Master of Arts in Teaching
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree offers an opportunity for students to attain elementary, secondary, or all-level Texas teaching certification while concurrently working toward the master’s degree. The Master of Arts in Teaching degree requires 36 to 42 hours of coursework (depending upon the area of specialization and the chosen capstone), completion of all certification program requirements (including field-based experiences), and a satisfactory semester-long clinical teaching experience or one-year internship with a satisfactory evaluation.
Admission Requirements
Conditional admission to the MAT program requires the following:
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Completion of all General Requirements and Application Procedures for graduate admissions at the University of the Incarnate Word;
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Submission of transcripts showing a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (undergraduate and graduate coursework). Transcripts from every college or university are required and must be dated within three months of application;
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Admissions interview with the Teacher Education faculty;
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Passing scores on the Pre-Admission Content Exam (PACT) for the intended certification field; and
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Application to the Teacher Education Program within the nine hours of coursework. (Note: Students may not enroll in courses identified as professional development courses without acceptance to the Teacher Education Program.)
Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program is specific to a cohort. Students who do not matriculate into the intended cohort, or those who are inactive for 12 months or more, must reapply. The Teacher Education Program application requires
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Submission of passing scores on either the Graduate Record Exam (Verbal 150, Quantitative 150, Analytical Writing section 3.5) or the Texas Higher Education Assessment (Reading 230, Mathematics 230, Writing 230);
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Group interview to assess professional oral communication proficiency;
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Writing samples to assess professional written communication proficiency;
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Verification of coursework to establish a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA;
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Official transcripts from all institutions (if transcripts submitted for MAT application are dated within three months of the time of the Teacher Education Program application, new transcripts are not needed); and
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Faculty assessment of professional disposition.
Additional requirements for Teacher Education Program acceptance may be required as TEA and UIW Teacher Education Program policies dictate. All requirements will be listed on the Teacher Education Program application. Applications will be available each semester from the Teacher Education Department.
Continuation in this program requires that students remain in good standing with the Office of Graduate Studies and the Teacher Education Program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, complete coursework in sequence with the program advisor’s approval, and demonstrate a professional disposition.
Master of Arts in Teaching Degree Plan
Master of Arts in Teaching Core Courses
EDUC 63CS and EDUC 66CS are professional development designated courses.
Master of Arts in Teaching Concentrations
Students may choose from three concentrations in the Master of Arts in Teaching program:
Elementary Education: 27 credit hours
Secondary or All-Level Education: 24 credit hours
Certification by the Texas Education Agency is awarded upon successful completion of the MAT, the applicable TExES exams required for the intended certification field, and the certification application process, which includes fingerprinting and a background investigation.
Graduate and undergraduate students seeking Texas Teacher Certification from the University of the Incarnate Word’s Teacher Education Program will be subject to any additional or new requirements that may be set forth by legislative mandates or the Texas Education Agency.
Elementary Education Concentration
In addition to core coursework, the Elementary Education concentration requires 27 hours of coursework.
Secondary and All-Level Education Concentrations
In addition to core coursework, the Secondary and All-Level Education concentrations require 24 hours of coursework.
Teaching Fields for the Secondary Education concentration include English Language Arts & Reading, History, Life Science, Mathematics, Physical Science
Teaching Fields for the All-Level Education concentration include Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, Theatre
Teaching Certification Option
The Teacher Education Department offers a certification option for post-baccalaureate students who either already possess a graduate degree, are completing an approved graduate degree, or are interested in certification but are not planning at the time of enrollment to complete the entire Master of Arts in Teaching degree program. Students interested in the Graduate Student Teaching Certification Option must apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program and meet all stated requirements, including the PACT exam. The student and the academic advisor will coordinate the course plan accordingly.
Students will be eligible for certification upon completion of all required coursework, passing the associated TExES certification exams, and completion of the certification application process, which includes fingerprinting and a background investigation. Coursework for the Graduate Student Teaching Certification Option will apply to the Masters of Arts in Teaching degree program requirements in effect at the time.
Teaching Certification Option—Elementary
This teaching option requires 30 to 33 hours of coursework.
Teaching Certification Option—Secondary/All-Level
This teaching certification option requires 27 to 30 hours of coursework.