Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree, for New Teachers

Program Learning Outcomes for the MAT Degree

Upon completing the MAT degree, students will be able to:

  1. Foster culturally responsive pedagogy that uses the lives, culture, and community assets of the students.
  2. Facilitate teaching strategies for diverse learners.
  3. Assess students’ progress and content mastery to guide instruction.
  4. Guide instruction that incorporates digital learning and education technologies.
  5. Demonstrate instructional leadership. 

Requirements for the MAT Degree, for New Teachers

The MAT degree is a non-thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see Non-Thesis Master's Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the MAT degree must complete:

  • A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.   
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
  • A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
  • A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory). 
  • A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
  • A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
  • A minimum program GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree with a minimum grade of B- (2.67 grade points) in each course. 

The MAT is a non-thesis degree program for students who want to qualify for secondary school teaching following the completion of a bachelor's degree. Most MAT degree candidates entering the program have had no professional education courses. MAT degree and Education program participants who wish to obtain Texas Teacher Certification (for grades 7-12) must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Students must begin two-semesters of work in assigned school with first semester curriculum development and theory and methods courses and a second semester full-day field-based study with a cooperating teacher (EDUC 521, EDUC 560, EDUC 561, EDUC 562, EDUC 563, EDUC 564, EDUC 565EDUC 566, and EDUC 570).  
  • Students must complete a two-semester supervised teaching internship by acquiring and fulfilling all professional responsibilities of a teaching position in a local accredited secondary school and completing a seminar course (EDUC 540).
  • Students must complete 75 hours of field-based experience in local secondary schools, in conjunction with satisfactory results on background check with participating school districts.
  • Students must earn grades of B- (2.67 grade points) or better in all teaching field and education courses.
  • Students must pass the appropriate TExES exams.  
  • Students must apply with the appropriate Texas state agency (TEA) for Texas Teacher Certification when all requirements are completed.

The internship is a full-time, paid teaching position in a Houston area school district. 

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the MAT Degree, for New Teachers30

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements 1
EDUC 504RACE, CLASS, GENDER IN EDUCATION3
EDUC 505EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY3
EDUC 516ASSESSMENT3
EDUC 520TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS3
EDUC 521CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDUC 545EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES & DIGITAL LEARNING3
Theory and Methods
Select 1 course from the following:3
THEORY AND METHODS: ART
THEORY AND METHODS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS & READING (ELAR)
THEORY AND METHODS: LOTE
THEORY AND METHODS: MATHEMATICS
THEORY AND METHODS: PHYSICAL EDUCATION
THEORY AND METHODS: SCIENCE
THEORY AND METHODS: SOCIAL STUDIES
EDUC 570FIELD-BASED STUDIES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING3
(Supervised Teaching) Internship
EDUC 540SEMINAR FOR FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS (2 semesters required, 1st semester)3
EDUC 540SEMINAR FOR FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS (2 semesters required, 2nd semester)3
Total Credit Hours30

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Policies for the MAT Degree, for New Teachers

Department of Education Graduate Program Handbook

The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, Education publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2023_24/Education_Graduate_Handbook.pdf

Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, scholarly ability, and a commitment to teaching. Specific requirements include:

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree before admission to the program.
  • A minimum of 12-15 credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought, depending on the certification sought:
    • A minimum of 12 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought, if the certification sought is outside mathematics or science at or above Grade 7, or 
    • A minimum of 15 credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought, if the certification sought is for mathematics or science at or above Grade 7.
  • Grades of B- (2.67 grade points) or better in all coursework attempted in the teaching field and a grade point average of 3.00 or better, both in courses for the teaching field and overall.
  • Evidence that the applicant's knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude are appropriate for the certification sought.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires candidates to undergo a criminal background check prior to field-based experience, prior to clinical training, and prior to being hired as a first-year teacher. Candidates may go through the fingerprinting process before applying for admission. If the results are unsatisfactory, the candidate may petition the TEA for reconsideration of the results. More information on this important rule is on the Education program website at: https://glasscock.rice.edu/degrees-certificates/degrees/master-arts-teaching/master-arts-teaching-new-teachers

Education team members review each application. Limited tuition assistance is available. See Admission to Graduate Study

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the MAT degree should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

  • No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Education program website: https://glasscock.rice.edu/departments/education-department

Opportunities for the MAT Degree, for New Teachers

Requirements for Visiting Post-Baccalaureate (VPB) Certification

A non-degree (Visiting Post-Baccalaureate) plan leading to secondary teacher certification or principal certification is available for those who have earned a BA and/or MA degree, but do not choose to pursue a Rice University graduate degree. Candidates complete all requirements for state of Texas secondary teacher certification or principal certification, including professional education courses. Interested students should contact the Education Program. 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Education program website: https://glasscock.rice.edu/departments/education-department