Master of Arts in Teaching

Secondary Teacher Certification

Application packets for the 2007-2008 program are available online (see below) now. You may also call 907-796-6525 or toll free 1-866-465-6424 to request a packet. Application deadline is March 5, 2007.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in secondary education (grades 7-12) leads to an Alaska Initial Certification and a Master's degree. The program is fully accredited and your certificate is transferable to all fifty states. It is designed for those who have a Bachelor's degree in subject(s) commonly taught in Alaska's secondary schools. The M.A.T. emphasizes education individuals with:

• A strong content background in their teaching field (i.e., Bachelor's degree in the content area).
• A demanding graduate-level program.
• A year-long intensive reflective/research-based classroom experience. During the nine month school year, students spend four days a week in the schools with their mentor teacher and one day a week on campus taking related graduate level courses.

The M.A.T. Secondary program is based on the following principles:

The UAS School of Education's vision for the program is: Our graduates will be informed, reflective and responsive teachers within diverse classroom, school and community contexts.

To accomplish this, the student goals in the program are:

1. Teacher candidates articulate, maintain and develop a philosophy of education that they also demonstrate in practice.
2. Teacher candidates understand how human development affects learning and apply that understanding to practice.
3. Teacher candidates differentiate instruction with respect for individual and cultural characteristics.
4. Teacher candidates possess current academic content knowledge
5. Teacher candidates facilitate student learning by using assessment to guide planning, instruction and modification of teaching practice.
6. Teacher candidates create and manage a stimulating, inclusive and safe learning community in which students take intellectual risks and work independently and collaboratively
7. Teacher candidates work as partners with parents, families and the community.
8. Teacher candidates develop and maintain professional, moral and ethical attitudes, behaviors, relationships and habits of mind.
9. Teacher candidates use technology effectively, creatively and wisely.

We take pride in being a small, high-quality program, providing more close, personal attention and support for each student. We believe in strong connections between campus learning and internship training. For optimal learning in this intense, high quality program, outside responsibilities should be limited.

The M.A.T. Secondary program has four distinct phases:

See also UAS Academic Requirements for the M.A.T. Secondary program for program description and list of degree requirements.

Phase One: Two three-week summer sessions for six credits each conducted before the public schools open in the fall (July August).

Phases Two and Three: During the public school year (end of August through the end of May) the M.A.T. students serve as interns with their mentor teacher in a middle or high school classroom. Interns spend four days a week in the public schools and one day a week on campus taking nine graduate credits in both the fall and spring semester.

Phase Four: A one-month summer session for six credits that will draw on students' recent experiences and extend their professional knowledge

At the end of Phase Four interns will have completed all the coursework required for the M.A.T. To complete the degree requirements students must:

1. Pass a Master's Portfolio that provides evidence that the student meets all program goals and outcomes,
2. Praxis I exam scores meeting Alaska cut scores,
3. Praxis II content area exam score(s) meeting Alaska cut scores, and
4. 3.0 GPA.

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements, students receive a Master of Arts in Teaching and a recommendation for an Alaska Initial Teaching Certificate, grades 7-12, in the content area(s) they are prepared to teach. Certification is granted by the Alaska Department of Education.

Tuition—The Secondary M.A.T. Program comprises 36 graduate semester hours of credit. Out of state students will pay out-of-state tuition costs for the first 15 of these credits (Summer and Fall semesters). All students will pay in-state tuition for the remainder of the program.

For an explanation of the program in an outline form, refer to the M.A.T. Timeline.

This is an intensive, immersion-type program with high quality learning experiences in coursework and internship. It is designed to provide future educators with an up-to-date professional preparation through innovative approaches.

The M.A.T. Secondary program coursework:

Application Procedures

Deadline: All application and portfolio materials must be received by March 5, 2007 to be considered in the first round for the 2007-2008 program.

The following items (available below) are necessary for a complete application:

Application Packet Contents

All of the contents of the packet may be viewed online and/or downloaded as a pdf file that can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader. A list of the contents of the packet with links follows.

Selection Criteria

A limited number of teaching intern positions are available in the program in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and other Southeast Alaska communities. Criteria for admission include

• successful admission into graduate school (minimum overall 3.0 GPA in a bachelor degree)
• bachelor's degree with a major in a subject in which the State of Alaska certifies secondary teachers,
• Competency in written communications as measured by submission of a writing assessment sample for consideration by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee,
• evidence that you have taken the Praxis I tests (Passing scores are Reading 175, Writing 174, Math 173. Passing scores are necessary to exit the program), and
• an available public school intern position in one's content area.

Contact Information

Dr. David Marvel
Director, Secondary Education
School of Education
11120 Glacier Highway
University of Alaska Southeast
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-796-6079
david.marvel@uas.alaska.edu

Financial Aid

For information about Financial Aid please visit the UAS Financial Aid website.

Housing

Student housing is available at the Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka campuses of UAS. Limited family housing is available at the Juneau campus. Applications received with the $200 deposit are prioritized by date. Apply early! The housing office may be reached at 907-796-6528. Visit the housing website for more information.