This option provides a comprehensive teacher preparation program for qualified science area graduates who want to coordinate certification study with advanced-level studies in education. Applicants must have completed or be able to complete prerequisite academic course work, before beginning MAT studies. In addition to certification-related work, MAT students complete advanced studies in science pedagogy and in research methodology as applied to the study of teaching. All MAT students are required to complete a teaching-related research paper and pass the departmental master's comprehensive examination. Science as an additional field.
Certification exists for applicants already certified in a teaching field.
Teachers already certified in one science specialty may petition for a waiver of the 9-credit theory, methods, and praticum requirements in pedagogy when applying for the additional specialty. However, such persons, assuming they hold a valid Pennsylvania Instructional I or Instructional II certificate in one science field must take and pass the content area test for which new certification is sought. Supervisor of Science. This option requires a minimum of five years of teaching experience in the certification field. Appropriate course work taken for the master's degree may be used to fulfill some supervisory certification requirements.