M.A. in Teaching (MAT)

The Master of Arts in Teaching combines the expertise of a master's degree with a secondary teaching certificate.

Graduates from the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program are prepared to be competent, caring and reflective educators who are certified to teach grades 6-12 in chosen content areas. The MAT degree is a unique Master’s program, where students will take 33 credits of graduate level coursework, along with the required undergraduate coursework to meet the requirements of a content major and minor (if chosen).  Ideally, an applicant will have earned a degree in a content area that is taught in the secondary classroom or will have completed a substantial portion of the coursework required for one or more of the teaching majors offered at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

With successful completion of the program, students earn both their master’s degree and the faculty’s recommendation to the Michigan State Board of Education leading to a Michigan Secondary Standard Teaching Certificate.

What will I Learn?

  • Candidates for certification will be capable in their content specialty areas (teaching major(s) and/or minor(s))
  • Candidates for certification will be capable users of pedagogical knowledge
  • Candidates for certification will be reflective about their practice

Visit the University Catalog to learn more about required coursework for the M.A. in Teaching

Admission Requirements

Students must submit the following items with their application. The GRE is not required for admission to this program. The Office of International Affairs lists additional admission requirements for international students.

MAT program applicants who have transcripts from non-U.S. institutions may also be required to submit ECE Course-by-Course Evaluations to aid in developing a plan of study that appropriately meets the requirements of a content major and (if chosen) a content minor.

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  • 3.0 GPA or higher on submitted transcripts
  • Two professional letters of recommendation
  • Application fee
  • Personal statement

Completion Requirements

Before exiting from the M.A. in Teaching, you need to complete two steps:

  1. Apply for graduation.
  2. Submit an Exit Survey.

Exit Survey:

The purpose of this survey is to assist the College of Education, Health, and Human Services with the evaluation of the master’s degree program and to serve as a guide for program development. The Exit Survey is a requirement for completion of the program. Submit the exit survey.

Teaching Major and Minor Endorsements

Applicants interested in pursuing secondary certification must complete requirements for a secondary teaching major. Please see the requirements below for the content majors and minors offered at UM-Dearborn. Please note that a major is required, while a minor is optional and highly recommended.

Please note that Special Education leads to a K-12 endorsement in Learning Disabilities and requires a content major (English, Biology, Mathematics, etc.) and two semesters of student teaching.

MajorsMinors
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • Economics
  • English
  • History
  • Integrated Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Social Studies
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • Economics
  • English as a Second Language
  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Speech

Course Offerings

Previous coursework is evaluated relative to State of Michigan standards for teacher certification and, to the extent possible, used to satisfy requirements; additional coursework in the content areas may be required. Remaining content coursework is combined with a series of Education Professional Sequence courses, at least two of which involve classroom field placements. Students who meet coursework, State of Michigan teacher certification examination requirements, and all other requirements are eligible to progress towards student teaching.

UM-Dearborn’s teacher certification program is not available online, although some courses may have online/hybrid sections. The MAT route requires a commitment of at least two years, depending on prior coursework.

Contact Information

CEHHS Office for Student Success
262 Fairlane Center South (FCS)
[email protected]
313-593-5090

Academic Advising for Prospective Students

Prospective candidates interested in having their transcripts reviewed and an individualized program plan created should schedule an appointment with the Certification Officer. If you are interested in having your transcripts evaluated, please fill out our Transcript Evaluation Request Form.

In-person, telephone and email advising are available to prospective MAT candidates. The Certification Officer can also advise them about the application and enrollment processes.

Please call 313-593-5090 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

Academic Advisors

Stein Brunvand

 

Master of Arts in Teaching

Stein Brunvand, Ph.D.

 

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Brunvand please contact:

CEHHS Office of Student Success
email: [email protected]
phone: 313-593-5090.