Education (M.A.T.)

Faculty

Dr. Beth Kara Dawkins, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Deborah Litt, Associate Professor of Education, Program Chair for Reading
Dr. Bweikia Steen, Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Programs
Dr. Deborah Taub, Assistant Professor of Special Education

Description

The Graduate Programs in teacher education offer the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (M.A.T.) and prepare graduate students for teaching careers. Trinity’s M.A.T. programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (N.C.A.T.E.) and approved by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (O.S.S.E.).

Candidates who successfully complete the M.A.T. program and fulfill the other requirements set by O.S.S.E. are eligible for teacher certification in the District of Columbia and in other jurisdictions, as determined by reciprocity agreements.

The M.A.T. is offered in early childhood, elementary, special education, and secondary education. Prospective students for Trinity’s M.A.T. program should refer to the School of Education’s Policy on the State Required Examinations.

The School of Education also offers dual licensure program of study focused on preparing all educators to work with students with diverse learning needs in inclusive settings. The dual licensure options include: early childhood education and special education, elementary education and special education, or secondary education and special education.

Through a sequenced course of study, students gain knowledge, skills, and experiences in preparation for certification. Most of the professional education courses require a practicum, internship, or other field experiences in addition to regular class meetings.

The program may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. However, one semester of full time study is required for the Internship/Student Teaching in the last semester of the program, during which the University places students in public, charter, and private school systems in the Washington metropolitan area.

Upon students’ entry into the program, faculty in the School of Education advise students on their courses of study, including professional education course work.

Summary Pass-Rates on Praxis Exams (TITLE II DATA)

Type of Assessment
Institutional
Pass Rate
Statewide
Pass Rate
Aggregate – Basic Skills 100% 99%
Aggregate – Professional Knowledge & Content 94% 90%

Application to Student Teaching

Students may enroll in Internship/Student Teaching when all of the following conditions are met:

1) Education Core Courses are completed;

2) Education Methods Courses are completed with grades of B or better;

3) Qualifying scores are obtained on the ETS Praxis II; and

5) Students are in good academic standing.

During the semester before candidates plan to complete the Internship/Student Teaching, they must complete an application for student teaching. The application form must be signed by the student and the student’s academic advisor in the School of Education. The completed and signed form is due before the end of registration in the Fall or Spring semester prior to the time when the student wishes to student teach.  Trinity has sole authority to make all student teaching placements.  Failure to complete this form and obtain the requisite approvals on time may disqualify prospective teachers from student teaching during the desired semester.

Course Requirements and Specializations

Early Childhood Education Specialization, Ages 3-8

The early childhood education specialization requires 36 credits, and the course of study provides a comprehensive core of knowledge and field-based experience for students desiring to work with young children (ages 3-8).

Core Requirements (18 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with no more than one grade below a “B”:

EDCC 601 Orientation: Tools for Graduate School
EDCC 510 Human Growth and Development
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and Learning
EDCC 542 Positive Approaches to Teaching Students with Challenging Behavior
EDCC 600 Research in Education and Counseling
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning Prescriptions

Specialization (12 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with a grade of B or better:

EDTE 610 Early Childhood Development in Family and Culture
EDTE 611 Literacy Development Across the Curriculum
EDTE 613 Developing Concepts in Early Childhood Mathematics and Science
EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers

Internship (Student Teaching) (6 credits)

BOTH of the following courses:

EDTE 671 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education
EDTE 689 Advanced Seminar in Teaching

Elementary Education Specialization, Grades 1-6

The elementary education specialization requires 36 credits of course work, and the course of study provides a comprehensive core of knowledge and field-based experiences for students desiring to work with elementary school students in grades one through six.

Core Requirements (18 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with no more than one grade below a “B”:

EDCC 601 Orientation: Tools for Graduate School
EDCC 510 Human Growth and Development
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and Learning
EDCC 542 Positive Approaches to Teaching Students with Challenging Behavior
EDCC 600 Research in Education and Counseling
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning Prescriptions

Specialization (12 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with a grade of B or better:

EDTE 621 Teaching for Mathematical Inquiry
EDTE 622 Teaching for Scientific Inquiry
EDTE 624 Children's Literature
EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers

Student Teaching Internship and Seminar in Teaching (6 credits)

BOTH of the following courses:

EDTE 673 Student Teaching in Elementary Education
EDTE 689 Advanced Seminar in Teaching

Secondary Education, Grades 7-12

The secondary education program requires 36 credits and provides a comprehensive core of knowledge and field experiences for students desiring to teach at the middle and high school level (grades 7 through 12). For admission to the program, students must have a passing score on the Praxis II content examination in their desired field.

Core Requirements (18 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with no more than one grade below a “B”:

EDCC 601 Orientation: Tools for Graduate School
EDCC 510 Human Growth and Development
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and Learning
EDCC 542 Positive Approaches to Teaching Students with Challenging Behavior
EDCC 600 Research in Education and Counseling
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning Prescriptions

Specialization (12 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with a grade of B or better:

EDCI 650 Global and Ethical Perspectives
EDTE 641 Adolescent Culture in Literature
EDTE 642 Teaching Reading in the Content Area
EDTE 640 Principles and Methods of Teaching in the Secondary School

Student Teaching Internship and Seminar in Teaching (6 credits)

BOTH of the following courses:

EDTE 681 Student Teaching in Secondary Education
EDTE 689 Advanced Seminar in Teaching

Special Education Specialization (Non-Categorical), Grades K-12

The special education specialization requires 36 credits and provides a comprehensive core of knowledge and field-based experiences for students desiring to teach children and youth with special needs in a variety of special education settings.

Core Requirements (18 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with no more than one grade below a “B”:

EDCC 601 Orientation: Tools for Graduate School
EDCC 510 Human Growth and Development
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and Learning
EDCC 542 Positive Approaches to Teaching Students with Challenging Behavior
EDCC 600 Research in Education and Counseling
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning Prescriptions

Specialization (12 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with a grade of B or better:

EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers
EDTE 629 Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
EDTE 630 Human Relations and Career Education in Special Education
EDTE 634 Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities

Student Teaching Internship and Seminar in Teaching (6 credits)

BOTH of the following courses:

EDTE 675 Student Teaching in Special Education
EDTE 689 Advanced Seminar in Teaching

Inclusive Education Dual Licensure

MAT dual licensure candidates will receive licensure in their primary focus area AND special education. This option requires candidates to take four courses in special education in addition to their course sequence in their primary focus area in early childhood education, elementary education or secondary education.

Inclusive Education Requirements (12 credits)

ALL of the following courses must be completed with no more than one grade below a “B”:

EDTE 629 Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
EDTE 630 Human Relations and Career Education in Special Education
EDTE 634 Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities
EDTE 691 Practium in Special Education

Program Policies

Student Assessment System:
The School of Education has a Unit Assessment System aligned with its goals, to ensure that all candidates have the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to be successful in their respective fields. In conjunction with the Unit Assessment System, the teacher preparation programs (B.A. and M.A.T.) have assessments designed to ensure that teacher candidates meet the standards of their professional associations. Key assessments have been designed to measure a candidate’s progress through the program. Most of these assessments are embedded in course work, with the exception of the examinations required prior to student teaching. Qualifying scores on the Praxis II exam are required for student teaching in Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Special Education. Prior to admission, students in the Secondary Education program must pass the Praxis II in the content area in which they plan to teach.

Study Abroad:
Courses taken through a study abroad program approved by Trinity may count toward general education courses required for certification, pending review and approval by education faculty and the faculty of the appropriate academic program. In general, education courses taken abroad will not count toward the major, minor, or undergraduate portion of the B.A./M.A.T. Program.

Experiential Credit Policy:
Credits earned through experience may count toward general education courses required for certification, pending review and approval by education faculty and the faculty of the appropriate academic program. In general, experiential credits may not substitute for education courses counted toward the major, minor, or undergraduate portion of the B.A./M.A.T. Program.

Transfer Credits:
Transfer credits may be awarded only after appropriate program review. Courses at the 400-level and above must be completed at Trinity. Courses taken as part of the School of Education program of study must be taken at Trinity.

Course Descriptions

Explanation of Course Prefixes and Numbers
Courses designated EDCC are core courses and common to various programs in the School of Education. Courses designated EDTE are largely specific to the M.A.T. teacher education program. Courses designated EDCI, are offered in conjunction with the Curriculum and Instruction Program.

EDCC – Core Courses

EDCC 510 Human Growth and Development
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and Learning
EDCC 542 Positive Approaches to Teaching Students with Challenging Behavior
EDCC 600 Research in Education and Counseling
EDCC 601 Orientation: Tools for Graduate School
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning Prescriptions

EDTE -Teacher Education (M.A.T.) Courses

EDTE 610 Early Childhood Development in Family and Culture
EDTE 611 Literacy Development Across the Curriculum
EDTE 613 Developing Concepts in Early Childhood Mathematics and Science
EDTE 621 Teaching for Mathematical Inquiry
EDTE 622 Teaching for Scientific Inquiry
EDTE 623 Language, Literature, and Culture
EDTE 624 Children's Literature
EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers
EDTE 629 Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
EDTE 630 Human Relations and Career Education in Special Education
EDTE 634 Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities
EDTE 641 Adolescent Culture in Literature
EDTE 642 Teaching Reading in the Content Area
EDTE 640 Principles and Methods of Teaching in the Secondary School
EDTE 671 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education
EDTE 673 Student Teaching in Elementary Education
EDTE 675 Student Teaching in Special Education
EDTE 681 Student Teaching in Secondary Education
EDTE 689 Advanced Seminar in Teaching
EDTE 690 Teaching Practicum
EDTE 691 Practium in Special Education
EDTE 698 Independent Study
EDTE 699 Capstone in Teacher Education