Master of Arts in Teaching at East Carolina University

East Carolina University offers the Master of Master of Arts in Teaching as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for master of arts in teaching and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 21, 2027.

About Master of Arts in Teaching

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.

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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; [email protected]).

Program Coordinator: Kristen Gregory (221 Speight Building; 252-328-1134; [email protected])

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.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Arts in Teaching at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Arts in Teaching

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Teacher Education and Professional Development
Teachers and Instructors, All Other

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Arts in Teaching at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Arts in Teaching at East Carolina University

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Master of Arts in Teaching at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville