Instruction and Learning - English and Communications Education Concentration, MAT

Return to: School of Education

The University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, offers two post-baccalaureate programs for Secondary English and Communications teacher certification (grades 7-12), the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program and Instructional I Teaching Certificate. MAT certification is available in Comprehensive English and in three areas of Communication - Theater Arts Concentration, Film Media Concentration, and Speech Concentration. Certification in more than one English or Communication area is also available. Details of the MAT program are outlined below:

• requires Teaching Interns to take and pass the Content Knowledge test (Praxis II) during the first semester of their program in order to obtain their Intern Certificate
• satisfies the requirements for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate (pending passing scores on the national PRAXIS II Exam, successful completion of the PA Statewide Evaluation Form for Student Professional Knowledge and Practice (PDE 430), and satisfactory performance in courses and in the internship)
• 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

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.