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Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

 

The master of arts in teaching degree in adolescence education is a program for students who have an undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, English, geology (Earth science), mathematics, physics or a social science, and who are seeking certification to teach that subject in grades 7-12. Students who complete the degree are eligible for the new initial certification. Please see http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert for more information about new teacher certification regulations, effective February 2004.

 

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree with sufficient academic background in the prospective area of teaching to take graduate work in the discipline. All applicants must have college-level study or the equivalent in a language other than English. It is recommended that applicants have a pre-admission interview with a graduate adviser in the MAT program in the School of Education. If all prerequisite undergraduate requirements have been met, the MAT degree requires three semesters of full-time study (or the equivalent of part-time study). Students may begin their degree programs in either the fall or spring semester. However, students will be admitted for the spring semester only if space permits. Matriculated students must successfully complete LTRC 519, SEC 500, SEC 593 and the required 100 clock hours of fieldwork before being admitted to the final fall (student teaching) semester.

 

In all MAT programs, a minimum of 40 credits is required.

 

 

Biology Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in biology. The applicant’s undergraduate work must be acceptable to the Biological Sciences Department in Harpur College, as well as to the School of Education. Students without appropriate undergraduate preparation are required to take additional intermediate and upper - level courses to be eligible to apply to this program.
 

Minimum Requirements for Degree (courses are subject to change)

Education Courses - 20 credits

LTRC 519. Adolescent Learners and Literacy for the Content Areas 4 credits
SEC 500. Foundations of Secondary Education 4 credits
SEC 501. Special Education for Content Area Teachers 2 credits
SEC 502. English as a Second Language for Content Area Teachers 2 credits
SEC 593. Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations in the Pedagogy of Science 4 credits
SEC 594. Curriculum and Teaching in Science 4 credits

 

Subject-Area Courses - 12 credits

12 credits in biological science courses

    (BIOL 591, 599 and 699 cannot be taken for credit toward the MAT degree)

 

Supervised Student Teaching - 8 credits

SEC 590/591. Pre-service Practicum in Teaching I and II - 8 credits

 

NOTE: For more information about this program please contact Dr. Thomas O'Brien (program coordinator).

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A Word About the 100-Hour Fieldwork Requirement for Pre-Service Students
The New York State Education Department recently mandated that students seeking their first teaching certification must have 100 hours of field experience linked to coursework before undertaking student teaching. In addition, students must have the opportunity to visit high-needs classrooms in urban, suburban and rural districts. The designated high-needs districts in our BOCES region are Binghamton, Johnson City and Harpursville; students must spend time in one of these districts (primarily Binghamton) during their field experiences and/or student teaching.

 

Our school designed these experiences to be valuable and meaningful. We believe that purposeful fieldwork will help you become a stronger teacher.

 

Although the school will try to accommodate students with extenuating circumstances, we cannot waive the 100-hour requirement. And, although prior teaching experience is valuable, it cannot count toward meeting the new 100-hour requirement.

 

If you have any questions, comments or concerns about field experience, contact Tami Mann, senior staff assistant in the School of Education at 607-777-5322 or tmann@binghamton.edu.

See also: Field Experience: What You Need to Know