Middle School Education (MAT)
Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle School Education
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): MSEDMAT
Program Information
The MAT in Middle School Education enables graduate students to earn their initial teaching certification for Kentucky in the content areas of English, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies, grades 5-9. Teacher candidates learn to teach through instruction in pedagogy, child development, special education, technology, and diversity. The program integrates field experiences that align both with program studies and professional education career goal.
Early Start Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching program in conjunction with the undergraduate programs in Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics offers a comprehensive and professionally-focused program leading to an additional degree of MAT Middle or Secondary Education. This early start program enables superior students to receive two degrees within five years. A total of 149-152 credits are required for the dual degrees: 122-125 credits of coursework devoted toward the baccalaureate degree and 36 credit hours toward the MAT, with nine (9) credit hours double-counted. This program will be available for students who are entering their junior year. They may take graduate level courses in the College of Education and Human Development in their 4th year of study.
The current qualifications for the joint degree program have been agreed upon by discipline faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Development. The criteria vary by discipline. Students enrolling in the accelerated program will be non-thesis students and must adhere to all policies pertaining to Graduate Students. All interested students must submit an application to the College of Education and Human Development MAT program and meet the admission criteria.
Admission Requirements
Candidates who meet the following criteria may be eligible to apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Candidates considering application to the MAT program should contact the Education Advising and Student Services office (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission.
Admission is competitive. Candidates who meet minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission to the program.
Applicants must complete/satisfy the following:
- Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
- Minimum test scores as required by EPSB.
Please note: when submitting test scores through ETS, use the general University of Louisville code, 1838. - Praxis II Content Exam registration and/or scores
- Bachelor's degree from Accredited College or University with major in content area or appropriate prerequisite courses and a minimum 2.75 Grade Point Average (official transcripts required)
- Grade of C or higher in ENGL 102 (or equivalent)
- C or higher in oral communication course
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
- Professional Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines
- Acceptable interview
Program Requirements
Single Content Area Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDTP 602 | Exploring Teaching in the Sociopolitical Contexts of P-12 Schools | 3 |
| ECPY 607 | Learning Theory and Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDTP 501 | General Methods | 3 |
| NOTE: The above three courses must be completed prior to Content Methods course | ||
| Choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Middle School Language Arts Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Math Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Science Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Social Studies Methods 4 | ||
| EDSP 545 | Exceptional Children in the Regular Classroom 4 | 3 |
| Mid-Point Assessment 1 | ||
| EDTP 617 | Student Teaching: Middle School | 6 |
| EDTP 677 | Capstone Seminar: Initial Certification 3 | 3 |
| Certification Assessment: After Student Teaching 3 | ||
| EDTP 541 | Teaching Middle School | 3 |
| EDTP 503 | Developing Cross-Cultural Competence: Teaching Students from Diverse Backgrounds 2 | 3 |
| EDTP 620 | Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum 2 | 3 |
| Choose the technology course appropriate for your content certification area: 2 | 3 | |
| Technology Applications for Mathematics Teaching | ||
| Technology Applications for Science Teachers | ||
| Digital Citizenship: Technology and Teaching | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Praxis Disclaimer: Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for certification test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at epsb.ky.gov or ets.org/praxis/ky for current requirements.
| 1 | Prior to Student Teaching: Satisfactory dispositions assessment; no lower than 2.0 GPA in content methods class; within three (3) credit hours of meeting content requirements. ECPY 607 and EDTP 501, EDTP 602, and content method course passed; satisfactory mid-point teacher performance assessment (TPA); positive recommendation from Middle/Secondary Program Committee; electronic documentation of 200 hours of diverse and approved field experiences. |
| 2 | Can be taken at any point in the program. |
| 3 | Must be taken concurrently with student teaching. |
| 4 | Must be taken concurrently. |
Dual Content Area Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDTP 602 | Exploring Teaching in the Sociopolitical Contexts of P-12 Schools | 3 |
| ECPY 607 | Learning Theory and Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDTP 501 | General Methods | 3 |
| NOTE: The above three courses must be taken prior to the Content Methods Courses | ||
| Choose two from the following courses | 6 | |
| Middle School Language Arts Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Math Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Science Methods 4 | ||
| Middle School Social Studies Methods 4 | ||
| EDSP 545 | Exceptional Children in the Regular Classroom 4 | 3 |
| Mid-Point Assessment 1 | ||
| EDTP 617 | Student Teaching: Middle School | 6 |
| EDTP 677 | Capstone Seminar: Initial Certification 3 | 3 |
| Certification Assessment | ||
| EDTP 503 | Developing Cross-Cultural Competence: Teaching Students from Diverse Backgrounds 2 | 3 |
| EDTP 541 | Teaching Middle School | 3 |
| EDTP 620 | Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum 2 | 3 |
| Choose the technology course appropriate for your content certification area 2 | 3 | |
| Technology Applications for Mathematics Teaching | ||
| Technology Applications for Science Teachers | ||
| Digital Citizenship: Technology and Teaching | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 39 | |
Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Praxis Disclaimer: Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for certification test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at epsb.ky.gov or ets.org/praxis/ky for current requirements.
| 1 | Prior to Student Teaching: Satisfactory dispositions assessment; no lower than 2.0 GPA in either content methods classes; within three (3) credit hours of meeting content requirements; ECPY 607 and EDTP 501, EDTP 602, and content methods courses passed; satisfactory mid-point teacher performance assessment (TPA); positive recommendation from Middle/Secondary Program Committee; electronic documentation of 200 hours of diverse and approved field experiences. |
| 2 | Can be taken at any point in the program. |
| 3 | Must be taken concurrently with student teaching. |
| 4 | Must be taken concurrently. |
The Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle School Education program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure. If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree.
More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website: louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).
For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: louisville.edu/online/About-Us (please scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on the licensing disclosures tab).
