Teaching, MA - Program Details

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The Master of Arts in Teaching is an individualized, project-based graduate program for teachers who want to deepen their knowledge of how to teach their subject, as well as enhance their understanding of contemporary educational issues and pedagogical content knowledge.

 

How long is the program?

The program is made up of four core courses combined with additional elective credit as required. Typically, students complete the program in 11 months. Students who already hold a credential may opt for an accelerated 7-month schedule (recommended for students who can attend full-time during the summer, with no other commitments). All students may opt to spread the coursework out over multiple years. It is possible to take classes only during summers if that is most convenient for you. The program must be completed within 5 years.

The program culminates in the design of an original Capstone Project, to be used in the classroom or broader school community.

 

Required courses

  • MAIT 601 Introduction to Inquiry (1 unit)
  • MAIT 602 Content Knowledge (3 units)
  • MAIT 603 Pedagogical Knowledge (3 units)
  • MAIT 604 Capstone Project (2 units*; may be repeated)
  • Electives as required (see below)*

 

A word about electives

In order to broaden your graduate level knowledge, some elective coursework is required. Students who have completed their credential at Saint Mary's College will need one additional 3-unit elective course.  Students who hold a preliminary or cleared credential from another institution will need two additional 3-unit elective courses. Students who do not already hold a CA Teaching Credential will need 21 units of elective credits to complete the MA in Teaching. Electives are offered Fall, Spring and Summer, and may be taken at any time during the program.

 

Capstone Project

Your Capstone Project allows you to bring together your experience and new knowledge of content and pedagogy to create an original applied educational product, for example, a curriculum unit, website, professional development experience, etc. This final project is completed with the support of a Project Chair, and on completion is presented to the KSOE and broader community.

For examples of Capstone Projects completed by graduates of the MAIT program, browse: https://sites.google.com/site/smcmatprogram/

 

Total Number of Units

For Saint Mary’s College credential students:
There are 12 units of required SMC courses plus the units accepted from your SMC credential. 

Multiple Subject: 38 MSTE credential units + 12 MAIT units = 50 units
Single Subject: 34 SSTE credential units + 12 MAIT units = 46 units
Education Specialist: 37 SPED credential units + 12 MAIT units = 49 units

For non-Saint Mary’s College students with a California Teaching Credential:
30 units total: 15 units of required SMC courses plus the 15 units accepted from the credential program you completed.

For non-Saint Mary’s College students without a California Teaching Credential:
30 units total: 9 units of core MAIT coursework plus 21 units of transferrable graduate level coursework or additional graduate elective credit from Saint Mary's College.