UVM alumnus Thomas Payeur works with a student at Winooski High School.

Whether you've been thinking about teaching for years or you've just realized that teaching is your passion, UVM's nationally recognized, CAEP-accredited Master of Arts (M.A.T.) in Secondary Education (grades 7-12) is a great opportunity for you to enter an exciting and rewarding career!

Is UVM's Secondary Education Graduate Program right for you?

"The MAT program offered me a rigorous and rich experience that prepared me for my teaching career. I'm grateful for all I've learned in this program, and for the lasting relationships I've developed with my colleagues in the cohort."  Steven Ushakov, Randolph Union High School

If you want to earn a master's degree while gaining licensure to teach in Vermont, our nationally recognized program is designed for you to fulfill professional education requirements for state licensure. Areas of Secondary Education licensure (grades 7-12) at UVM include English, World Languages, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Master of Arts in Teaching

For students who have already earned a Bachelor’s degree at UVM or a different institution, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) might be right for you. Our full-time program offers you the chance to complete licensure requirements in just one academic year. Begin the program in July, and be a licensed teacher with your own classroom the following year.

We also offer a part-time option for those who have other commitments and may need more time for program completion.

Accelerated Master's Program (AMP)

If you are a current UVM undergraduate, you can apply to our Accelerated Master’s Program. Save time and money on your path to an advanced degree. Our nationally accredited program allows you to earn your Bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in just five years. UVM undergraduate students in their third year of study may apply to the AMP. Through the AMP, 6 credits are double-counted towards both your Master’s and undergraduate degrees. Plus, an additional 3 credits of graduate coursework may be taken while you're still an undergraduate.

Full-Year Internship

Our internships are full-year, hands-on practical experiences that offer a perfect blend of theory and practice. Our program places you in high schools working under the mentorship of quality teachers licensed to teach in their disciplines. The goal is for you to try out in your internship classrooms some of the great ideas and strategies that you are learning in your courses.

Small Cohort Model

Learning requires dialogue and support. Each year we select a small group of applicants for the program. This cohort of graduate students experiences the sequence of courses together and is placed together at internship sites as well. We believe the support and dynamics of your fellow students are an essential part of your graduate school experience.

Small Classes and Interactive Pedagogy

The small cohort size also results in seminar-style classes. We believe in modeling the type of learning opportunities that we hope you will then use with your high school students. As a result, you can expect to participate in collaborative learning, hands-on tasks, and co-teaching experiences in your university classes.

Exceptional Faculty

Your professors have extensive teaching and research experiences in secondary education. Most have been high school teachers in diverse schools throughout the United States and abroad. If you want to learn more about our secondary education professors, check out their profiles.

Multiple Licensure Options

Upon program completion, students in our program may earn Vermont licensure (grades 7-12) in the following disciplines: English, Foreign Language (French, Spanish, Latin), Mathematics, Social Studies and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and Physics). Dual licensure is also possible for those students who meet the content requirements for multiple subject areas.

High Job Placement Rate

We are proud of our excellent job placement rate over the past 10 years. We attribute this success to both to the high quality of our program and the high quality of candidates whom we are fortunate to accept.

UVM graduate Elizabeth Payeur talking with student in her class.

Questions?

Please email: Secondary.MAT@uvm.edu

Apply Now

How to Apply

Deadline: February 1

Candidates must have:

  • A major or its equivalent in a State-approved licensing area (see "Program Information and Application Instructions," below).
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework as well as a 3.0 in the State-approved licensing area (major).
  • A demonstrated commitment to working with young people.

Application Instructions:

On page 3 of the UVM Graduate College online application:

  • Go to “Curriculum & Instruction.”
  • Select “Degrees Name - MAT.”
  • Select term.
  • Choose Specialty Concentration (i.e., "Secondary Education").

Questions and Additional Information

Please contact Secondary.MAT@uvm.edu for more information and application instructions.

Attending the Graduate College at UVM

For more information about attending the Graduate College at UVM, including funding opportunities and academic policies, please see the Graduate College website.