Program Information
Admission to the MAT Program
Submit an Application for Admission to the School of Education.
Candidates will need to have achieved an undergraduate final GPA of at least 2.75, and submitted an admission essay and an admission resume prior to Internship I. Applicants may seek exemption for the GPA requirement by submitting evidence of prior learning and professional experience in a relevant field.
Program Completion and Certification
All teacher applicants who do not have a GPA of 3.0 on their most recently earned degree must present qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests or meet the PPST®, the SAT®, ACT® test or GRE® General Test requirements. Scores on the prior version of the Core Academic Skills for Educators (5712, 5722, 5732) will be accepted as long as the tests are taken on or before June 30, 2020.
In order to apply for certification through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), a teacher candidate must be a program completer, which includes Maryland Praxis qualifying scores for the licensure area.
For specific details about seeking Maryland certification, consult the Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch
Academic Policies
Admission and Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to candidacy may be awarded to those who have fulfilled all admission requirements. Upon advancement to candidacy, M.Ed. and MAT students have five years to complete their program. If necessary, students may petition the Graduate Committee for an extension. All graduate students must maintain a 3.00 GPA
Admission and Advancement Decision Appeals
Applicants who wish to appeal a decision regarding special student enrollment or advancement to candidacy decisions must submit a written request to the Chair of the Education Department.
Academic Sessions
Sessions are offered on a year-round basis, in Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters.
Clinical Experiences
Professional Development School (PDS)
A Professional Development School (PDS) is a collaboratively planned and implemented partnership for the academic and clinical preparation of teacher candidates and the continuous professional development of both school system and institution of higher education faculty. The focus of a PDS partnership is improved student performance through research-based teaching and learning.
The university enjoys a long-standing PDS partnership with elementary, middle, and high schools in Frederick County, Md. The standards for Maryland PDSs hold that all teacher candidates be provided equitable access to an extensive internship (at least 100 consecutive days) in a PDS. Our field placement coordinator, working in concert with our PDS liaison and building principals, arranges internship placements in PDS. A mentor teacher and university supervisor support candidates’ professional development toward meeting our benchmarks. Upon graduation, candidates are expected to demonstrate standards-based teaching that is measured through evaluation of teaching performance and portfolio assessment. The Education department uses the standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) in its benchmarks. Teacher candidates are also expected to demonstrate the professional dispositions that relate to successful teaching.
Field Experience
Some graduate courses require several field experiences. The field experience course requirements will usually be met at one of the established Professional Development Schools (PDS) in Frederick County, Maryland.
Internships
Teacher Internship - MAT Elementary Education
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) requires a 100-day internship in a Professional Development School. This is an unpaid internship.
Prior to Internship I teacher candidates must complete the following core courses: MEDUC 501, MEDUC 502, MEDUC 504, MEDUC 528 , MEDUC 532 , MSPED 508; maintain a GPA of 3.0; and have completed all undergraduate content courses as identified in the admission process.
Internship I is a year-long placement to be taken in the fall and spring semester and requires 10 full days or 20 half days per semester in a PDS placement. Internship I concurrent courses: MEDUC 506 and MEDUC 507 in the fall semester and MEDUC 512 and MEDUC 513 in the spring.
Internship II is to be taken in the following fall semester. This requirement involves full-time classroom experience. The concurrent courses are: MEDUC 518 -Teacher Internship: Elementary and MEDUC 696 - PPAT Seminar .
Incomplete Policy for School of Education Internships and Practicums
Due to the nature of teaching internships and advanced practicums, a student receiving a grade of I (Incomplete) may be required to defer the completion of the internship/practicum until the next time the experience is offered, which may be during the following academic year. Requirements of state performance assessments, internship/practicum assessments, and/or reassigned internship/practicum placements could require the candidate to participate in the experience in its entirety.
Technology
The Mount uses Canvas as its course management platform and offers coursework both online and in hybrid formats. MAT candidates use Chalk and Wire, an e-portfolio system, to develop their program completer portfolio.
Program Completer Status and Certification
In order to apply for certification through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), a teacher candidate must be a program completer. To be a program completer, the teacher candidate must have completed all program requirements, including the submission of official qualifying Praxis II scores for the state of Maryland. It is imperative that students designate Mount St. Mary’s University and the MSDE as score recipients. For specific details about seeking Maryland Certification, consult the Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch (http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/certification/index.aspx).
Teaching Certification (Initial Licensure)
Obtaining MSDE certification requires that candidates:
- Complete an approved program.
- Meet Maryland’s qualifying scores on the basic skills test and Praxis II.
- Send a cover letter with name, Social Security number, complete mailing address, phone number, area of certification seeking, and requisite fee. The student must also submit official transcripts for all coursework taken and send test scores for the required teacher certification tests.
For specific details and possible additional requirements, log on to http://certification.msde.state.md.us
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