About

Do you want to teach in the state of North Carolina? Do you want to earn an advanced degree to enhance your career?

The master of arts in teaching (MAT) is designed to facilitate the earning of an advanced degree while also completing requirements for a North Carolina license to teach. The MAT is offered in elementary education, English education, family and consumer science, health education, history education, middle grades education, music education, science education, special education (general curriculum, MAT Course Sequence III), and vocational education (business education and marketing education).

Some of the programs are offered part-time for lateral entry teachers. Most part-time candidates begin in the NC Teach alternative licensure program.

ECU Advantage

ECU graduates are highly sought after and can be found working throughout the region and around the United States. Many graduates become Nationally Board Certified and go on to earn doctorate degrees in their area of expertise.

What You Will Study

Note: The MAT program is currently only accepting applications for the edPIRATE 2023-2024 cohort. All other MAT strands are being revised and are not currently accepting applications.

The edPIRATE (Educator Pipeline In Rural Action for Teaching Equity) MAT will focus on rural educational justice. This MAT is offered through a partnership with the Rural Education Institute and four rural school districts: Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, Greene County Schools, Lenoir County Public Schools, and Washington County Schools. The partnership aims to develop effective K-8 teachers and school leaders, improve student achievement, and increase the recruitment and retention of diverse educators in our high need rural communities.

For information about the edPirate cohort please reach out to Dr. Kristen Cuthrell (1805 Charles Blvd, Building 123, Office 136; 252-328-5748​; cuthrellma@ecu.edu).

Program Coordinator: Kristen Gregory (221 Speight Building; 252-328-1134; gregorykr18@ecu.edu)

The master of arts in teaching (MAT) includes teaching areas as follows: art education, elementary education, English education, Hispanic studies, history education, middle grades education, music education, physical education, science education, and special education. The Schools of Art and Design and Music, the College of Health and Human Performance, and departments in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences offer subject matter courses and content specific methods courses, as well as supervise interns in specific teaching areas. The full-time program is designed to be completed in twelve months, beginning in the summer and finishing the following summer. Successful completion of the MAT leads to a graduate degree and initial (A) teaching licensure.

Minimum requirements for admission to the College of Education's MAT program include the following:

Upon acceptance into a teaching area, the MAT Program Coordinator serves as the student's advisor

 

The master of arts degree in teaching requires 39-42 s.h. of credit as follows:

Required core courses - 15 s.h.
  • TCHR 6010 - The Learner and the Learning Environment
  • TCHR 6011 - The Teacher and the Teaching Experience
  • TCHR 6020 - MAT Classroom Management
  • TCHR 6030 - Literacy Development in the Content Area Classroom
  • SPED 6000 - Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in the Regular Classroom
Teaching area specific courses - 24 -27 s.h.

(Choose from one of the following areas.)

    Art education (24 s.h.)
    • ART 5323 - Art in the Secondary School
    • ART 5851 - Art in the Elementary School
    • ART 5860 - Classroom Participation in Art
    • ART 6024 - MAT Internship
    • additional 8 s.h. in teaching area
    • Additional 8 s.h. in teaching area
    Elementary education (24 s.h.)
    • ELEM 6010 - Teaching the Integrated Language Arts in the Elementary School
    • ELEM 6024 - MAT Internship
    • ELEM 6406 - The Teaching of Social Studies in the Elementary Grades

    • MATE 6320 - Advanced Elementary Mathematics Methods OR
    • MATE 6321 - Advanced Middle-Level Mathematics Methods

    • READ 5316 - Word Study: Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary Instruction
    • SCIE 6019 - Science in Elementary Education
    English education (24 s.h.)
    • ENED 6024 - MAT Internship
    • ENED 6600 - Teaching English Studies in the High School
    • ENED 6630 - Studies in the Process of Composition
    • ENED 6967 - Literature Study in the Secondary School
    • 6 s.h. literature
    • 6 s.h. literature
    Hispanic studies (24 s.h.)
    • SPAN 6024 - MAT Internship
    • SPAN 6600 - Recent Trends in Foreign Language Teaching, Learning, and Acquisition
    • 12 s.h. from the following:

      (9 s.h. must be at the 6000-level)

      • SPAN 6002 - Humanities Research Methods OR
      • SPAN 6003 - Applied Research Methods

      • SPAN 6010 - Hispanic Cultural Studies
      • SPAN 6020 - Contemporary Issues of the Hispanic World
      • SPAN 6030 - Special Topics in Hispanic Studies
      • SPAN 6040 - Current Trends in Hispanic Linguistics
      • SPAN 6050 - Professional Literacies
      • SPAN 6521 - Special Readings
      • SPAN 6522 - Special Readings
      • SPAN 6523 - Special Readings
    History education (24 s.h.)
    • HIED 6024 - MAT Internship
    • HIED 6510 - Issues and Topics in Social Studies Education
    • HIED 6500 - Teaching Civics and Economics in the Secondary Classroom
    • HIED 6600 - Teaching History in the High Schools
    • 3 s.h. from the following:
      • HIST 5130 - Comparative History of New World Slavery and Race Relations OR
      • HIST 5220 - Selected Topics in US Women's History OR
      • HIST 6030 - Jefferson, Jackson, and the Atlantic World OR
      • HIST 6050 - The Great Depression, New Deal, and World War II OR
      • HIST 6260 - The United States and the Middle East, 1783 to the Present
      3 s.h. from the following:
      • HIST 5350 - The Renaissance in European History OR
      • HIST 6355 - History of Ancient Rome OR
      • HIST 6375 - Twentieth-Century European History
    Middle grades education (24 s.h.)
    • MIDG 6024 - MAT Internship
    • MIDG 6100 - Young Adolescents, Schools, and Community
    • MIDG 6200 - Middle Grades Curriculum Development in Public Schools
    • MIDG 6300 - Advanced Strategies and Assessment for Middle Grades Learners
    • 6 s.h. in teaching area
    • 6 s.h. in specialty area
    Music education (24 s.h.)
    • MUSC 5257 - Psychological Foundations of Music OR
    • 2 s.h. MUSC electives

    • MUSC 5977 - General Music in the Secondary Schools
    • MUSC 6048 - Music for Children with Exceptionalities
    • MUSC 6124 - MAT Internship

    • MUSC 6217 - Foundations of Instruction for Instrumental Music OR
    • MUSC 6237 - Foundations of Instruction for Vocal and General Music Education

    • MUSC 6287 - Laboratory Choral Experience in Music Education OR
    • MUSC 6405 - Laboratory Instrumental Experience in Music Education

    • MUSC 6323 - Materials and Methods in Music Education
    • MUSC 6333 - Materials and Methods for Choral and Vocal Music Education
    Physical education (24 s.h.)
    • KINE 6024 - MAT Internship
    • KINE 6101 - Technology, Assessment, and Differentiated Instruction in Physical Education
    • KINE 6104 - Curriculum and Instruction in Physical Education
    • KINE 6108 - Analysis of Teaching Practice in Physical Education
    • KINE 6110 - Intercultural Issues and Content Knowledge in Physical Education
    • KINE 6323 - Advanced Middle and High School Instruction in Physical Education
    Science education (24 s.h.)
    • SCIE 6003 - Advanced Studies in Biological Science for Teachers
    • SCIE 6004 - Advanced Studies in Physical Science for Teachers

    • SCIE 6020 - Perspectives on Science Education OR
    • SCIE 6320 - Advanced Assessment Methods in Science Education

    • SCIE 6024 - MAT Internship
    • SCIE 6030 - Technology in Science Teaching, Learning and Professional Development
    • SCIE 6310 - Advanced Methods in Science Teaching and Learning
    Special education (27 s.h.)
    • SPED 6003 - Assessment in Special Education
    • SPED 6004 - Legal and Cultural Issues in Special Education
    • SPED 6005 - Curriculum and Instructional Design in Special Education
    • SPED 6006 - Analysis and Application of Instructional Methods in Special Education
    • SPED 6007 - Individual Behavior Strategies and Supports in Special Education
    • SPED 6008 - Linking Research and Practice in Special Education
    • SPED 6024 - MAT Internship
Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the MAT will be met when the following have been completed.

    Transfer Credit

    Transfer of credit regulations which have been established by the Graduate School apply to this degree program. Transfer of credit is only accepted when it is fulfilling a deficiency or content area of knowledge.

      Residence Requirements

      The residence requirement for a nondoctoral degree program is met when a student has earned at least one-half of the graduate degree credit for his or her program while in residence, which is defined as taking courses on the campus of East Carolina University or at designated off-campus residence centers.

        Other Requirements for the MAT

        General requirements for the completion of the master's degree are as follows:

          For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.