Applications accepted for spring cohort beginning January 2024 

Reach out to Jamie O'Callaghan today at: [email protected] 

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching is a professional graduate degree designed for those with a bachelor's degree to complete the professional pedagogical coursework required for recommendation for initial licensure to teach in Montana or Wyoming's public elementary schools. The degree is designed to be completed in as little as five to seven semesters (including summer), depending on cohort availability. Additionally, the Master of Arts in Teaching degree at MSU is also available to support candidates working as teachers-of-record on a Class 5 license. The MAT at MSU-Bozeman is distinguished from other similar programs in that it has an intentional focus on place-conscious pedagogy and approaches to teaching with an emphasis on teaching in rural school districts.     

Additionally, the MAT Elementary Education track is able to assist with already licensed teachers in other content areas to add elementary education K8 as an added endorsement through a modified program track. Inquire with Jamie O'Callaghan for specifics on this program pathway. 

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) requires 36 credits of pedogogical coursework, an additional two courses (6 credits) of content area prerequisites, and includes early field experience with Inclusive Community Camp, and two semesters of in-school experiences each, including either one semester of part-time practicum and one full-time semester of classroom Student Teaching or while hired as a teacher-of-record in the approved content area. Successful completion of all coursework, in-school experience, and required tests (Praxis) are required for graduation and recommendation for a Montana Class 1 Teaching License. 

Curriculum

Please reach out to Jamie O'Callaghan for more information at: [email protected] for more information regarding the MAT curriculum schedule.

Courses
Credits 

**Prerequisite Courses

*M 419: Ratio and Proportion in Elementary School Mathematics

*EDCI 561: Early Literacy Acquisition: Encoding and Decoding

 

3 cr

3 cr

EDCI 552: Human Development and the Psychology of Learning

EDCI 563: Language Acquisition and Assessment

EDCI 553: Inclusive Strategies for Classroom Organization

EDCI 539: Methods of Teaching: K8 Arts and Health Enhancement through Inquiry Camp (field exp)

EDCI 543: Introduction to Curriculum Design and Assessment

EDCI 565: Methods of Teaching: K8 Mathematics

EDCI 566: Methods of Teaching: K8 Science

EDCI 567: Methods of Teaching: K8 Language Arts

EDCI 568: Methods of Teaching: K8 Social Studies

EDCI 555: Technology, Instructional Design, and Learner Success

EDCI 598: Practicum

EDCI 595: Student Teaching

EDCI 519: Addressing Equity in Linguistic and Cultural Diversity

EDCI 569: Reflective Inquiry in Rural Education 

 Program Total Credits

3 cr

3 cr

3 cr

3 cr

1 cr

2 cr

2 cr

2 cr

2 cr

2 cr

1 cr

6 cr

3 cr

3 cr

36 

Prerequisites and Endorsement Areas

 In order to qualify for the Elementary Education track of the MAT, applicants must:

  • Have completed a bachelor's degree containing a liberal arts core or general education component
  • Applicants must have taken and passed Praxis Content Series 5001. 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher for both Bachelor's degree, and for all graduate level coursework

Applicants to the Elementary Education MAT will enroll in and successfully complete the following two content prerequisite courses during the first two semesters in the MAT program. Successful completion of these courses is required for a recomendation for licensure:

  • M 419: Ratio and Proportion in School Mathematics  
  • EDCI 561: Early Literacy Acquisition: Encoding and Decoding

Admissions

Interested candidates for the MAT program should begin by reaching out to the MAT office by emailing Jamie O'Callaghan at [email protected]. Next, applicants will begin a review and self-assessment of the elementary education content specific requirements and guidelines for admission, as outlined on our Endorsements page.  Applicants will also need to take and pass the Praxis Content Series 5001exam prior to application. Be sure to allow enough time to study for the test, and allow 2-5 weeks prior to the application deadline to receive official test scores. 

    • Online application to Montana State University Graduate School with $70 fee. Please access using this link: https://www.applyweb.com/msug/index.ftl 
    • Submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.
      • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher for both bachelor’s degree, and for all graduate level coursework - may be emailed directly to Jamie O'Callaghan or to [email protected]
    • Endorsement Verification Form for required endorsement area sought. Please reach out to Jamie O'Callaghan for this form. Once complete, email form directly to Jamie in the original Excel format (please note, we cannot accept Google Documents).
    • Score for Praxis Content Series 5001 required for Elementary Education content (note this is a different test than required for MUS's teacher education program)
      • Praxis test series 5001 is a collection of tests including Reading and Language Arts (test 5002), Mathematics (5003), Social Studies (5004), and Science (5005). These tests are packaged together into test 5001. If you have difficulty registering for this test, please call your local testing center directly for assistance.
      • Passing scores for these tests are:
        • 5002: 157
        • 5003: 157
        • 5004: 155
        • 5005: 159
    • Personal Statement (use template) Further information about the Personal Statement and guidelines are found on our Endorsement Page
      • Describe your previous work history, academic preparation, and previous work with children or adolescents.
      • Describe the unique characteristics, academic abilities, and personal traits that qualify you to become a teacher.
      • Describe why you want to enter the teaching profession, and what you expect to encounter as a _ (ex: Elementary) _ teacher.
    • Submit Resume/CV containing all previous work experience and education, with relevant work with youth included
    • Submit 3 Letters of Recommendation:

    Minimally, one from each category

      • Current/previous employer
      • Letter of support from a local school
      • Personal (particularly if the recommender can speak to the applicant's previous experience working with youth) or academic

Please see our Endorsement Area page for detailed information about the requirements for the Elementary Education MAT track and qualifications for admission.

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher for both Bachelor's degree, and for all graduate level coursework

 

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