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Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education / TESOL
Offering Options in Secondary Education (Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish)
Purpose of the Program
The mission of the MAT in Secondary Education/TESOL is to prepare secondary educators to work collaboratively in varied settings and cultural contexts. Using an inquiry approach, the program prepares secondary educators to differentiate instruction, advocate for diverse learners, assess, and create interventions. The program prepares educators to work collaboratively with colleagues and families in culturally diverse populations in secondary schools and communities to impact student learning.
Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes
The goals, objectives and learning outcomes of WCSU’s MAT Secondary Education/TESOL Program are varied and are critical to facilitate the development of secondary educators to work in diverse classrooms. The program is designed to prepare educators to:
A. Graduates of the program will be demonstrate and apply knowledge of content;
1. Synthesize and apply central concepts, structures of the discipline, and tools of inquiry of the content areas; organize this knowledge, integrate cross-disciplinary skills, and develop meaningful learning progressions for secondary students as indicated by the design of learning segments.
B. Graduates of the program will demonstrate the ability to plan, develop, and adjust services that meet the needs of diverse learners;
1. Understand the role of professional judgment and practical knowledge for improving all students’ development and achievement as indicated by performance in residency.
2. Accurately assess and analyze student learning, reflecting on adjustments needed for both instruction and assessment as indicated by the impact on student learning.
C. Graduates of the program will demonstrate the ability to use relevant pedagogical skills and educational psychology knowledge in the planning, development, delivery and assessment of professional services in support of relevant educational goals;
1. Use foundational knowledge to design and/or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum as indicated by clinical performance in residency.
D. Graduates of the program will demonstrate professional dispositions that are consistent with the conceptual framework and in accord with professional, state, and institutional standards.
1. Demonstrate expertise in working collaboratively with colleagues to design instruction as indicated by clinical performance in residency.
Admission Requirements
Applicants who wish to be admitted to the program must submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Studies:
1. Application for admission to the Office of Graduate Studies and a $50 application fee – Graduate Application
2. One official transcript mailed (not hand-delivered) to the Office of Graduate Studies from each college or university previously attended, including all earned grades and degrees.
3. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of a 2.7 or higher is required
4. Undergraduate major in the certification area (Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish)
5. Passing score on the ACTFL exam for those applicants seeking Spanish certification
6. Two letters of reference Recommendation Form
7. Evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Graduate students in the program must complete the requirements for the degree within six-years.
LiveText License Requirement
All candidates who enter degree or certificate programs in Education and Educational Psychology at Western Connecticut State University are required to purchase a LiveText license before or during the first week of class. LiveText is part of Westconn’s assessment system and essential for continuous accreditation. Information about purchasing the license is at this link: Livetext. Information about purchasing the license is at this link: https://www.bkstr.com/wcsustore/home. If you have questions, please contact Alicia Schmidt, Livetext Coordinator, at schmitta@wcsu.edu.
Dismissal from, Admission to, or Retention in Professional Teacher Education Program
Strict guidelines for admission to and retention in the teacher education certification programs include academic excellence. Students who fail to meet or maintain established admission and retention criteria will be dismissed from the program. The M.A.T. program oversight committee will recommend candidates for student teaching during the third-cohort semester.
Dismissal from the Student Teaching Experience
Superintendents, school district facilitators, cooperating teachers, principals, university supervisors, and faculty members of the E&EP Department, in consultation with the appropriate arts and sciences, health education, or music education faculty members, reserve the right to remove a student teacher from any student teaching/clinical experience.
A recommendation for dismissal can be based on, but is not limited to:
When problems arise during a student teaching/clinical experience, the university supervisor notifies the coordinator of student teaching in a formal letter that clearly states both the concerns and the steps that have been taken to rectify the situation. The coordinator of student teaching then forwards this information to the chair of the E&EP Department who, in turn, meets with involved parties-the student teacher, the coordinator of student teaching, the university supervisor, and the assistant dean/certification officer-to investigate the situation, develop plans for improvement, or to recommend dismissal of the student teacher from the program.
The chair of the Education Department confirms all decisions of this meeting via a letter to the student teacher. The letter is signed by the chairperson of the Education Department and the Director of Field and Clinical Experiences; copies are sent to the Dean and Assistant Dean of the School of Professional Studies.
The student teacher has the right to submit a written appeal within seven days of a notification of dismissal to the Chair of the Education Department, the Director of Field and Clinical Experiences, and the university supervisor. The affected student also has the right—within two weeks of the hearing date—to appeal, in writing, his/her dismissal to the Dean of Professional Studies.
*Final semester is scheduled to be at full-time student status (9-credit hours)
New York State Certification requirements include additional assessments and workshops:
Candidates should confirm with the New York State Education Department or another State to determine if a Western Connecticut State University graduate program meets the State certification requirements. NASDTEC coordinates the Interstate Agreement that outlines cooperation for reciprocity.
