M.A.T. in Secondary Education: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
If you're looking to become a high school teacher, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education might be the way to go. This graduate degree is perfect for people who want to switch careers or have just graduated from college and want to teach at the high school level (usually grades 9-12). The program is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree, often in the subject they want to teach, and need a clear path to getting a teaching license. Many universities offer this degree, including National Louis University, which has a program that's great for people who have a bachelor's degree in any field and want to get licensed to teach in Illinois for grades 9 through 12, with endorsements in their area of expertise. The National College of Education at National Louis University offers this M.A.T. in Secondary Education, which can help you achieve your goal of becoming a licensed content-area teacher at the high school level.
What Is an M.A.T. in Secondary Education?
To become a secondary education teacher, you need to get a special license. This license is for teachers who focus on a single subject, such as English, math, science, or a foreign language. These teachers usually have several classes with different students, all learning about the same subject. This is different from elementary school teachers, who teach all subjects to one group of students. The classes you take to get this license cover things like how teenagers develop, how to teach your subject in a way that makes sense, how to manage a classroom, and how to assess student progress. You also get to practice teaching in a real classroom with a supervisor, and finally, you do a student teaching placement where you're in charge of the class. This helps you get ready for your own classroom one day. The goal is to make sure you're ready to teach your subject to teenagers, who are at a special stage in their development. By focusing on your subject area and learning how to teach it well, you can help your students learn and grow.
To get a secondary license, you usually need to have taken a lot of classes in that subject already - either in college or in special courses you take before or while you're getting your master's degree. This is because each state has its own rules about what you need to know to teach a particular subject, and you have to meet those requirements. So, if you want to teach a certain subject, you'll need to have a strong background in that area, which you can get from your undergraduate degree or from extra courses you take to prepare for your license.
Why Pursue an M.A.T. in Secondary Education?
Many people who want to teach in high school are career changers. They usually have a strong background in a specific subject, like a chemist who wants to teach chemistry or an English major who wants to teach literature. Some are even engineers who want to teach physics. For these people, getting a Master of Arts in Teaching, or M.A.T., is a great way to turn their knowledge into a teaching career. They don't have to start all over with a new undergraduate degree, which is a big plus. The M.A.T. helps them use what they already know to become teachers, which is really attractive to people who want to make a career change while still using their expertise.
This degree is perfect for those who enjoy working with teenagers and want to teach more challenging subjects. It's a great fit for people who want to teach advanced classes such as honors, Advanced Placement, or dual-credit courses, which are usually offered only in high school. These classes are typically not available in elementary or middle school, so teaching at the secondary level offers a unique opportunity to work with students preparing for college or careers. By teaching these advanced courses, educators can help students develop a deeper understanding of complex subjects and prepare them for success in their future endeavors.
Teaching in secondary schools is a bit different from teaching in elementary or middle schools. For one thing, teachers are usually grouped by subject, like math or English. They also often help with extracurricular activities, such as sports teams or clubs, and may even teach special classes that align with their area of expertise. When people are considering becoming secondary teachers, they consider these factors, along with what they'll be teaching, as they decide whether this is the right path for them. This can be an important part of the decision, as it can affect their overall job satisfaction and work-life balance. Some people really enjoy the extra responsibilities and opportunities that come with teaching in secondary schools, while others may prefer the culture of elementary or middle schools. Either way, it's worth considering which work environment and activities will be the best fit.
Key Questions About the M.A.T. in Secondary Education
What subjects and grade levels does this license cover?
The rules for teaching vary from state to state and also depend on the subject you want to teach. For example, in Illinois, National Louis University offers an M.A.T. in Secondary Education program that prepares you to teach grades 9-12. You can choose to specialize in subjects such as English, math, science, or social studies. But if you're not from Illinois, you should check how the program's license works in your own state, because the rules can be different.
Do I need a degree in the subject I want to teach?
To become a teacher, you usually need to have taken a lot of classes in the subject you want to teach. Most states also require you to pass a test in that subject, on top of finishing your Master of Arts in Teaching program. If your college major wasn't closely related to what you want to teach, you might need to take some extra classes before or during your teacher training program. This is because states want to make sure you know your stuff before you start teaching. So, even if you didn't major in the right subject, you can still become a teacher - you might need to do a little extra work.
How is this different from middle grades licensure?
Secondary licensure is usually for teachers who work with older students, like those in grades 9-12. To get this kind of license, you need to have a strong grasp of the subject matter so that you can teach advanced classes, like college-prep courses. On the other hand, middle grades licensure is for teachers who work with younger teens. While they also need to know their subject area well, they receive specialized training in teaching early adolescents, which differs somewhat from how things are done in a typical high school. In high school, the focus is more on the subject itself, but when you're teaching younger teens, you need to understand how they develop and learn at that age.
How long does the program take?
Most master's programs for people changing careers who haven't studied education before take around two years to complete. But the time it takes can vary from person to person, depending on how many extra classes they need to take in their subject area and whether they can take a faster track.
Are there different pathways into the program?
When it comes to teacher preparation programs, there are often several routes to licensure. For instance, some programs follow a traditional path in which student teaching occurs towards the end of the program. Others might use a teacher residency model, in which candidates are paired with a mentor teacher from the start. Then there's the year-long internship model, where candidates work as paid teaching assistants while they're still completing their coursework. And some programs even offer an alternative licensure track, where candidates are placed as the teacher of record in a high-need school. The thing is, not all schools offer all of these pathways, so if you're thinking of becoming a teacher, you should definitely check which options are available at the specific program you're interested in. This way, you can choose the path that suits you best and get the training you need to become a great teacher.
What the Curriculum Typically Covers
Most Master of Arts in Teaching programs in Secondary Education share common courses, though specific requirements can vary by school, state, and subject area. These programs usually cover a range of topics to help teachers develop their skills and knowledge.
- Adolescent development
- Content-area pedagogy specific to the candidate's subject
- Literacy strategies across the content areas
- Classroom management for secondary settings
- Assessment and data-driven instruction, including standardized test preparation where relevant
- Special education fundamentals and inclusive practice
- Supervised field experience and a culminating student teaching placement
Career Outcomes
The need for secondary school teachers varies across subjects. Some areas, like math, science, and special education, are having a harder time finding teachers than others, such as English or social studies. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that overall, the demand for high school teachers will be steady over the next ten years. But some subjects need more teachers than others. If you want to know more about the current job market and how much teachers are getting paid, you can find that information on the BLS website.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, High School Teachers.
When teachers finish their training, they can do more than teach in a classroom. They can become department leaders, help other teachers improve, or create special plans for student learning. Some teachers even get to be in charge of an entire school if they further their education. Teachers qualified to teach special classes, such as Advanced Placement or dual-credit, might receive extra pay or opportunities as these classes become more popular in high schools. Teachers who specialize in hard-to-find subjects usually have more job options and might even get extra pay or help paying back loans in some areas.
The pay for secondary school teachers is usually determined by the school district's salary schedule, as with elementary and middle school teachers. As teachers gain more experience, take additional graduate courses, or earn special credentials, their pay tends to increase. It's also worth noting that teachers who specialize in subjects with a shortage of teachers may be eligible for extra benefits, such as signing bonuses, help with moving costs, or student loan forgiveness programs. These benefits aren't always available to teachers in subjects with plenty of qualified teachers, so it's something to consider when deciding which subject they want to teach.
M.A.T. in Secondary Education at National Louis University
National Louis University has a program for people who want to teach high school. They offer a master's degree in Secondary Education that can lead to a teaching license in Illinois for grades 9-12. This program is flexible enough to work for different types of students. For example, people who are already working in schools can still earn their license while they continue to work. The program is designed to be accommodating, with multiple pathways to suit various circumstances.
