Master of Arts in Teaching

Earn your Master of Arts in Teaching degree and Michigan teaching certificate in one year.

Are you ready to put your skills and passions into a new career direction as a teacher? Calvin’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program provides an accelerated pathway to initial middle and high school teacher certification. Designed for career-changers, those re-entering the workforce, and recent bachelor’s degree graduates, you’ll complete the MAT in one year, coming away with a master’s degree and a teaching certificate.

If you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree* and are ready to teach, join Calvin’s high-quality program to be equipped to excel as a middle or high school teacher. The MAT includes academic work alongside an entire school year of field experience in local classrooms. You’ll be mentored by both expert classroom teachers and Calvin faculty trained to guide you to proficiency in all aspects of teaching.

*Some bachelor’s degree subject areas lend themselves to teaching more than others; consult with Shari Brouwer to determine if your undergraduate coursework is applicable to the middle and high school setting. See the list of majors and minors that are teachable in secondary education.

Note: This program is pending HLC approval.

Details

• 35-40 credit hours
• Full-time, on-campus program
• 12 months to completion
• Cohort-based program with new cohorts starting annually at the beginning of each summer
• Cost $585 per credit hour
• Students can apply for the MI future educator stipend (up to $9,600) (this is a no strings attached grant available to anyone student teaching in a public or charter school)
• Graduate loans are available (up to $20,500)

Courses

To apply

Complete Calvin's graduate application. You will need:

• Interest in working with middle or high school students.
• Bachelor’s degree with an approved certifiable content area from a regionally-accredited college or university.
• Grade point average of 2.8 or greater. Graduate coursework and/or work history will be considered.
• An essay outlining why you have chosen teaching as a profession and why you have selected Calvin’s MAT program for professional preparation.
• A current resume.
• Submission of two letters of professional recommendation.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• An interview with members of the MAT team, which will be scheduled after all application documents are submitted.
• Attempt the appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject test. If you do not pass the first attempt, you may enter the program with the understanding that you must retake and pass the test for teacher certification.

Contacts

Erek Kooyman

Affiliate Professor

Full profile

• erek.kooyman@calvin.edu
• Education

Shari Brouwer

Certification and Assessment Coordinator

Full profile

• (616) 526-6208
• shari.brouwer@calvin.edu
• Education
• SC 398

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if my bachelor's degree is in a different subject than one in which I want to teach?

  If you do not have a bachelor’s degree in an approved certifiable content area, it is likely you will need to take some additional courses in the desired content area before beginning the Calvin MAT program. We encourage you to contact Shari Brouwer if this is something you are considering.

• What if I already have a teaching certificate?

  If you already have a teaching certificate this program is probably not for you. If your goal is to earn a graduate degree in education, consider our Master of Education program. If you have a teaching certificate but would like to pursue an additional endorsement, contact Shari Brouwer to explore options.

• I'm an international student, am I eligible for this program?

  Yes, international students are eligible to apply for this program but unfortunately not into this first cohort (summer 2023) while the U.S. government processes the request to add this program. Once that approval has come in, international students will need to complete requirements for obtaining a student visa.

• When are applications due?

  The program is cohort-based and only starts at the beginning of summer term each year. Since this is the first year of the program, in 2023 we will allow students to apply up to one week prior to the start of the first day of class. 

• What does it mean to be a full-time program?

  The MAT lasts 12-months and because you earn a master’s degree and a teaching certificate in a year, the coursework and time in the classroom require full-day attendance. Generally, plan on a schedule of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The summer schedule will likely include some weeks that are less intensive, but students should be prepared to build a work or vacation schedule in such a way that it does not interfere with the MAT program.