MAT Secondary Education Subject Field (K-12)

 

Program Director: Dr. Julie Rosenthal
Office: VR 4001
Phone: 973-720-3087  
Email: rosenthalj@wpunj.edu

Admission to the Program

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an appropriate academic major in liberal arts or science OR a min. of 60 credits in liberal arts and a min. of 15 credits in a subject area.
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.75 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
• A minimal verbal score of 150 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or a minimum score of 388 on the Miller Analogies Test.
• Two letters of recommendation from educational, professional or business sources.
• An essay that requires the candidate to describe her/his reasons for wishing to complete the program
• An interview with the Program director

Curriculum

Program requirements PHASE I

Semester I

CISE 5050 Historical and Social Context of American Schooling                           3

CISE 5100 Applications of Psychology for Prospective Teachers                         3

CISE 5120 Differentiated Instruction                                                                     2

CISE 5140 Teaching Diverse Learners in Diverse Schools                                  2

Semester II

CISE 5200 Classroom Management                                                                     3

CIRL 5220 Literacy and Technology Across the Curriculum                                 3

CISE 5300 Secondary Education Practicum Experience and Seminar                  1

Plus one of the following subject field specific methods courses:

CISE 5310 Social Studies Methods for Secondary Schools                                   3

CISE 5320 Mathematics Methods in Secondary Schools                                       3

CISE 5330 Creative Arts Methods in Secondary Schools                                      3

CISE 5340 English/Language Arts Methods in Secondary Schools                       3

CISE 5350 Science Methods in Secondary Schools                                               3

CISE 5360 World Language Methods in Secondary Schools                                 3

Semester III

**Students must pass the appropriate Praxis II exam prior to Student Teaching 

EDUC 5400 – Student Teaching Internship and Seminar (5 days per week)         10

PHASE II

Graduate Level Elective in Content Area (Approved by Advisor)                          3

Graduate Level Elective in (Approved by Advisor)                                                3

Graduate Level Elective in (Approved by Advisor)                                                3

CMAT 6810 Research in Education (Pre-req:9 credits upper level electives)       3

CMAT 6820 Research in Education II (Pre-req: 6810)                                           3

Total Credits Phase I, Initial Teacher Licensure Coursework                               30

Total Credits Phase II, Upper Level Coursework                                                  15

Total Credits for M.A.T. Program                                                                         45

*K-12 certification courses open to non-degree students. Students may take up to 9 credits as a non-degree student. Candidates must then successfully matriculate into the MAT Secondary program to continue beyond the 9 credits.

Courses Unless otherwise noted, all courses are three (3) credits
 

CISE 5050* Historical and Social Context of American Schooling
This course is designed to explore the historical, political, and social context of schooling in America. The course will discuss the changing roles of teacher, administrators, and schools. The course will discuss the organization of instruction for all learners, current trends and practices in education, and student populations in various educational settings. This course includes a field component. Students must complete ten (10) hours of observations in a public educational setting. Prerequisite: SOC 540, or equivalent, Co-requisites: CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140.

CISE 5100* Applications of Psychology for Prospective Teachers
This course provides prospective post- baccalaureate teachers with an introduction to educational psychology theories and principles. Emphasis is on applications to educational settings, the adolescent learner, and students with special needs. Prospective teachers reflect on their roles as facilitators of students' learning and social development. Methods for adapting instruction to diverse learners’ needs are critically explored. Prospective teachers have opportunities reflect on their roles as facilitators of students' learning and social development through classroom observations in public schools, role playing, and structured discussions. Co-requisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5120; CISE 5140.

CISE 5120* Differentiated Instruction
The course is designed for students in the post baccalaureate certification program in secondary education. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to practical issues, concerns, and trends in differentiated instruction, and to provide students with concrete strategies and teaching methodologies to address the classroom structure in order to meet the needs of all multicultural learners in all of the content areas. Co-requisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5140.  2 credits

CISE 5140* Teaching Diverse Learners in Diverse Schools
This course interfaces theory with practice by introducing students to a variety of educational theorists and leaders from traditional and non-traditional schools of thought. This course explores and defines what it means to be a multicultural educator. Theoretical and research information on multiculturalism will be shared along with practical applications. One of the goals of this course is to explore and apply different student learning theories in the field. This course will have a service field component. Students must complete one to one or small group tutorials. Co-requisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120.  2 credits

CISE 5200 Classroom Management
This graduate level course addresses issues currently affecting secondary learning environments in both regular and special education. The ever shortening attention span of adolescents combined with the increased pressure to meet and maintain academic standards have created unique classroom management challenges. Now more than ever teachers require an understanding of the factors that contribute to a well-organized, peaceful, productive classroom environment. This requires creativity, resourcefulness and reflection on the part of the teacher. Prospective teachers will evaluate the history of classroom management techniques and their own styles and philosophies of classroom management in both a seminar and clinical setting.  This course would provide students with classroom management strategies and techniques to facilitate effective teaching and learning. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CIRL 5220; CISE 5300; one methods course CISE 5310-5360.

CIRL 5220 Literacy and Technology Across the Curriculum
Through theory, new media and technologies, and practical, hands-on experiences, students will gain an understanding of their roles as literacy teachers within their content area specialties. Ways to infuse literacy and technology into instruction, including reading, writing, and viewing, will be explored. Students will learn a wide variety of teaching and learning literacy strategies in the content areas that can be used with adolescent learners and they will select, plan and design materials for content area literacy instruction. Prerequisites: CISE 5005; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CISE 5300; one methods course CISE 5310-5360.

CISE 5300 Secondary Education Practicum Experience and Seminar
This course is designed to focus on the practicum (1-day a week) field experience. Students are expected initially to observe the classroom and work one-to-one with students, then to work with the classroom teacher and gradually take on whole-class responsibilities. Students are required to develop an interdisciplinary lesson plan, participate in a teacher dispositions self-evaluation, and continue to link portfolio artifacts to appropriate standards. Students must take this course concurrently with one of the subject-specific methods courses, ClSE 5310-5360. This course will provide students in the secondary (K-12) education certification program with the knowledge required to translate theories into practice; to reflect upon how past educational practices continue to affect current teaching methods; to effectively manage classrooms; and to select, administer and assess appropriate evaluation instruments. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; one methods course CISE 5310-5360.  *1 credit

Plus ONE of the following courses based on subject field major:

CISE 5310 Social Studies Methods for Secondary Schools
This course is an introduction for post-baccalaureate students to methods and materials of teaching middle school and high school social studies. The course defines social studies as an interdisciplinary field which includes history, geography, sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science and economics, and which examines social problems over time and in different times and places. Social studies are presented as a means of understanding the unity and diversity of peoples and societies worldwide. In the course, students examine the history of social studies, various opinions of the goals and methods of social studies, and various approaches to planning and teaching lessons. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300

CISE 5320 Mathematics Methods in Secondary Schools
Learning and assessment of mathematics at the high school and middle school levels is understood and applied according to the recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the guidelines of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Strategies of teaching whole class and small groups, hands-on problem solving and posing experiences, integrating mathematics across and within the curriculum, technology applications and applications of mathematics in the real world experiences are explored in depth. This course is coordinated with a second level practicum experience in a 7-12 mathematics classroom. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300

CISE 5330 Creative Arts Methods in Secondary Schools
This course is designed to further teachers of creative and visual arts. The course is established to provide opportunities for college students to understand teaching and learning obligations of K-12 educational environments, to provide teaching skills in the area of the arts, to develop instructional platform skills, and, to prepare for assignments as student interns, classroom teachers, and ultimately for leadership roles in art education. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300

CISE 5340 English/Language Arts Methods in Secondary Schools
This course focuses on the preparation of teachers who are knowledgeable about language, literature, oral, visual, and written literacy, print and non-print media, technology, and research theory. Instructional engagements are intended to develop within preservice teachers the dispositions and capacities necessary to teach a variety of discourses including thinking, feeling, acting, believing, valuing, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Current issues and trends in teaching the English language arts in middle and secondary schools and national and regional standards are addressed. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140.  Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300.

CISE 5350 Science Methods in Secondary Schools
The emerging professional will organize experiences that include inquiry processes and knowledge construction fundamental to learning science. Developing concepts through concrete experience, and appreciation for relationships among science, technology, and society, and issues of equity and diversity are stressed. Students are required to demonstrate competence in planning and applying learning cycles, authentic assessment, thematic integration, the use of technology to teach and assess resources, and the maintenance of a safe, effective classroom. Focus is on the middle and high school years with attention to formal and informal science education throughout life. Curriculum coherence across the grades will be emphasized with references to elementary science experiences on which the middle school curriculum builds. Emerging professionals will be prepared to enter a community of collaborators (science teachers, scientists, university science educators, parents, and community members). Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300.

CISE 5360 World Language Methods in Secondary Schools
This course is designed to inform subject field K-12 preservice teachers of current theories and practices of teaching a world language in secondary schools. Students will gain in-depth pedagogical knowledge and understanding of language acquisition and literacy development in a second language. Specifically, students will apply their theoretical understanding and pedagogical knowledge to classroom situations. They will analyze and critique curricula, engaging in inquiry driven discussions about theory and methodology and plan innovative instruction. Prerequisites: CISE 5050; CISE 5100; CISE 5120; CISE 5140. Co-requisites: CISE 5200; CIRL 5220; CISE 5300.

EDUC 5400 Student Teaching Internship (5days/week)
This seminar is designed to apply learning about professional knowledge, humanistic practices, and reflective thinking to classroom situations on a fulltime basis for one semester. Students are observed eight times by a University supervisor who regularly reviews student journals. A seminar accompanies the internship and meets on a weekly basis for discussion and reflection of the students’ teaching experience. Students brainstorm solutions to classroom problems. Career development information is also made available (e.g., resume writing, interviewing skills, and organizing credential files). Each student develops a portfolio demonstrating his/her teaching abilities. Prerequisites: Completion of all courses and practicum in program.

CMAT - 6810 - METHODS OF RESEARCH I
This course prepares students to develop, implement, and write up an original educational research project within their field of specialization in the M.A.T. program. This course is the first of two capstone empirical research experiences in the program. Students are required to select a research topic, review the existing literature related to that topic, and formulate a specific researchable question(s) within that topic. As a final paper, students write the first three chapters of their master's thesis. This course follows 22 credits of graduate education courses, student teaching, and receipt of an elementary teaching certificate. Prerequisite: EDUC 5180 or 5140

CMAT - 6820 - METHODS OF RESEARCH II
This course is a continuation of CMAT 681 (Research in Education I), and focuses on students' experiences in carrying out and writing up their original education research projects within their field of specialization in the M.A.T. program. The draft of the first three chapters is revised during this course, and a full five-chapter paper, including a report of results and a discussion of findings, is submitted at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: EDUC 5180 or 5140