Foreign Language Education, MAT

Foreign Language Education - Master of Education (MAT)

The University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, offers a post-baccalaureate program for Foreign Language teacher certification (grades K-12), the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program. Certification Studies are available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, or Latin. Native speakers of the language of certification are not exempt from prerequisite course work in the culture, civilization literature, and structure of their language. Applicants who are non-native speakers of the language of certification are also required to achieve at least an Advanced-Low rating on an oral proficiency interview by an individual certified by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Details of the MAT program are outlined below:

• requires Teaching Interns to pass the Written Proficiency Test (WPT) in the language of certification during the first semester of their program in order to attain the Intern Certificate. The WPT, in combination with the OPI (part of the admissions process), fulfills the Praxis II requirements for the state-this is the preferred way of satisfying the Praxis II requirements. Please note that this applies to all foreign language candidates with the exception of those students pursuing certification in Latin-because no OPI or WPT in Latin is available, students pursuing this option must satisfy Praxis II requirements in taking and passing the standard Content Knowledge test in Latin.
• satisfies the requirements for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate (pending passing scores on the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and national PRAXIS II Exam of Fundamental Content Knowledge, successful completion of the PA Statewide Evaluation Form for Student Professional Knowledge and Practice (PDE 430), and satisfactory performance in courses and student teaching)
• is completed in three terms (fall, spring, summer 1 session) beginning in late August of the admission year and concluding in mid-June of the following year
• consists of 36 credits of graduate course work combined with a maximum 4.5 day per week internship in a local school district from September through June

Click through to read the Foreign Language Education Academic Checklist.

Discover more about our programs through the words of current students and alumni in a Teacher Certification video. In addition, find out more about the new Urban Scholars via videos that follow four students as they go through a full year of the program, which prepares preservice teachers to be successful in urban schools by pairing them with skilled mentors who help build positive relationships with students.

Interested in finding out more about our teacher education programs? Admissions representatives can answer questions you have at an upcoming Teacher Education Information Session.