MAT-302 EDUCATING ADOLESCENTS emphasizes theories of adolescent development and educational psychology and presents material on adult development and mentoring. The course focuses on the process of reflection on teaching and learning by introducing students to theory that will be applied to practice in the internship. It provides the basis for students to understand their own experience and development in the internship.

MAT-303 EFFECTIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES focuses on the practical strategies of teaching adolescents, including time management, planning for instruction, instructional presentation, designing effective lessons, feedback, promoting critical thinking skills, and cooperative learning. The entire cohort of MAT candidates takes the first portion of the class. In the second portion of the class, students work with other MAT candidates in the discipline for specific instructions on teaching those subject areas.

MAT-343 TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS is the seminar that supports the two-semester internship in which students learn how to use the classroom as a laboratory to investigate problems of teaching and learning.  Students learn how to modify instruction for special needs adolescents, and they take those skills back to the classroom and implement strategies under the direction of their mentor teachers.  Likewise, they learn how to teach students whose first language is not English.  Throughout MAT-343, MAT students continue to work with experts in pedagogy and adolescent psychology, and they learn how to create conflict-free classrooms.  MAT-343 spans both semesters.  The culminating work is the master’s portfolio.