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Master of Arts in Teaching,
Secondary & Elementary Education
Education With a Difference

The Wheaton College M.A.T. program is designed to prepare educators to integrate faith and learning through graduate level experiences from a Christian perspective. The program is designed to enable educators to become producers as well as consumers of classroom research through internship and induction year experiences. It also provides opportunity for greater depth in one's discipline. These combined elements unite theory and practice to create Christian educators who are equipped for tomorrow's classrooms.

Professional Preparation
The purpose of this program is to prepare future educators who have a strong liberal arts foundation and substantial knowledge in one academic discipline. It is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career in elementary or secondary school teaching and seek teacher certification. Secondary education is offered for any of the following areas: Biology, English, German, French, Spanish, History, Social Science, Mathematics, and Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics, and Geology). Elementary education can be combined with any liberal arts major.

The curriculum incorporates NCATE's criteria for effective teacher preparation programs which provides integration of content-area study with sound pedagogical practice. It encourages interdisciplinary integration and collaboration between specific fields of study and education. The Master of Arts in Teaching is designed for those intending a career in public, private, and Christian schools. The M.A.T. is also an ideal degree for students considering international ministry in a Christian context.

Admission Requirements
Non-Wheaton College applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 2.8 GPA, cumulative and in a discipline-specific major. Scores from the General Graduate Record Exam are required for teacher candidates having completed undergraduate work elsewhere. All applicants must meet the biblical proficiency requirement for Old Testament, New Testament and Theology as stated in the catalog. Wheaton undergraduate students interested in the accelerated M.A.T. should make application to the program by March 1 of their junior year.

Program Options
The M.A.T. is available to students who have earned a B.A. from another university, or for Wheaton undergraduate students who choose to do an accelerated M.A. in elementary or secondary education. The following chart outlines the approximate length of time for each option:

After student teaching, students will satisfy Illinois certification requirements, giving them the necessary credentials to seek employment as full-time teachers for their induction year of teaching. During this year, candidates will gain experience as teachers and serve as scholar-teachers, researching effective teaching within their disciplines. Wheaton College will collaborate with school districts in extending feedback and support for the novice teacher. A successful induction year of teaching and an action research thesis are required prior to the awarding of the M.A.T. degree.

Degree Requirements
All students in the M.A.T. Program are required to take 12 additional hours in their field of study beyond the Wheaton College bachelor's degree major requirement, and 15 hours of pre-requisite professional education requirements.