Program Overview

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree, for Experienced Teachers with Principal Certification

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is a non-thesis master's degree designed for experienced teachers with a minimum of 2 years of teaching experience who desire a route toward Texas Education Agency (TEA) principal certification.

Program Learning Outcomes for the MAT Degree

Upon completing the MAT degree, students will be able to:

1. Foster culturally responsive pedagogy that uses the lives, culture, and community assets of the students.
2. Facilitate teaching strategies for diverse learners.
3. Assess students' progress and content mastery to guide instruction.
4. Guide instruction that incorporates digital learning and education technologies.
5. Demonstrate instructional leadership.

Requirements for the MAT Degree

The MAT degree requires:

• A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).
• A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of part-time graduate study at Rice University.
• A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit.
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
• A minimum program GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master's degree with a minimum grade of B- (2.67 grade points) in each course.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements include:

• Core Requirements:
  • EDUC 504: RACE, CLASS, GENDER IN EDUCATION (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 516: ASSESSMENT (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 520: TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 545: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES & DIGITAL LEARNING (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 590: INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 596: ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 597: PRACTICUM FOR PRINCIPALS (2 semesters required, 1st semester) (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 597: PRACTICUM FOR PRINCIPALS (2 semesters required, 2nd semester) (3 credit hours)
• Elective Requirements:
  • Select 2 courses from the following Professional Education courses:
    • EDUC 502: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EDUCATION
    • EDUC 505: EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
    • EDUC 570: FIELD-BASED STUDIES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING
    • EDUC 591: INDEPENDENT STUDY AND RESEARCH

Policies for the MAT Degree

Admission

Applicants must have:

• A bachelor's degree
• Scholarly ability
• A commitment to teaching
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience
• A valid classroom teaching certificate
• Grades of B- (2.67 grade points) or better in all coursework and a grade point average of 3.00 or better overall
• Evidence that the applicant's knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude are appropriate for the certification sought

Transfer Credit

• No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
• Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS).

Opportunities for the MAT Degree

Requirements for Visiting Post-Baccalaureate (VPB) Certification

A non-degree (Visiting Post-Baccalaureate) plan leading to secondary teacher certification or principal certification is available for those who have earned a BA and/or an MA degree, but who do not choose to pursue a Rice University graduate degree. Candidates complete all requirements for the state of Texas secondary teacher certification or principal certification, including professional education courses.