Master of Arts in Teaching

Teacher Education

The MAT program is a selective graduate-level certification program that prepares qualified students for careers as teachers in the shortage areas. Current specializations include secondary English, History/Social Studies, World Languages, Sciences, Spanish, Special Education (K-12), and Technology & Engineering Education.

The MAT program is designed to co-prepare secondary educators and special educators to meet the needs of all learners within the general education classroom, including those at risk and students with disabilities. Candidates experience cross disciplinary preparation wherever possible, building content teaching expertise in their specialization and relating each discipline to the larger school context. Candidates learn how to support students' literacy and language demands within their discipline, which is a particular need in today's secondary classrooms.

The MAT program provides an accelerated route into shortage area classrooms while meeting all state and national accreditation standards. The full schedule of classes, field experiences, and full-time student teaching in assigned public school settings will be very demanding; therefore it is extremely difficult to maintain even part-time employment throughout the program. Candidates complete the program in a cohort that begins in late January of each year and ends in late May of the following calendar year. 

Program Options

Specializations in:

  • English
  • History/Social Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Modern Language
  • Sciences (physics, chemistry, earth science, and biology)
  • Special Education (K-12)
  • Technology Education (7-12)

- Michael Sobolewski

Teaching is a constantly evolving field. Pursuing my MAT degree at CCSU gave me the opportunity to learn and experience not only the most current best practices in teaching, but the ability to become a lifelong educator. The demands and rigor of the MAT program perfectly mirrored the challenges of my first-year in the classroom, and I could not have chosen a better professional program to prepare for the job of my dreams.

- Michael Sobolewski

Learning Outcomes

Graduate students in the program will:

  • Possess strong knowledge of content, content pedagogy, and learner development (typical and atypical).
  • Create an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment.
  • Use data, content knowledge, and evidence-based pedagogical content knowledge to critically examine practice for the purpose of improving student learning.
  • Design and deliver instructional and assessment strategies that facilitate significant learning for all students including struggling learners and those with disabilities. 
  • Design, deliver, and assess literacy/language strategies to deepen literacy and content learning within the discipline.
  • Act collaboratively, ethically, and responsibly to ensure student growth and advance the profession.

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