Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching is an individualized, project-based graduate program for teachers who want to deepen their knowledge of how to teach their subject, as well as enhance their understanding of contemporary educational issues and pedagogical content knowledge. The add-on Catholic Educator Emphasis allows participants planning to work in Catholic schools to delve into the intersections of faith and education, as well as the ways in which Catholic education serves as a tool for social change in marginalized communities.

How long is the program?

Credential + MAIT

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree can earn their teaching credential and their Master of Arts in Teaching in just 18 months.
Multiple Subject: 38 MSTE credential units + 12 MAIT units = 50 units
Single Subject: 34 SSTE credential units + 12 MAIT units = 46 units
Education Specialist: 37 SPED credential units + 12 MAIT units = 49 units
Classes for our one-year credential programs meet on campus. Credential completers can opt to continue with the online Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Online MAIT Only (current teachers)

The 30-unit online MAIT-only program is made up of four core courses and at least one elective. Applicants who have completed a credential as a post-baccalaureate student at Saint Mary’s College or another accredited program in California can typically complete the program in 11 months. Other options include an accelerated 6-month schedule (recommended for students who can attend full-time during the summer, with no other commitments), or courses can be spread out over multiple years. It is possible to take classes only during summers if that is most convenient for you. The program must be completed within 5 years. 

The program culminates in the design of an original Capstone Project, to be used in the classroom or broader school community.

Applicants who do not hold a California teaching credential are still eligible to earn their Master of Arts in Teaching at Saint Mary’s College. For more details, contact admissions at ksoe@stmarys-ca.edu.

For students who earned their credential as undergraduates at Saint Mary’s

MAIT is 30 units total: Up to 9 units of dual credit is accepted from your completed SMC credential program. The remaining 21 units will be 12 units of required SMC graduate level MAIT courses, plus electives.

For credentialed non-Saint Mary’s College applicants

MAIT is 30 units total: Up to 15 units of post-baccalaureate credits accepted from the credential program you completed. The remaining 15 units will be 12 units of required SMC graduate level MAIT courses, plus electives.

For non-credentialed applicants

MAIT is 30 units total: Up to 15 units of post-baccalaureate credits may be accepted. Students will complete 12 units of required SMC graduate level MAIT courses, plus electives.

For credentialed Catholic Education Emphasis applicants

MAIT is 30 units total: Up to 12 units of post-baccalaureate credits accepted from the credential program you completed. The remaining 18 units will be 12 units of required SMC graduate level MAIT courses, plus two 500 level TRS courses (6 units) for the emphasis in Catholic Education. Your capstone project will also center on a topic related to Catholic Education. 

For non-credentialed Catholic Education Emphasis applicants

MAIT is 30 units total: Up to 12 units of post-baccalaureate credits may be accepted. Students will complete 12 units of required SMC graduate level MAIT courses, plus electives, plus two 500 level TRS courses (6 units) for the emphasis in Catholic Education. The capstone project will also center on a topic related to Catholic Education. 

Program Director

Jill Rathjen, M.Ed., jar2@stmarys-ca.edu

Learning Outcomes

1. Create a set of guiding questions focused on a subject area and topic taught in school in which the student wishes to develop deep expertise; utilize these guiding questions in self-directed study, professional development and field-based experiential learning.
2. Access, evaluate and summarize resources and experiences for improving understanding of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, by seeking answers to the guiding questions, including carrying out in-depth interviews with experienced teachers of the chosen subject.
3. Assess, summarize and communicate the usefulness of a wide variety of content-specific educational resources, including primary texts and materials, secondary sources, sites for experiential learning, textbooks, and computer-mediated learning environments.
4. Demonstrate the integration of knowledge acquired in the program by creating a web-based repository for content-specific resources, with full documentation of sources, organized and annotated in a way that makes it useful for other educators.
5. Investigate and articulate major challenges involved in teaching in a specific subject area, locate and read relevant theory and research, and develop pedagogical strategies, approaches and techniques to improve instruction in this area.
6. Summarize, synthesize and reformulate research findings, theories and applications of pedagogical content knowledge for a specific subject area, in the form of a broad and deep review of the scholarly literature in the area.
7. Design and create a Capstone Project synthesizing the learning constructed during the course in the areas of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, as well as progress in the application of this knowledge in teaching a specific topic. Deliver a summary presentation of this project to the Kalmanovitz School of Education.