M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education Program
The M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education seeks to better prepare candidates for teaching young adolescents and addresses the North Carolina Professional Teaching standards, the Masters/Advanced Competencies which include standards in Instructional Expertise, Knowledge of Learners, Research Expertise, Connecting Subject Matter and Learners, and Professional Development and Leadership as well as the North Carolina Standards for Middle School Teachers. In addition, the program addresses the National Middle School Association’s (NMSA) programmatic standards for initial teacher preparation (http://www.nmsa.org ). Finally, the graduate program incorporates the conceptual framework which is common to all teacher education programs at UNCW: The Watson School of Education develops highly competent professionals to serve in educational leadership roles.
In order to better address candidates’ needs the program is divided into two phases:
- Phase I – Leads to the Standard Professional I license (21 hours). This phase includes courses necessary to meet initial licensure standards. All courses with the LIC prefix in this phase offer parallel graduate sections for existing undergraduate courses. The graduate sections incorporate a level of critical analysis appropriate for an advanced degree. In order to accomplish this level of critical analysis, graduate students complete additional assignments that engage them in research and critical thinking. They are also expected to take on leadership roles in the program. A semester long internship (6 hours) culminates phase I.
- Phase II – Leads to the Master of Arts in Teaching and (“M”) licensure (minimum 19 hours). The courses in this phase focus on advanced professional understandings, content specialty areas, and adding a focus area. The focus strands (Technology, English as a Second Language, International, or other approved area) offer candidates the opportunity for additional professional development in a high need area. The strands reflect state, national and international trends in education, thereby, further facilitating candidates assuming leadership roles.
Program Objectives
Upon completion, candidates for the M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education (grades 6-9), the student should be able to:
- Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to young adolescent development, and apply that knowledge in practice.
- Understand the range of individual differences of all young adolescents and adapt instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of individuals, including students with special needs and from culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories, and research underlying the philosophical foundations and organizational components of highly effective middle level schools.
- Understand effective middle level instruction and assessment and apply a variety of strategies to meet the varying abilities, interests, and learning styles of young adolescents.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major concepts, principles, theories, standards, and research related to his/her teaching field(s) and apply that knowledge in practice.
- Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories and research related to working collaboratively with family and community members.
- Use technology to enhance teaching and support learner outcomes.
- Engage in reflective inquiry leading to professional development and positive results for student learning.
Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades Education program sheet >
