Make a Difference. Become a Teacher. Earn certification in just 12 months!
The Elementary Education M.A.T. program prepares people with a bachelor’s degree to become certified to teach elementary school students in the state of South Carolina. After meeting degree and certification requirements, you will be certified to teach students in grades 2-6.
Through our social justice-oriented curriculum, you will learn how to engage children in inquiry, facilitate learning, develop curriculum, and collect and interpret student data to inform instruction.
Unique Features of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program
- Be immersed in the work of teaching while completing degree requirements.
- Benefit from embedded field experiences across diverse school settings.
- Learn and practice research supported teaching approaches under the guidance of world class educators.
- Practice assessment-driven instruction that focuses on individual student learning.
- Take part in reciprocal relationship building with students, families, and colleagues.
- Benefit from enhanced salary potential.
- Graduate with South Carolina Read to Succeed endorsement.
Admissions Requirements
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 system.
- Successful interview, requested by program faculty.
- 11 required pe-requisite courses (see list below, and email Elizabeth Rollins, M.A.T. Program Coordinator, at ERRollins@sc.edu for a transcript evaluation).
11 prerequisite courses are required to complete the degree. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
To be admitted into this one-year program, you should have least eight courses from among the following completed before beginning program coursework in the summer:
- English (two courses) Coursework must address reading and language concepts that focus on effective use of English, including its syntax, lexicon, history, varieties, literature, and writing composing process.
- Children’s Literature (one course) Coursework must address literature and genres that help elementary children develop and learn to read, write, speak, view, and listen effectively.
- Sciences (two courses) Coursework must provide a broad understanding of the content and fundamentals of physical, life, or earth/space sciences. At least one science course must include a lab component.
- Mathematics (two courses) including EDTE 500 or equivalent Coursework must acquire a knowledge and understanding of major concepts, procedures, and reasoning processes of mathematics (i.e., algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability).
- Social Sciences (one course) Coursework must require a knowledge and understanding of major concepts and modes of inquiry from the social studies (i.e., psychology, sociology, economics, and geography).
- U.S. History/Government (one course) Coursework must require a knowledge and understanding of power, governance and authority in the U.S. context.
- Non-Western, Non-European (one course) Coursework must address culture and cultural diversity; the influences of belief systems in cultures outside of the realms of Western civilization.
- Exceptionalities (one course) Course work must provide a knowledge and understanding of major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to children and young adolescents with exceptionalities.
Coursework
Degree Requirements (33 credit hours - does not include prerequisite coursework)
Summer semester includes six weeks of online coursework.
- EDRD 600 (3) - Foundations of Reading Instruction
- EDEL 701 (3) - Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy for the Elementary Classrooms
- EDPY 705 (3) - Human Growth and Development
Fall semester includes three days in embedded courses (you'll be on school sites along with your cohort), as well as two full days in Internship I (you'll be interning in your Coaching Teacher's classroom).
- EDTE 733 (6) - Reading and Language Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
- EDTE 771 (3) - Studies and Internship I in Teaching Math-Early/Elementary Education
- EDEL 743 (3) - Studies and Internship I in Teaching Social Studies–Elementary
- EDEL 744 (3) - Studies and Internship in Teaching Science–Elementary
Spring semester includes five full days in Internship II, along with bi-weekly Seminar meetings.
- Internship (Student Teaching):
- EDEL 790 (9) MAT Internship in Elementary Education