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Zach Smith

208.467.8753

educationinfo@nnu.edu

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Teaching

NNU’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with Secondary Teacher Certification program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and are ready to become a licensed secondary teacher. This 16-month program includes 12 months of coursework and one semester of student teaching. Upon completion of the program, teacher candidates will be ready to step into a middle school or high school classroom of their own.
students making engine prototypes
  • Earn a teaching certificate and a Master of Arts in Teaching in just 16 months
  • Accelerated online coursework taught by dedicated faculty members
  • A flexible program that fits your life, allowing you to work and achieve your education goals.

About Master of Arts in Teaching (with Secondary Teacher Certification)

Successful completion of this accelerated program leads to Teacher Certification in Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). This program is designed for the working adult and can be completed in 16 months, which includes 12 months of online college courses with field experience in local schools and four months for student teaching.

Courses in this program are fully online but may have synchronous video class sessions. Students are encouraged to attend these sessions, but archived sessions are also available for review. Students will complete approximately 100 hours of field experience in public schools prior to student teaching.

The typical credit load is 12-14 credits per 16-week semester; students usually take two classes during each 8-week session. Upon completion of the program, students will be recommended for Teacher Certification in their selected endorsement areas.

The following secondary content areas are offered at NNU: American Government, Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, English, Health, History, Physical Education, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Psychology and Spanish. Candidates interested in pursuing Secondary Teacher Certification do not need to have a degree in their content area, but they must meet the content and credit requirements set forth by the Idaho State Department of Education; these content credits will be taken prior to starting Education courses. Please contact the Program Coordinator for more information on specific requirements.

New Secondary Education MAT cohorts start every fall semester. Students must have a bachelor’s degree prior to starting the program.

degree details

Master of Arts in Teaching

Offered Online

$540 per credit, $150 per semester technology fee

Additional Information

Secondary MAT Courses

Fall Semester

EDUC7120 Foundations of Teaching/Instructional Design (3 cr)

EDUC7160 Learning and the Brain (3 cr)

EDUC7543 Teaching Diverse Learners (3 cr)

EDUC7651 Secondary Teaching Methods (3 cr)

 

Spring Semester

Specific Secondary Content Methods (3-6 cr)

EDUC7535 Secondary Content Literacy (3 cr)

EDUC7545 Secondary Classroom Management (3 cr)

EDUC7554 Innovative Instruction (3 cr)

 

Fall Semester

EDUC7689 Secondary Student Teaching (9 cr)

 

To be recommended to the State of Idaho for a Standard Instructional Certificate by NNU, a candidate must meet the complete requirements of the Teacher Education Program in effect at the time of admission to teacher education and any additional requirements if required by the standards of State or regulatory agencies. At a minimum, all candidates will successfully complete the MAT curriculum and ​​​earn a passing score on the required PRAXIS exam for their endorsement area(s).

Adding Teaching Endorsements

NNU’s Endorsement Only Program assists Educators, who hold a valid State of Idaho Standard Instructional Certificate with adding additional subject areas endorsements. Teachers will need to satisfy content and pedagogy requirements in order to obtain an additional subject area endorsement.

Candidates will:

  • Submit a copy of their valid Idaho teaching certificate.
  • Demonstrate appropriate dispositions for teaching by submitting two letters of recommendation; one from a school supervisor and one from a mentor teacher.
  • Demonstrate content knowledge by completing at least 20 credit hours in the endorsement subject area.
  • Demonstrate content knowledge by receiving a passing score on the Praxis Content Knowledge test for the specific endorsement.
  • Demonstrate pedagogical competency through enrollment in two methods courses at NNU: EDUC7651 Teaching Methods in Secondary School (3 credits) and content specific Methods in Secondary School (2-3 credits based on endorsement area).
  • Demonstrate teaching competency in the new endorsement area through successful observations by university supervisors certified in the Danielson Framework for Teaching. Enrollment in EDUC7685 (1-3 credits) is concurrent with observations. The number of observations varies based on background and performance.

After successfully completing the above requirements, candidates may be issued an Institutional Recommendation for the addition of a subject area endorsement.

Additional coursework may be required when adding a different grade level band certification.

Notice Out-of-State Students

Since this bachelor’s degree in elementary education leads to professional licensure, prospective students should review important information about NNU’s participation in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and Professional Licensure. Individual states often have different expectations for professional licensure, so it is in a prospective student’s best interest to investigate whether NNU’s degree program will help them achieve licensure in their home state.

CAEP ACCREDITED PROVIDER

Northwest Nazarene University’s College of Education meets the requirements for accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

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COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION

Northwest Nazarene University received the 2023-2024 Colleges of Distinction Award in Education.

teacher teaching children

career paths

Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates for the Boise area are sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Meet Our Faculty

NNU has prepared me for my future job as a teacher by giving me a really well-rounded education. I’ve gotten a ton of field experience and student teaching, and being a student-athlete here has taught me how to communicate and be a part of a team. I think that this education has equipped me to just be a well-rounded person and not just a student.
Kiley Orr