Teaching, Early Childhood Education Specialization, MA

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Master of Arts in Teaching

Description of Program

Aligned with the standards of The Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (In TASC), the MAT degree is ideal for the student who seeks educator preparation to support the learning and development of PK12 populations. Students in the MAT program will choose an area of specialization from one of eight areas of Curriculum and Teaching, Early Childhood Education, Reading Education, Special Education, E-learning, Sports Management, Athletic Coaching, or English Language Learning. The MAT is a progressive program that prepares students to meet the growing nationwide need across PK12 learning communities for qualified and prepared educators.

Click here for potential career opportunities within the MAT.

Learning Outcomes

Apply human development theories to instructional methods supporting developmentally appropriate and academically challenging learning experiences for students
Create collaborative environments through instructional methods supporting active learning and student self-direction
Evaluate instructional and assessment practices ensuring student mastery of the content
Adapt multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth and provide data to support continuous program improvement
Design cross-disciplinary curriculum and instruction supporting student attainment of learning goals
Model ethical behavior in all aspects of the profession

Basis for Admission

Admission to an NCU Master’s program requires a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution or an international institution that is determined to be equivalent through an approved evaluation service. In addition, the MAT program requires a completion of an alternative teacher certification program.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) requires 33 credit hours for degree completion, including the successful completion of an approved alternative certification prior to admission to the MAT program. Graduates of the Teacher Ready alternative certification program receive 9 credit hours toward the MAT degree, and graduates from other alternative certification programs may be considered, pending transcript review. Students who are considering any degree program are strongly encouraged to check specific state requirements carefully to be sure any degree program they consider will be accepted for purposes of certification or recertification, promotion, or advancement on school district salary schedules.

The MAT program includes 12 credit hours of foundational courses. The foundational courses are taken by all students regardless of their undergraduate degree or form of certification in order to strengthen fundamental skills. The next 9 credit hours in the program encapsulate a specialization aligned with a student’s career goals and interests. Students end the program with a 3 credit-hour capstone course.

The MAT degree program has the following graduation requirements:

A minimum of 21 credit hours of graduate instruction in education must be completed through NCU
Successful completion of any MAT core course signature assignment with a grade of “B” or better
Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer, with a maximum of 9 semester credit hours applied for the completion of the Teacher Ready certification, in the Master of Arts in Teaching for graduate course work completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.

Time to Completion

NCU allows 5 years to complete all Master’s programs of 36 credits or less.

The median time to completion for this program is 25 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 13 months.

Additional MAT Information

Course Sequence

The Master of Arts in Teaching program can be completed in 33 credits.

MAT-5001 - Foundations of Teaching and Learning
MAT-5002 - Planning and Presenting Instruction for Diverse Learners
MAT-5003 - Diversity, Inclusion and Exceptional Learners
MAT-5004 - Technology for the 21st Century Classroom
Specialization Course 1
Specialization Course 2
Specialization Course 3
MAT-5005 - Capstone for Teachers

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialization

This program is tailored for Master’s degree students who desire to model, coach, and guide young children through the first years of life when social, physical, cognitive, and emotional development occur. Skilled educators create an environment that serves as a foundation for a Child’s health and well-being. In this specialization, educators will learn to assess educational potential, create instructional programs, direct and coordinate learning activities, and manage early childhood classrooms.