2008-2009 Graduate Catalog

May 13, 2024

2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Master of Arts in Teaching

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Knowledge Base: Theme Statement

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is designed to provide a graduate route to teacher licensure in Middle Childhood Education for grades 4-9 for individuals who have earned a baccalaureate degree. The MAT program is developmentally based, encourages critical reflection, and is committed to graduating entry-level teachers capable of creating and working within learning communities which maximize the potential of all learners. Students select two teaching/content areas from Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

The MAT program requires a minimum of 50 quarter hours of graduate work and 33-40 hours of course work in each of two selected teaching/content areas. Additional undergraduate course work may be required to qualify for teacher licensure. An unofficial transcript evaluation will be provided during an initial interview with the Education Advisor in the Office of Continuing Studies, Towers Hall 23, 614-823-1356. Official transcript evaluations are usually completed within one quarter of a student’s first registration, upon receipt of all official transcripts.

The MAT program is designed to be a part-time program, with graduate course work offered evenings and weekends. However, some undergraduate course work required for licensure may be offered in the daytime or may be taken at another institution. The culmination of the program requires a full-time Internship in the schools during winter and spring quarters of the final year. Most students complete the MAT in 2-3 years, depending on the number of hours they have to complete for licensure.

The MAT program leads to an Ohio two-year provisional Middle Childhood License for grades 4-9. If interested in licensure in other states, it is the responsibility of the student to see that requirements of other states are met. Information on licensure may be obtained from the Division of Teacher Education and Certification of the Department of Education of the state in question.

Teacher licensure is simplified in many states through Interstate Reciprocity Agreements and through graduation from Otterbein College, an institution accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Most states also require that teachers pass a teacher competency test prior to licensure (e.g., PRAXIS II).

Admission

Admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program is open to persons of good character who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and who give evidence of the intellectual, academic and personal ability to succeed in graduate studies and become effective classroom teachers. Admission to the MAT programs for persons who hold professional or specialized degrees may be possible, but deficiencies in general education will usually require additional course work at the undergraduate level prior to full admission. Admission shall not be denied on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, creed, color, national origin, or handicap.

An interview with the Education Advisor in the Office of Continuing Studies is required prior to submission of the application materials. Students are not permitted to register for more than 15 hours of graduate credit (no limit on undergraduate hours) before they are admitted to the MAT program. Materials required for admission to the MAT program should be submitted to the Office of Continuing Studies at the address listed below. All contents of the admission file become the legal property of the College and are not returnable or transferable.

All admission materials including transcripts must be submitted to:
Office of Continuing Studies
Towers Hall, Room 23
Otterbein College
One Otterbein College
Westerville, OH 43081

There are five Decision Points in the MAT program where progress of the candidate is reviewed and approval is needed to continue.

Point 1: Criteria for Registration in MAT courses

Interview with an Education Advisor in the Office of Continuing Studies.
Continuing Studies application.
Official transcripts for all previous college and/or university course work. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Continuing Studies. If hand-delivered, transcripts must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution. The minimum grade point average for admission is 2.75 based on the A=4.0 system.
Registration form. In accordance with Otterbein College policy, students may register in the spring for classes the following fall, winter, and spring quarters, or they may register throughout the year. A student must be admitted to the MAT degree program to register for more than 15 graduate hours.

Point 2: Criteria for Admission to the MAT Degree Program

Minimum undergraduate grade point average for admission of 2.75 based on the A=4.0 system.
Acceptable scores (Verbal = 450 or higher; Quantitative = 530 or higher) on the Graduate Record Examination or approved substitute.
Two letters of recommendation supporting the applicant’s qualifications to succeed in graduate school and to enter the teaching profession. Forms are available in the Education Department and Office of Continuing Studies.
Documentation of at least 25 hours of evaluated field experience working with young adolescents in grades 4-9, preferably in a school setting. Previous experience within the past five years may be documented and used to fulfill this requirement. Non- Credit Field Experience forms are available from the Office of Continuing Studies or from the Education Department. An additional 25 hours of evaluated field experiences must be fulfilled before candidates are accepted as Degree Candidates. The 25 hours required in EDUC 503 (Educational Psychology) or field hours associated with other MAT courses may be used to fulfill either of these field requirements. Clinical hours will not be accepted in lieu of the evaluated field experience for admission to program.
Successful completion of COMM 100 (Fundamentals of Public Speaking) or an approved substitute.
Interview with an Education Advisor in the Office of Continuing Studies.

Conditional Admission to the MAT Degree Program
Any variation from the stated criteria may be submitted to the Graduate Admission Committee for consideration. The Graduate Admission Committee may grant conditional admission, but must inform the candidate in writing of the reasons for conditional admission and how the conditions of admission are to be satisfied.

Point 3: Degree Candidacy

Students in good standing (e.g., 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate course work; 2.5 GPA in each teaching area) will be required to apply for degree candidacy during the quarter that 25 quarter hours of graduate work will be completed.

A degree candidacy application form signed by the student and the Education Advisor in Continuing Studies must be submitted to the Education Department’s Director of Graduate Programs, including course work completed and plan for completing the program.
The Graduate Admission Committee will examine the record of the candidate, admit the student to degree candidacy status or deny candidacy and advise the student to discontinue the program. Students admitted to degree candidacy may continue their program as planned unless modifications in the program have been noted by the Graduate Admission Committee.
Degree Candidacy status is required for admission to the Internship.

Point 4: Internship

The MAT Internship includes two quarters of full-time experience in the schools during winter and spring terms as the culmination of the MAT program.

An application for the Internship, signed by the student and Education Advisor in Continuing Studies, is to be submitted to the Director of Field Experiences by May 1 preceding the Internship. An update of course work completed or a plan for completing it must be included in the application if submitted a different quarter than the application for Degree Candidacy. Applications for the Internship and subsequent placement in the schools are approved by the Director of Field Experiences.
MAT students must be admitted as Degree Candidates in order to be eligible for the Internship.
Successful completion of the winter term Methods Internship with a 3.0 or above and recommendation of the Methods Internship instructor are required to be placed for the spring term Student Teaching Internship.
Participation in Methods classes is required during the MAT Methods Internship.
A weekly Seminar is required during the MAT Student Teaching Internship,
An electronic portfolio must be completed during the Methods and Student Teaching Internships.
Successful completion of the Student Teaching Internship with a 3.0 or above and recommendation of the Supervisor and Seminar instructor are required to be recommended for licensure.
There is a one-time fee for the Student Teaching Internship. Please consult the college’s website or contact the Business Office for a complete list of fees.
Fingerprinting and background checks are required prior to beginning the two-quarter Internship and are valid for 12 months. Information packets are available in the Registrar’s Office.
MAT students are advised not to work or take other course work during the two quarters of the Internship. Students who choose to do so will not be excused from any of their teaching responsibilities, including before and after school professional obligations. Outside personal obligations cannot be taken into consideration when evaluating the performance of a candidate.
An unsuccessful Internship may result in a candidate having to repeat the Internship or graduate without a recommendation for licensure, with approval of the Chairperson of the Education Department.

Point 5: Program Completion

Students must submit a Request for Degree Application to the Registrar’s Office two quarters prior to the completion of all graduate work. This form may be obtained at the Registrar’s Office or from the Registrar’s web page at www.otterbein.edu, under the intranet link. All financial obligations must be met before students may participate in graduation, receive their transcripts, or receive their diploma.
The following criteria must be fulfilled to complete the MAT Program:

A 3.0 cumulative graduate grade point average.
An approved MAT electronic portfolio.
Successful completion of 50 hours of graduate professional education coursework, including all required course work and clinical/field experiences.

Licensure Requirements

Fingerprinting and Background Checks
Valid fingerprinting and background checks must be filed with the Ohio Departmentof Education prior to applying for a license. See the Office of the Registrar for details two quarters before graduation.

PRAXIS II
Before a teaching license is awarded, the Ohio Department of Education requires the applicant to pass the appropriate tests. Candidates are eligible for the content area tests whenever their course work is completed; however, the Principles of Teaching and Learning should be taken following the Methods Internship. Test information booklets and a PRAXIS II Information Sheet listing the specific tests required are available in the Education Department. More information and study guides are available at www.ets.org

To be recommended for Middle Childhood Licensure, candidates must successfully complete both the Methods Internship (EDUC 542) and Student Teaching Internship (EDUC 597) with a grade of B or above. If the candidate is not recommended for licensure, he/she may petition the Education Department’s Director of Graduate Programs to seek permission to repeat the Internship or to complete the MAT degree without licensure.

Program Completion

Please refer to Point Five (Program Completion) in Admission section.

MAT Program Curriculum

Transcripts of undergraduate credit submitted by applicants will be evaluated with reference to the specific content required by the Ohio Department of Education and other regulatory bodies. An unofficial transcript evaluation will be included in the initial interview with the Education Advisor in Continuing Studies. An official transcript evaluation will be completed during the first quarter the student is registered, assuming all official transcripts are submitted. In addition to the graduate work required for the MAT degree, additional undergraduate course work may be required to qualify for teacher licensure.

The MAT program allows candidates to take no more than 15 quarter hours of graduate course work before the applicant is admitted to the program; however, there is no limit on undergraduate course work prior to admission.

General Education

Students may get credit for these courses through previous undergraduate work, to be determined by a transcript evaluation:

Two courses in composition and literature

EDUC 170 Phonics and the Structure of Language 5 hrs
EDUC 363 Adolescent Literature in a Comprehensive Reading Program 3 hrs
COMM 100 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 5 hrs
One college level math course
One general psychology course
One course required from Life Science, Chemistry, Physical Science, Earth Science, or Astronomy
One course required from Western Civilization, American History, or American Government

Concentration Areas

Thirty-three to 45 quarter hours of course work in two approved teaching concentration areas from Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies are required. Students may get credit for some of these courses through previous undergraduate work to be determined by a transcript evaluation.

Concentration Areas for Middle Childhood Program (Grades 4 to 9)

(Two Concentration Areas Required)

Reading/Language Arts

EDUC 170 Phonics and the Structure of Language 5 hrs
EDUC 530 Reading Skills and Methods (Middle Childhood.) 5 hrs
EDUC 363 Adolescent Literature in a Comprehensive Reading Program 3 hrs
EDUC 565 Multicultural Literature 2 hrs
INST 105 Growing up in America or INST 110 Composition and Literature 5 hrs
ENGL 155 Words and Forms 5 hrs
ENGL 295 Linguistics 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

INST 270 Composition and Literature 5 hrs
ENGL 230 African-American Literature 5 hrs
ENGL 231 Women Writers 5 hrs
ENGL 232 Literature from Diverse Cultures 5 hrs
ENGL 233 Myth, Folklore, and Literature 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

INST 300 Composition and Literature 5 hrs
ENGL 350 Shakespeare 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

ENGL 250 American Literature through 1865 5 hrs
ENGL 255 American Literature 1865 to Present 5 hrs

Total 45 hrs

Mathematics

MATH 115 College Algebra 5 hrs and
MATH 116 Trigonometry and College Algebra or MATH 120 Elementary Functions 5hrs
MATH 150 The Nature of Mathematics 5 hrs
MATH 170 Calculus I 5 hrs
MATH 180 Calculus II 5 hrs
MATH 230 Statistics I 5 hrs
MATH 270 Math for Early and Middle Childhood Education 5 hrs
MATH 271 Math for Middle School 3 hrs
MATH 280 Axiomatics by Inquiry 3 hrs

Total 45 hrs

Science

CHEM 110 Survey of General Chemistry 5 hrs
INST 400 Earth Science and Humankind 5 hrs
L SC 102 Introductory Biology II: Plants 5 hrs
L SC 103 Introductory Biology III: Animals 5 hrs
L SC 225 Problem-Based Learning in Life Science 5 hrs
PHYS 210 Introduction to Physical Science 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

INST 410 Our Place in the Universe 5 hrs
E SC 101 Oceanography 5 hrs
E SC 201 Physical Geology 5 hrs
E SC 205 Environmental Geology 5 hrs

Total 35 hrs

Social Studies

HIST 110 American Experience (Colonial to Civil War and Reconstruction) 5 hrs
HIST 120 American Experience (Gilded Age to Present) 5 hrs
INST 160 World Geography 5 hrs
P SC 100 American National Government 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

INST 150 Issues in the Western Experience 5 hrs
HIST 305 Ancient Greece and Rome 5 hrs
HIST 310 Medieval History 5 hrs
HIST 315 Renaissance and Reformation 5 hrs
HIST 345 Ohio History 5 hrs
HIST 410 The Holocaust and the 20th Century 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

INST 380 Non-Western Religions 5 hrs
INST 382 African Culture and Colonialism 5 hrs
HIST 330 Modern China 5 hrs
HIST 340 Russia and the Soviet Union 5 hrs
HIST 430 The Atlantic World 5 hrs
HIST 450 Vietnam in the 20th Century 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

HIST 480 History Seminar 5 hrs
P SC 230 Methods of Inquiry 5 hrs

Select one course from the following:

HIST 420 Economic History 5 hrs**
HIST 425 American Economic and Business History 5 hrs **
ECON 210 Principles of Microeconomics 5 hrs

** Recommended courses.

Total 40 hrs

Praxis II

MCHD candidates must successfully pass the Praxis II PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) and the Praxis II content area test for each content/teaching area. Otterbein College cannot recommend any candidate for licensure who has not passed all of the required tests. Information about the Praxis II tests is available in the Education Department, the Courtright Memorial Library, and is available in the Otterbein College bookstore and on-line at www.ets.org.

Graduate Professional Education Requirements

Select two concentration area Field Courses (2 hrs each) 4 hrs

Total Hours 50 hrs

Reading Requirements

The State of Ohio requires 18 quarter hours of reading to teach grades K-6, including the teaching of Phonics. The following courses meet this requirement and are included in the requirements listed above:

EDUC 170 Phonics 5 hrs
EDUC 363 Adolescent Literature in a Comprehensive Reading Program 3 hrs

EDUC 530 - Reading Methods and Materials for Middle Childhood

To complete the 18 hours reading requirement, select one course from the following:

EDUC 336 Reading Field Experience (100 hour field experience) 5 hrs
EDUC 380 Literacy in Content Areas 5 hrs

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Master of Arts in Teaching

Knowledge Base: Theme Statement

Admission

Licensure Requirements

Program Completion

MAT Program Curriculum

General Education

Two courses in composition and literature

Concentration Areas

Concentration Areas for Middle Childhood Program (Grades 4 to 9)

Reading/Language Arts

Select one course from the following:

Select one course from the following:

Select one course from the following:

Total 45 hrs

Mathematics

Total 45 hrs

Science

Select one course from the following:

Total 35 hrs

Social Studies

Select one course from the following:

Select one course from the following:

Select one course from the following:

Select one course from the following:

Total 40 hrs

Praxis II

Graduate Professional Education Requirements

Select two concentration area Field Courses (2 hrs each) 4 hrs

Total Hours 50 hrs

Reading Requirements

To complete the 18 hours reading requirement, select one course from the following:

Total 18 hrs