MA Degree: Teaching

Master of Arts in Teaching

General Information

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is an alternative and accelerated means for college graduates with degrees in liberal arts, fine arts, business and professional fields to attain teacher licensure. The program provides the professional education courses and clinical experiences, including student teaching, necessary to prepare individuals for teaching in a specific content area in grades PreK-Adult, 5-Adult, or 9-Adult. The MAT program does not offer licensure in Elementary Education or Special Education. (An endorsement in Special Education may be added after the initial license in a content area is earned.)

A transcript analysis is required to evaluate courses from the undergraduate degree against the requirement for licensure in the secondary content specialization areas offered through Fairmont State.  Applicants must possess a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall.  At least fifty (50) percent of the content specialization courses must be completed prior to admission to the MAT program.  Once admitted to the MAT program, the candidate must complete all content specialization courses prior to being recommended for licensure by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE).

The MAT program requires students to complete 38 hours: 12-15 hours of Foundations of Education, 18-21 hours of Curriculum and Instruction, 6 hours of supervised student teaching, and a comprehensive examination. (Note: All content specialization requirements must also be completed prior to licensure, and these requirements may be completed at the graduate or undergraduate level.)

Candidates applying for licensure to teach must also satisfy Fairmont State’s GPA requirement and the testing requirements established by the WVDE. Currently, candidates must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the content specialization area in addition to an overall GPA of 2.75.  The testing requirements are the PRAXIS II content test(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching Exam (PLT).

Program Options: Master of Arts in Teaching-PreK-Adult

• Art Education
• Music Education
• Physical Education
• School Library Media
• Computer Science Education
• Spanish 
• Theatre

Master of Arts in Teaching-Grades 5-Adult

• Art
• Business Education
• English
• Family and Consumer Science
• French
• General Science
• Health
• Journalism
• Mathematics
• Oral Communications
• Social Studies
• Technology Education

Master of Arts in Teaching-Grades 9-Adult

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics