Overview of Programs

Graduate Education – MAT Licensure Programs

Goals:

The goals for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree are: 1.    To develop effective teachers who are scholars, skillful communicators, and competent practitioners. 2.    To integrate theory and practice. 3.    To facilitate the development in students of the qualities of effective teachers with an emphasis on: critical thinking, clear communication, strong academic understanding, leadership and high ethical standards. 

There are two possible frameworks for students to utilize to complete an MAT: the Internship program and the course-based program.  Within the Internship framework, students can seek an MAT in their licensure area while completing a year's worth of experience in the schools.  Students can also utilize the course-based framework to seek an MAT, which can be used for teacher candidates who are currently teaching under a transitional license or for candidates who are seeking initial licensure in a more traditional program.

Applicants for the MAT program are screened for admission by the Department of Education Graduate Admissions coordinator and interviewed by Belmont faculty. Admission decisions are made by the faculty, and additional placement interviews are conducted by the program directors and advisors to identify appropriate placements for students.

Transcript analysis: A transcript analysis is completed for all MAT candidates to determine any missing coursework and/or competencies required for Tennessee licensure.  Candidates need to be aware that, depending on their licensure area and undergraduate program of studies, there may be additional coursework required for licensure purposes that is not required as part of the MAT program.

I. Masters of Art in Teaching: Internship

There are two possible paths to enter the MAT Internship program:

• Candidates in the first path complete an Education minor at Belmont University as an undergraduate. The minor consists of the 18-hour (e.g., the 15 hour Professional Core as part of the 4+1 program and Organization and Management of Multicultural Classroom Communities). As part of this path, Belmont undergraduates apply for graduate school during their undergraduate senior year. If accepted for admission and after undergraduate graduation, students complete the Internship in the "plus one" year and earn an MAT degree.
• Candidates in the second path enter the Internship program as post-baccalaureate students, having completed an appropriate academic major at another institution. Additional coursework may be required as stipulated by the State of Tennessee for a student to apply for their teaching license.  Appropriate transcript analyses will inform students of their need for further licensure area coursework. These candidates follow the graduate admission application process and if accepted, are admitted to the Education MAT Graduate Program first. As post-baccalaureate MAT graduate students, these candidates are required to successfully complete a 15-hour Professional Core before being accepted into the internship program.

Completion of Coursework

In addition to full time teaching, all interns complete the nine-hour Professional Experience Program Block (PEP) and participate in the internship seminar on the Belmont campus. As part of the PEP block, interns return to Belmont's campus one day a week to work with faculty to continue to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to meet teacher professional standards. The course work is application-based; therefore, the interns are able to immediately apply their skills in their mentor's classroom and reflect on what they are learning in the PEP block. During the seminar, interns continue to work on professional standards while applying those standards to the daily challenges encountered in the classroom. The seminar also provides support in the process of job hunting and interviewing.

Teaching in the Schools

During the internship year, interns hold the Tennessee Interim D License and teach full time alongside a school-based mentor for two semesters. Interns are treated as full-time teachers and as such participate in the same daily schedule and school calendar as their mentors. The Alternative License D allows that year to count as the first year of professional experience. Because this year counts as the first year of teaching, each semester is organized to allow the interns to gradually assume greater responsibility for organizing and leading instruction and classroom management. After team-teaching with their mentor for several weeks, interns assume more of the decision-making role for approximately eight weeks. Mentors model effective teaching practices, teach with, observe, and confer with interns on a daily basis during all phases of the intern cycle. The Coordinator of the Intern Program and University Supervisors provide additional supports in terms of site visits, observations, feedback, and evaluation.

Each intern has at least two placements each year, enabling interns to have experiences at different grade levels within their area of desired licensure, and with diverse student populations. Belmont works closely with Metro Nashville Public Schools, Williamson County Public Schools, other public school districts, and private schools to ensure that our interns are placed with expert mentor teachers.

Evaluation

Evaluation of each intern's progress occurs using formative evaluation at the midpoint of each semester, with summative evaluations at the end of each semester. A summative evaluation by the school principal or their designee takes place each semester. The Coordinator of the Intern Program works with the principals to complete all probationary status paperwork. Interns are responsible for maintaining a daily record of their attendance and participation at their schools to submit to the state and earn the year of experience.

Licensure

The internship offers licensure in K-6, 4-8  or 7-12 subject areas.  Candidates for the 7-12 subject areas are required to have an undergraduate major in their licensure area or the equivalent of 24 hours.  Applications for licensure are submitted by Belmont University after a teacher candidate has completed all Belmont coursework and all other relevant coursework as stipulated by the state's licensure requirements. After students receive their licensure, they can apply to have that license transferred to other states.

II. Masters of Art in Teaching: Course-based Program

Completion of Coursework

Post-baccalaureate candidates may complete the MAT via our course-based program.  To meet the needs of candidates who have other obligations while completing the MAT (e.g., child care, work) evening classes are offered for all classes, with the exception of the semester of student teaching,which requires full-day participation.  All methods courses also include a practicum piece of approximately 20 hours.

Teaching in the Schools

The course-based MAT program includes a great deal of hands-on experiences for students in the schools.  All methods courses include a practicum piece that requires approximately 20 hours of teaching experiences in an educational setting to prepare students for their semester of student teaching.  During the student teaching semester, candidates complete two placements with one placement being at a diverse school setting.  Belmont works closely with Metro Nashville Public Schools, Williamson County Public Schools, other public school districts, and private schools to ensure that our interns are placed with expert mentor teachers. Each student teacher is assigned to a mentor teacher in each placement who models effective teaching practices, teaches with, observes, and confers with the student teacher on a daily basis during all phases of the student teaching placement.  The Director of Student Teaching and University Supervisors also provide additional supports in terms of site visits observation, feedback, and evaluation.

Evaluation and Licensure

Evaluation of each student teacher's progress occurs using formative evaluation at the midpoint of each placement, with summative evaluations at the end of each placement.

The course-based MAT program offers licensure in PreK-3, K-6, 4-8, 7-12, and K-12 in art, theatre and drama.  7-12 licensure candidates are required to have an undergraduate major in their licensure area. Applications for licensure are submitted by Belmont University after a teacher candidate has completed all Belmont coursework and all other relevant coursework as stipulated by the state's licensure requirements. After a student receives their licensure from the State of Tennessee, they can apply to have that license transferred to other states.