educating outstanding and dedicated PreK-12 teachers The Coppin State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching is no exception, serving college graduates who do not hold a teaching license but desire to become teachers holding a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) degree. Previous experience or preparation in education is not required. The M.A.T. program in Elementary Education (K-6) is purposed to prepare candidates for their classroom roles; touching on subjects from in-classroom teaching, organization and management techniques, to research and curriculum planning. The program provides candidates with the opportunity to develop skills in practice, theory, and research as applied to the K-6 learner. Emphasis is placed on the development of a repertoire of instructional strategies and pedagogical skills, understanding, and application. Upon completion of the program, each candidate must meet program admission requirements. Full admission to Teacher Education and the program also requires completion of at least 12 graduate credit hours which are required for all degree programs leading to initial certification; passing graduate Praxis Core test at Maryland state levels. To reach the Maryland State Department of Education licensure eligibility requirements, a candidate is required meet all program requirements including the completion of 100 days of internship experience over two consecutive semesters - 20 days during the methods courses and 80 during the internship semester. This program is not appropriate for teachers who are already certified to teach in K-12 schools.

Program Objectives

• To attract high quality, talented individuals to enter the teaching profession.
• To increase the available supply of qualified teacher candidates in the State of Maryland.
• To meet the needs of non-traditional teacher candidates who are career-changes or liberal arts and science graduates interested in teaching as a career.
• To encourage high-quality individuals to enter a teaching career.

Admission Criteria to Teacher Education

The candidate must

• Hold a bachelor’s from a regionally accredited institution;
• Maintained a 3.00 or higher cumulative grade point average;
• Pass a physical examination and submit the form to the Office of Field Services
• Pass an admission’s Interview
• Pass the writing sample
• Submit a criminal background check from the school system
• Obtain a qualifying score on Praxis I/Praxis Core at state level
• Been advanced to candidacy

Program Description

MAT in Elementary Education participants can undertake this program full-time or part-time. Depending on the content area, the program is 46 - 49 semester credit hours, including a 100 days of supervised Internship experience in a Professional Development School (PDS). Applicant must meet program pre-requisites of 12 semester credit hours in mathematics and 12 credit hours in the Sciences. Program course include: