What You'll Learn
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: We are not currently able to accept international students to this program.
PROGRAM 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
- View current tuition rates
- 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)
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.
When are applications due?
The program is cohort-based and starts in May each year. Applications are accepted year round.
Complete Calvin's graduate application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. A new cohort starts each summer. 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.
| Course number | Course name |
|---|---|
| EDUC 103 | Introduction to Education |
| EDUC 240 | The Social Context of Education |
| EDUC 241 | Inclusive Teaching: Ability, Language, and Multicultural Education |
| EDUC 243 | Teaching and Learning Lab |
| EDUC 249 | The Christian Teacher |
| EDUC 399 | Philosophy of Education |
| EDUC 507 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Content Area Literacy |
| EDUC 508 | Internship I |
| EDUC 510 | Framing Questions, Global Forces, Constraining Structures |
| EDUC 546 | Student Teaching Internship |
| EDUC 554 | Pathways to Inclusion: Re-examining Beliefs about Learners |
| EDUC 559 | Student Teaching Seminar |
| EDUC 590 | Independent Study |
