MA in Teaching

Teaching as a profession, and as a way to fulfill the Great Commission, is incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally. If this is indeed the direction you believe God is leading you, we encourage you to consider Multnomah's MAT, the first graduate program at Multnomah University.

With the approval of our middle level and high school authorization programs, MAT students may now be recommended for licensure to teach Pre-Kindergarten/Elementary, Elementary/Middle, or Middle/High school.

For those who already hold teaching licenses, we offer a Reading Specialist Endorsement and an ESOL Endorsement. Either of these may be taken during the MAT program, although specialized programs such as these may be more than 45 credits.

Where Will I be able to teach?

• In public schools
• private schools
• international schools
• mission schools
• alternative schools
• charter schools - virtually anywhere that licensed teachers are needed.
• We will provide valuable information to schools around the world that are looking for licensed teachers specifically from Multnomah.

How Long is the Program?

Four or five semesters, depending on when you start.

• Fall starts go fall, spring, summer, fall, spring
• Spring starts go spring, summer, fall, spring

For example, someone who starts September of 2010 will graduate in May of 2012.

Credit loads:

• For Early Childhood/Elementary - 42 semester hours
• For Elementary/Middle Level - 45 semester hours
• For Middle Level/High School - 36 semester hours
• For additional endorsement such as ESOL or Reading Specialist, the programs will be from 6 to 10 hours more.

How many nights a week is this?

For Early Childhood/Elementary and Elementary/Middle Level programs, candidates take coursework 2 or 3 nights a week, depending on the term. Middle Level/High School candidates attend classes two nights a week, if they have completed at least 18 semester credits in their content area (such as math, English, music, etc…) Summer term is only 8 weeks long, so candidates will often go four days or nights a week. During the last two terms, candidates will be student teaching five days a week.

Is this longer than other MAT programs in the area?

Probably. At Multnomah, we believe that getting our students through our program in the shortest time frame is not the goal. Our goal is to prepare the best possible candidates for their challenging future role as teacher leaders. Therefore, although we know we aren’t the shortest or easiest program, we believe that the quality of our program and the time we invest in students to help them be prepared will pay off in our graduating some of the best teachers who will enter the work force.

How much is it?

Multnomah’s MAT program is significantly cheaper than other graduate programs in the area. Current pricing can be found on the Graduate Program financial Aid page. Books and other fees are not included in that price. 

Are there any special scholarships for Teacher Education students?

Glad you asked!! The Marvin O. Johnson Scholarship offers up to five $5000 scholarships per program for qualified teacher education students. Visit the Financial Aid section and/or contact them for more information.

What is involved in the program?

There are three critical strands to the MAT program: coursework, fieldwork, and research and reflection. Each is critical to prepare educators who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in the teaching profession. For each of these a high value is placed on integrating faith and learning.

• Coursework -
  During the program, students will engage in coursework that lays a foundation of the fundamentals of teaching and learning, with attention given to developmentally-appropriate content and teaching strategies for the early childhood and elementary classrooms.
• Fieldwork -
  MAT students will experience field work throughout the program. From observation to full-time responsibility in the classroom, students will have practical experience that prepares them for service in any early childhood or elementary classroom, whether in a private or public, local, national, or international school setting.
• Research and Reflection -
  Each classroom and field experience is designed to help students become thoughtful practitioners in the classroom, who are able to identify good questions and who have the research skills to find answers to those questions, as well as the ability to think reflectively on what those answers mean in their classrooms, schools, and communities. Students are also encouraged and challenged to be reflective of their own practices so they will continue to hone their instructional practices and leadership skills as professional educators.

More Info

For more details on the program, or to receive an application by mail, contact the admissions department at 800.275.4672 or admiss@multnomah.edu.

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