Master of Arts in Teaching Graduate Program

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Colgate offers a socially and critically engaged Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree for candidates interested in teaching childhood education or secondary education in English language arts (ELA), math, science, or social studies. Our program aims to foster a supportive and inclusive environment, diverse student cohorts, and an engaging interdisciplinary curriculum

"To teach and educate is to broaden horizons and to make school walls more permeable; to use the practice of making meaning (as learned in a study of text and language) as a way to recreate selves and society."

Jennifer McDowall ’14
June Young Teaching

MAT Program Vision

The program was founded on the premise that as a prospective teacher, students will need a socially critical liberal education, thorough knowledge of your chosen discipline, knowledge of educational theory and practice, and a complex understanding of social institutions. Students will also need habits of mind that include life-loving spirit, a willingness to move beyond personal comfort, and a desire to be challenged in all aspects of learning.

MAT Program Overview

The MAT program challenges students with advanced coursework in a selected discipline and in educational studies, working toward secondary school teaching certification. The program offers certification in the following areas:

  • Childhood education
  • Secondary education
    • English
    • Mathematics
    • History
    • Natural science (biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics)

To earn an MAT degree from Colgate, students complete:

  • Three or more courses in:
    • Liberal arts for childhood education
    • Your chosen discipline for secondary education
  • Between four and eight courses in educational studies (depending on previous experience and coursework)
  • Fulfill foreign language requirement
  • A special project or thesis
  • Student teaching in a local or regional classroom, supervised by an educational studies faculty member — typically your adviser and done in a fall semester. Students will accumulate 100 hours of classroom observations before student teaching.
  • Complete all New York State Department of Education teacher certification requirements. 

Learn more about our teacher certification program 

Colgate student works with child student

Admission

Graduates of recognized colleges and universities are eligible to apply for admission to the MAT program. The program is extremely competitive and have limited spots available. Admission requirements include: 

  • A strong academic background in at least one area of certification, usually the equivalent of an undergraduate major concentration
  • Two semesters of a foreign language or the equivalent (these courses may be transferred from another institution and must be approved by the Educational Studies Department). Alternatively, you may enroll in language courses as part of a longer-than-average MAT degree program
  • An interview 

The program accepts  students for both fall and spring cohorts:

  • Fall cohort application due date: Feb. 1
  • Spring cohort application due date: Oct. 1

Applications are available from this website or by contacting the Director of Teacher Preparation.

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Financial Assistance

Colgate University contributes 80 percent of the tuition for MAT students as part of its commitment to support quality public education. Students are strongly encouraged to submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to qualify for additional financial assistance. 

Graduate student conduct policy

The Masters of Arts in Teaching at Colgate University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The Teacher Preparation Program at Colgate University is  working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under the AAQEP standards with an anticipated Quality Assurance Review in Spring 2022.

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