Print VersionRequirements
Students work with an adviser to plan a program of study that fulfills the requirements for certification as a teacher in Maryland. The MAT requires a minimum of 39 credits, and specific additional content-area course work may vary due to differences in undergraduate preparation. Students may pursue the degree on a full- or part-time basis; however, the internship requires full-time teaching in a school setting. The description and duration of the internship are determined by the program option selected.
The nationally recognized Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Principles guide the MAT program. Using these standards, students demonstrate their competence through a portfolio development process monitored by faculty and supervising teachers and their participation in a variety of field placement. Upon successful completion of the course work, internship, and Praxis exams, and defense of the portfolio, students are eligible for Maryland state teacher certification. (Praxis is a professional assessment test for beginning teachers.)
All options of the MAT program require candidates to participate in electronic learning communities, and computers and Internet access are available on each campus. In addition, applicants must pass all Praxis I requirements to be admitted to the MAT program. FlexMAT students must have passed the content knowledge portion of Praxis II to be scheduled for their pre-internship class. ProMAT candidates must have passed the content knowledge portion of Praxis II in order to be placed in the classroom.
In addition, all students entering the program are required to complete a criminal disclosure statement and to undergo a criminal background check before enrolling in classes. (Under Maryland law, persons who have committed acts of violence or crimes against children are not eligible for teacher certification.) Students must be admitted to the MAT program to enroll in classes.
