The M.A.T. program in Elementary Education is a 33 credit-hour degree designed for “career changers” to teach in the elementary grades 2 through 6. Candidates may or may not have taken any education courses as undergraduates.
Learning Outcomes
- Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children in grades 2-6 to construct learning opportunities that support the development and acquisition of knowledge and motivation.
- Candidates demonstrate a high level of competence in the use of English language arts and they know, understand, and use concepts from reading, language and child development, to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills to children in grades 2-6. Candidates guide elementary learners to successfully apply their developing knowledge and skills to a variety of learning contexts.
- Candidates know, understand, and use fundamental concepts of physical, life, and earth/space sciences to build student understanding for personal and social applications, and to convey the nature of science. Candidates can design and implement age-appropriate inquiry lessons to teach science to children in grades 2-6.
- Candidates know, understand, and use the major mathematical concepts and procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability. In doing so they consistently engage problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation to design and implement age-appropriate lessons for children in grades 2-6.
- Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts and modes of inquiry from the social studies—the integrated study of history, geography, the social sciences, and other related areas—to promote students’ abilities to make informed decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society and interdependent world.
- Candidates know, understand, and use—as appropriate —the content, functions, and achievements of the performing arts (dance, music, theater) and the visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry, and engagement to enhance interdisciplinary learning among elementary children in grades 2-6.
- Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts in the subject matter of health education to create opportunities for student development and practice of skills that contribute to lifetime health.
- Candidates know, understand, and use—as appropriate—basic human movement and physical activity concepts to foster active, healthy life styles which enhance the quality of life for children in grades 2-6 and promote whole body development.
- Candidates plan and implement instruction based on knowledge of learner development, learning theory, connections across the curriculum, curricular goals, and community to create age-appropriate learning environments for all children in grades 2-6.
- Candidates understand how children in grades 2-6 differ in their development and approaches to learning, and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse students and promote learning for all learners.
- Candidates understand and use a variety of teaching strategies that encourage development of critical thinking and problem solving in children in grades 2-6 across all subject areas.
- Candidates use their knowledge and understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior among students in grades 2-6 to foster active engagement in learning, self motivation, and positive social interaction and create supportive learning environments that foster the social-emotional learning of all students.
- Candidates use their knowledge and understanding of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction to support the learning of all children in grades 2-6 across all subject areas.
- Candidates know, understand, and use formal and informal assessment strategies to plan, evaluate, reflect, and strengthen instruction that will promote intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of diverse learners in grades 2-6.
- Candidates are aware of and reflect on their practice in light of research on teaching, professional ethics, and resources available for professional learning; they continually evaluate the effects of their professional decisions and actions on students, families and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally through interactions with peers, other professionals, and professional organizations.
- Candidates know the importance of establishing and maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with families, school colleagues, and agencies in the larger community to promote whole body learning through the development of intellectual, social, emotional, physical growth and well-being of children in grades 2-6.
Admission
All application materials must be submitted to the USC Graduate School. Upon verification of all requirements, the applicant will interview with Elementary faculty.
Degree Requirements (33 Hours)
Students must complete the following requirements:
Professional Education Courses (24 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| EDTE 733 | Reading and Language Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 6 |
| EDTE 771 | Studies and Internship I in Teaching Math-Early/Elementary Education | 3 |
| EDEL 701 | Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy for the Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| EDEL 743 | Studies and Internship in Teaching Social Studies- Elementary | 3 |
| EDEL 744 | Studies and Internship in Teaching Science - Elementary | 3 |
| EDRD 600 | Foundations of Reading Instruction | 3 |
| EDPY 705 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 |
Internship and Seminar (9 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| EDEL 790 | MAT Internship in Elementary Education | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
