Middle Grades and Secondary Education, M.A.T.

Program Overview

Earn Your Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades and Secondary Education

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s online Master of Arts in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education program is for educators who have already completed our Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education Graduate Certificate program (Phase I). Our M.A.T. program (Phase II) requires students to conduct research, write grants and complete a teacher leadership project.

Our Master of Arts in Teaching program is an ideal option for educators who wish to advance their careers and make a difference in the lives of their students. Our rigorous and relevant curriculum provides students with opportunities to network with other educators and gain valuable experience in the classroom.

As an M.A.T. student, you will conduct research in the form of an electronic portfolio, write grants and complete a teacher leadership project. Candidates create professional development programs for the teachers in their schools and will have the opportunity to mentor a novice teacher. A number of our Master of Arts in Teaching students have received grant funding to enhance what they are doing in the classroom.

Program Contact

  • Delivery
    Online
  • Credits
    14 Credit Hours
  • Admits
    Spring, Summer & Fall

Enhance your M.A.T. with an advanced content specialization

Applicants may add an advanced content specialization that matches their graduate certificate area, including:

  • Middle Grades Career and Technical Education (CTE)
  • Middle Grades Math
  • Middle Grades English
  • Middle Grades Science
  • Middle Grades Social Studies
  • Secondary Education Career and Technical (CTE)
  • Secondary Education Math
  • Secondary Education English
  • Secondary Education Science
  • Secondary Education Social Studies

All teacher education programs at UNC Charlotte are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

“Everything fit together. I decided that day to apply and felt like all of the pieces of my life led to that moment. I wanted to combine my passion for learning about the world around me with teaching others to see it too.”

– Cassidy James, ’23 M.A.T.
Social Studies Teacher, J.M. Robinson High School, Cabarrus County Schools
Learn more about Cassidy’s story »

Courses

The M.A.T consists of 14 credit hours for a combined 30 credit hours for the Graduate Certificate and M.A.T.

Core Courses (8 credit hours)

  • MDSK 6220: Adolescence and Learning
  • MDSK 6260: Teacher Leadership
  • MDSK 6691: Seminar in Professional Development

Advanced Methods Course (3 credit hours)

Select the one related advanced methods area:

  • ENGL 6274: Contexts and Issues in the Teaching of English
  • MAED 6252: Advanced Methods in Middle and Secondary Mathematics Education
  • MDSK 6351: Advanced Methods in Middle and Secondary Science
  • MDSK 6354: Advanced Methods in Middle and Secondary Social Studies
  • MDSK 6355: Advanced Methods in Teaching Career and Technical Education

Advanced Content Specialization Courses (3 credit hours)

Select one of the following areas:​

  • MDLG 6225: Issues in Middle Grades Education (3)
  • Secondary Education Math
    • Students select two from the following in their content area:
      • MAED 5000-6999
      • MATH 5000-6999
      • STAT 5000-6999
  • Secondary Education English
    • Students select two from the following in their content area:
      • ENGL 5000-6999
      • READ 5000-6999
      • MDSK 5000-6999 (topics course that is content specific)
  • Secondary Education Science
    • Students select two from the following in their content area:
      • BIOL 5000-6999
      • CHEM 5000-6999
      • ESCI 5000-6999
      • GEOG 5000-6999
      • PHYS 5000-6999
  • Secondary Education Social Studies
    • Students select two from the following in their content area:
      • AFRS 5000-6999
      • GEOG 5000-6999
      • HIST 5000-6999
      • MDSK 5000-6999 (topics course that is content specific)
      • POLS 5000-6999
      • RELS 5000-6999
      • WGST 5000-6999
  • Career and Technical Education Concentration Course
    • Select one of the following options:
      • MDLG 6225: Issues in Middle Grades Education (3)
      • RSCH 6101: Research Methods (3)
      • TESL 6206: Globalization, Communities, and Schools (3)

Capstone Requirement

The capstone experience for the M.A.T. is fulfilled by completing a Comprehensive Portfolio.

Admissions

Middle Grades and Secondary Education M.A.T. Program

Our M.A.T. program is for those who have their initial teaching license to continue toward a master’s degree and their Advanced (“M”) teaching license for the state of North Carolina.

Qualified candidates who have completed Phase I (graduate certificate) may apply to continue into Phase II (M.A.T.) to complete the remaining requirements for the master’s degree and qualify for the advanced Standard Professional II teaching license.

Admissions & Requirements:

  • Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
  • Completion of UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education.
  • A minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education.
  • Students with a GPA below 3.5 in the Graduate Certificate Phase I may be considered for admission to the M.A.T. program with scores above the 30th percentile on the GRE Test.
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts from all academic coursework beyond high school.
  • One recommendation from a full-time faculty member who has taught the applicant in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education.
  • A statement of purpose.
Application

Application Deadlines:

  • August 1 (fall)
  • December 1 (spring)
  • May 1 (summer first half term)
  • June 15 (summer second half term)
Outlook

What Can You Do With Your M.A.T. in Middle Grades and Secondary Education?

Most UNC Charlotte alumni from the M.A.T. in Middle Grades and Secondary Education program are working in North Carolina in a field related to their program of study.

Our M.A.T. alumni work at organizations such as:

  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Wake County Public Schools
  • Kannapolis City Schools
  • Cabarrus County Schools
  • Gaston County Schools
  • Union County Schools

Our graduates hold job titles such as:

  • Middle school teacher
  • Secondary school teacher
  • Education administrator
  • Training and development specialist
  • Instructional coordinator

Strong salary expectations

Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics research, collects job and salary data from UNC Charlotte graduates. Lightcast surveyed UNC Charlotte M.A.T. in Middle Grades and Secondary Education program graduates and found their estimated average annual salary to be $74,600.

Why UNC Charlotte?

Why Earn Your Middle Grades and Secondary Education M.A.T. Online From UNC Charlotte?

By choosing UNC Charlotte’s online M.A.T. program, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including:

Complete your M.A.T. online part time in just two years. Designed for working teachers who have completed Phase I, Phase II allows you the flexibility to earn your M.A.T. at your pace. Most students complete the program in two years of part-time study. (All courses for both phases of the M.A.T. must be completed within seven years.)

Receive support in school and pursuing your career aspirations. Our Center for Graduate Life provides the support and sense of community students need to meet the challenges they’ll face throughout their graduate experience. Virtual workshops are available online on subjects such as graduate academic writing and research writing at the graduate level. The University Career Center provides services, programs and support such as an Education Career Fair held each spring semester, individual appointments with career advisors and the Hire-A-Niner online job and internship database.

Learn from faculty experts. Our faculty members are involved in cutting-edge research that has appeared in leading education journals and helped UNC Charlotte’s College of Education earn more than $8 million in external funding. A number of our faculty have received special recognitions, such as the Bank of America Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Tuition

Please note: Rates are subject to change.

Resident:

  • $288.82 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident:

  • $536.98 per credit hour

Non-Resident:

  • $1,098.21 per credit hour

More information regarding tuition and fees »


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