Smith College Elementary School (Grades 1-6)
Graduate Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

This license enables one to teach grades 1 through 6 at the elementary school level.

Professional Teaching Knowledge (Pedagogy) Requirements
Edc 338 – Children Learning to Read
Edc 548 – Student Diversity and Classroom Teaching
Edc 554 – Cognition and Instructional Design
Edc 559 and 559s – Clinical Internship in Teaching
Edc 556s – Teaching and Learning

Subject Matter Knowledge

All students seeking Massachusetts Educator Licensure must have an undergraduate major in the liberal arts and sciences. Upon entering the MAT program, the student and her/his advisor will review the student's undergraduate transcript for subject matter preparation in the following areas:

Literature
must include American, British, and world literature

History
must include the following: U.S. History, colonial to present, and/or American government, including
the founding documents

world history and European history, ancient to present

Natural Science
must include one lab science

Mathematics
must include two college level math courses

Social Sciences
must include the studies of economics and geography

Recommendations for subject matter preparation will be made by the advisor, if necessary.

Other courses in the MAT program of study include the following:
Edc 552: Perspectives on American Education (required for the MAT degree)

Electives:
Edc 336: Seminar in American Education: John Dewey and His World
Edc 342: Growing Up American: Adolescents and their Educational Institutions
Edc 343: Multicultural Education
Edc 350: Learning Disabilities
Edc 325: The Teaching of Writing
Edc 333: Information Technology and Learning
Edc 305: The Teaching of Visual Art in the Classroom
Hst 390: Teaching History
Eng 399: Teaching Literature

A minimum of 32 semester hours and final course grades of B- or better are required for completion of the MAT. degree. Graduate students pursuing Massachusetts Educator Licensure at the elementary level are required to participate in the summer semester.

Teacher Apprentice Program

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a new initiative designed to advance the Campus School’s mission by bringing more diversity to the experiences and perspectives represented in our ongoing dialogue among faculty at the Campus School as well as in the discourse that takes place among students and teachers in our classrooms.  The program will expand the network of support and adult models available to Campus School students.  The program affirms at the elementary education level the College’s commitment to and valuing of diversity among its faculty.  Ideal candidates are promising teachers who are committed to service and who have experience working with a diverse range of children in educational or other settings.  Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a two year track within the Smith College M.A.T. program in elementary education.  The program combines full time classroom experience under the supervision of a mentor teacher with coursework leading to a master’s degree in education and licensure at the elementary level. Through observation, supervised teaching, coursework and participation in professional development and the life of the Campus School, apprentices develop a deep understanding of teaching and learning and become grounded in both educational theory and practice.

Teacher Apprenticeship Overview

The apprenticeship program:

• Is a two year graduate level program.
• Combines full time classroom experiences with coursework leading to a master’s degree in education and licensure at the elementary school level.
• Provides extensive opportunity to integrate theory and practice in a laboratory school setting.
• Includes a 2 year placement in a first grade classroom with a mentor teacher which provides a structure for increasingly deep reflection on and refinement of classroom practice over time.
• Opens opportunities to interact and develop relationships with a wide variety of highly skilled faculty members as apprentices become part of the life of the school.
• Includes regular opportunities to meet with administrators to discuss the apprentices professional development and goals.
• Includes a yearly stipend, medical insurance and tuition remission for courses leading to an M.A.T. in elementary education.

Application Process

All applicants for the Teaching Apprenticeship Program must apply and be accepted to the Smith College M.A.T. program in elementary education.  A description of the graduate program in education can be found at www.smith.edu/educ.  Information about and forms for applying for graduate study can be found at www.smith.edu/gradstudy/admission_apply.php.  Additional requirement for the Teaching Apprenticeship Program include a visit to the Smith College Campus School and Department of Education and Child Study consisting of:

An interview with a member of the Department of Education and Child Study.

An interview with the Director and/or Principal of the Campus School.

Observation in each of the two first grade classrooms and an interview with the first grade teachers.

(If a visit to the Department and Campus School is not possible, we will consider and interview via electronic means.)

Selection Criteria

In addition to the requirements for admission to the M.A.T. program in education, the following will be considered in reviewing applicants for the Teacher Apprenticeship Program:

• Academic promise and commitment to a career in elementary education.
• Demonstrated commitment to service, volunteer or professional work that increases cross-cultural competencies and enables others to better understand persons of different races and ethnicities.
• Experience working with a diverse range of children in educational or other settings.

The Teacher Apprentice Program provides an unusual opportunity to prepare for a career in elementary education.  We welcome applications from traditional and non-traditional recent recipients of an undergraduate degree and individuals preparing for a career change.  For more information about the Teacher Apprenticeship Program contact Cathy Reid, Director, Smith College Campus School (creid@smith.edu; 413-585-3270) or Susan Etheredge, Chair, Department of Education and Child Study (sethered@smith.edu; 413-585-3252).

Program Requirements

Overview

Master of Arts in Teaching

Elementary MAT
    Requirements

Secondary MAT
    Reguirements

Teacher Licensure

Master of Education
of the Deaf

MA DOE Licensure Help

Contact Director of Teacher
Education