• Secondary

 

Earn a master's degree and gain licensure to teach in your academic field. 

Prepare to launch a meaningful career in high demand where you can inspire future generations, change lives, and make a difference in the world every day. Through UVM's nationally accredited Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education program, you can earn a master's degree and become licensed to teach grades 7-12 in one or more of the following academic areas: English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, World Languages, and Computer Science. Scholarships are available for qualified candidates.

Our program includes internships that are full-year, hands-on practical experiences placed in a school working under the mentorship of experienced teachers. Together, you and the other members of your cohort will each spend 1,000 hours with students in school learning the profession and sharpening your skills as an educator.

Choose Your Pathway

Traditional Pathway

If you already have a bachelors degree, the MAT prepares you to become a licensed educator in one or more of the following academic areas: Computer Science, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages. To qualify, you need at least 30 credits of undergraduate credits in the subject area. Other majors/minors may be applicable, which we can determine by reviewing your transcript. 

Accelerated Master's Pathway (AMP)

If you are a current UVM undergraduate student, you can pursue an Accelerated Master's Pathway (AMP) beginning in your junior or senior year, earning up to 9 credits double-counted toward both the bachelor's and master’s degrees, saving time and money.

Endorsement Areas & Applicable Undergraduate Majors

  • Computer Science
  • English: English, Literature
  • Mathematics: Applied Mathematics
  • Science: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics
  • Social Studies: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Global Studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, World Religion
  • World Languages: French, German, Latin, Spanish

"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 (G'17), Randolph Union High School

Scholarships

Join a Small Cohort and Learn from Accomplished Faculty

Our distinct approach focuses on social justice, social-cultural models of teaching and learning, proficiency-based learning, and case study methodology. Your cohort will experience the sequence of courses and internships together learning from nationally acclaimed professors who are top scholars and researchers in the field. The support and dynamics of your cohort are an essential part of your success. The small cohort size also results in seminar-style classes where we model what you practice with students in your internship. Collaborative, hands-on learning and co-teaching experiences are built into the program.

High Job Placement Rate and Mobility to Teach Almost Anywhere

Our graduates get hired for teaching positions quickly because employers recognize and value the quality of their preparation. And because our nationally accredited program enjoys reciprocity with most other states, you will be qualified to teach throughout the country. A master's degree also equates to a higher pay scale in education.

Information Session (Online)

Meet our faculty and learn more about the program at one of our virtual information sessions:

See dates & register

Core Faculty

Eliana Castro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Areas of Expertise:

  • Teacher education
  • Secondary Education
  • Curriculum and instruction
  • Race and ethnicity

Visit Faculty Profile

Summer Pennell, Ph.D., Lecturer and Program Coordinator

Areas of Expertise:

  • Critical literacies
  • Young adult literature
  • Social justice education
  • Queer theory and pedagogy
  • Experiences of academic mothers

Visit Faculty Profile

 

Jenny Prue, Ed.D., Senior Lecturer

Areas of Expertise:

  • Adolescent development
  • Psychology
  • Teacher education

Visit Faculty Profile

Carmen Petrick Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Area of Expertise:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Learning
  • Teacher education
  • Learning and cognition
  • Technology and learning

Visit Faculty Profile

Regina Toolin, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Areas of Expertise:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education
  • Environmental education
  • Project-based learning
  • Place-based education
  • Computer Science Education

Visit Faculty Profile

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a typical program plan?

Below is a typical course plan for full-time enrollment in the Secondary Education MAT program:

Summer (3-6 credits)

EDSC 207/5207: Adolescent Development, 3 credits

EDSP 201/5100: Foundations of Special Education, 3 credits (can be taken in the fall)

Fall (9-13 credits)

EDSP 201/5100: Foundations of Special Education, 3 credits (if not taken in the summer)

EDSC 215/5215: Reading in the Secondary School, 3 credits

EDSC 216/5216: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Secondary School Teachers, 3 credits

EDSC 209/5209: Practicum in Teaching (on site), 4 credits

Spring (15 credits)

EDSC XXX: Subject Methods, 3 credits

EDSC 226/6991: Teaching Internship (on-site), 9 credits

EDSC 230/5230: Teaching for Results, 3 credits

Praxis Core and Praxis II in your content area are required for Vermont licensure.

What does it mean to earn a teaching license for grades 7-12?

Most states require a license in order to be a public school teacher of any age group.  In the Secondary MAT program, students complete coursework that aligns with Vermont’s Agency of Education requirements for a secondary, or high school, teaching license, which allows you to teach your subject in any grade from 7th-12th.  Not interested in teaching high school?  We also have a Middle Level MAT program (grades 5-8) as well as a non-licensure Curriculum and Instruction M.Ed. program.

What's the difference between the M.A.T and the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction?

Upon completion of the M.A.T program you are recommended for teacher licensure, which you need to be eligible to teach in your own classroom. The M.Ed. program offers a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction without the license, and is useful for already-licensed teachers or those wishing to enter a more specialized field such as educational technology, library/media science, or reading and literacy.

How long will it take me to complete the program?

The program is designed to begin in the summer and be competed the following spring; so one academic year plus a summer course.

Is it possible to complete the program on a part-time basis?

Students are strongly encouraged to enroll on a full-time basis (12-15 credits per semester).  Part-time attendance is an option, however, all candidates must attend full-time during their final semester in order to complete the student teaching internship. Some required courses are usually offered in the late afternoon or evening, but it is not possible to complete the program taking only evening courses.  Part-time slots are limited and students must make a formal request to the program faculty for consideration.

How much does it cost to attend the program?

Please see the Student Financial Services website for detailed and current tuition information.

Scholarships are available for qualified in-state and out-of-state students in all disciplines.