MAT - Master of Arts in Teaching (Transition to Teaching Track)
The Transition to Teaching (T2T) program at WSU is a two-year alternative licensure program that combines graduate coursework and full-time, paid teaching in an accredited school as the classroom teacher of record. The program is geared toward working professionals looking for a career change and more recent graduates wanting to teach. Candidates receive preparation to support them in meeting licensure requirements in the first 29 credit hours (two years). Those who wish to earn the MAT degree must complete an additional 7 credit hours of research in the third year. T2T is a cohort model and each new cohort group is admitted to begin coursework during the first term of the summer session annually.
Admission
Students in the MAT transition to teaching track must have an undergraduate degree in a content licensure field (i.e., biology, chemistry, mathematics, etc.), or equitable coursework, and meet eligibility requirements for a Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) restricted license. This practice-to-theory model requires students to have a signed teaching contract from an accredited school district to be eligible for a restricted license and to participate in coursework.
To be eligible for the T2T program, students must:
- Complete at least a BA/BS degree (in the secondary content field in which the candidate is seeking licensure), or equivalent coursework from an accredited higher education institution in a regular content area eligible for restricted licensure.
- Meet GPA requirements of 2.750 in last 60 credit hours of college coursework completed to meet state alternative certification and graduate school admission requirements.
- Be fully admitted to the WSU Graduate School, in the T2T/MAT degree-bound category.
- Receive passing scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment exam for the restricted licensure area.
- Secure a teaching contract in an accredited Kansas school district.
- Complete summer prerequisite education coursework.
- Complete a supervised practical training experience under the collaboration of WSU and the hiring school district.
Preferred criteria for success in the T2T program:
- Evidence of work experience in a field corresponding with the subject(s) they will teach.
- Evidence of working with middle or high school students.
Program Requirements
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) transition to teaching track is a 36-credit-hour program. The program is offered for students seeking an initial license through an alternative licensure program. The core curriculum consists of:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select courses in child/adolescent development and pedagogy | 21 | |
| Select research and reflection (within the 7 credit hours of research, students are required to complete either an action research portfolio or a master’s thesis) | 7 | |
| Select an internship with university supervisors provided | 8 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
MAT Transition to Teaching Program of Study
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CI 707 | Adolescent Development 1 | 2 |
| CI 779 | Disciplinary Literacy and 21st Century Fluencies | 2 |
| CI 701 | Foundations of Education 1 | 2 |
| CI 702 | Introduction to Exceptional Children 1 | 2 |
| CI 710B | Differentiated Instruction for Active Engagement 1 | 2 |
| CI 743 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship I 1 | 1 |
| CI 744 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship II 1 | 3 |
| CI 748 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship III 1 | 3 |
| CI 749 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship IV 1 | 3 |
| CAS 501 | Teacher Licensure Capstone | 0 |
| CI 760A | Creating an Effective Classroom 1 | 3 |
| CI 761A | Instructional Planning and Technology 1 | 2 |
| CI 794 | Diversity and Culture in a Global Society 1 | 3 |
| CI 789 | Working with Diverse Student Populations 1 | 1 |
| Capstone Courses | ||
| CI 849 | Practices and Trends in Action Research | 3 |
| CI 860 | Seminar in Research Problems | 2 |
| Select one of the following combinations | 2 | |
| Evidence-Based Inquiry: Capstone Project Proposal and Evidence-Based Inquiry: Capstone Project | ||
| Master’s Thesis and Master’s Thesis | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Transition to teaching program course; a grade of B- or better is required.
Applied Learning
Students are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from programs in the School of Education. The requirements can be met by completing either a master’s thesis or capstone research project in which the emphasis is on applying professional practices to research and is directly linked to applied learning.