Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

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Walden’s Minnesota state-approved* teacher preparation program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) option is designed to prepare candidates to become P–12 classroom teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of exemplary educators who work in diverse settings. The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership is committed to individuals who seek to become skilled classroom teachers and to providing them developmentally appropriate, student-centered learning experiences that build their students’ knowledge and skills.

Specializations

Completion Requirements

43 semester credits
Core courses (13 sem. cr.)
Specialization courses (18 sem. cr.)
Field experience*: a minimum of 75 hours of classroom-based and virtual experiences in conjunction with coursework; 14 weeks of full-time demonstration teaching (6 sem. cr.)
M.A.T. courses (6 sem. cr.)
ePortfolio

*Note: In addition to Walden’s general technical requirements, access to a scanner is required so that candidates can electronically submit signed documents verifying their field experience hours.

Curriculum

The teacher preparation program with a Master of Arts in Teaching is offered on a semester system. Each specialization has a planned sequence of courses. An ePortfolio based on the program’s identified outcomes must be submitted and approved during the final course of the program.

*Note on Licensure

The Minnesota Department of Education grants teaching licenses, not Walden University. Walden University is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching to offer teacher preparation programs that lead to Minnesota licensure in early childhood education (birth through grade 3) and special education (K–12 learning disabilities and K–12 emotional/behavioral disorders). Candidates for teacher licensure must successfully complete one of Walden University’s state-approved teacher preparation programs, which may make them eligible for the Minnesota teaching licensure in the teaching area of the program completed. Before Walden can recommend a candidate for licensure to the Minnesota Department of Education, he or she must also pass the required exams for Minnesota licensure adopted by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, undergo a Minnesota background check, and complete any other Minnesota Board of Teaching requirements beyond completion of Walden’s state-approved teacher preparation program.

For individuals seeking a comparable teaching license in a state other than Minnesota, Walden’s advisors can provide guidelines and other information about licensure. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state licensure requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be licensed, as requirements vary state by state. Walden University makes no representation or guarantee that successful completion of any program or coursework will permit them to obtain state certification or licensure in their home state.

In all states there are policies regarding out-of-state procedures that must be followed when someone is eligible for or has received licensure through an out-of-state institution with a state-approved program, such as the Minnesota Board of Teaching-approved programs at Walden University. Some states require that an individual actually obtain the out-of-state license first; other states do not require the actual license, just completion of a state-approved program.

For more information, please contact your Walden University enrollment advisor who can provide information on licensing requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand and comply with the most up-to-date licensing information for your state.

Note to all Pennsylvania residents: Walden University’s teacher preparation program and special education endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching as leading to licensure and endorsement, respectively. Because these programs are not reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, candidates are instructed to apply for Pennsylvania certification as out-of-state graduates of a teacher preparation program.

Program Data

Walden is committed to providing the information about your program. Please find detailed information for the Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) relating to the types of occupations this program may lead to, completion rate, program costs, and median loan debt of students who have graduated from this program.