This program of study prepares candidates to earn an Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree and meet the performance standards of the English Second Language (pre-K-12) license. Teacher candidates complete a variety of courses which provide comprehensive, integrated opportunities to build their knowledge about language and literacy skills specific to working with linguistically diverse students. ESL coursework is designed to help candidates identify and implement knowledge of the English language and theories of second language acquisition in multiple disciplines and connect them with research-based practices that support active engagement, comprehension, and the sharing of objectives through speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Candidates complete a one year clinical internship experience.
Completion of the Professional Core (9-12 hours) is a pre-requisite to admission into the internship pathway:
Belmont graduates who are completing the 4+1 pathway complete the professional core as part of their undergraduate minor in education: The minor consists of the 18-hours of which 9 hours are the professional core and 9 hours of EDU/related electives. As part of this path, Belmont undergraduates apply for graduate school during their undergraduate senior year. If accepted for admission and after undergraduate graduation, students complete the Internship in the “plus one” year and earn an MAT degree.
Graduate students interested in the internship pathway having completed an appropriate academic major at another institution: Additional coursework may be required as stipulated by the State of Tennessee for a student to apply for their teaching license. Appropriate transcript analyses will inform students of their need for further licensure area coursework. These candidates follow the graduate admission application process and if accepted, are admitted to the Education MAT Graduate Program first. As post-baccalaureate MAT graduate students, these candidates are required to successfully complete a 9-12-hour Professional Core and pass Gateway 2 before beginning the internship program.
During the M.A.T. internship year, interns teach full time alongside a school-based mentor for two semesters. Interns are treated as full-time teachers and as such participate in the same daily schedule and school calendar as their mentors. Each semester is organized to allow the interns to gradually assume greater responsibility for organizing and leading instruction and classroom management. After co-teaching with their mentor for several weeks, interns assume more of the decision-making role for approximately eight weeks. Mentors model effective teaching practices, teach with, observe, and confer with interns on a daily basis during all phases of the intern cycle. The Director of the Clinical Program and University Supervisors provide additional supports in terms of site visits, observations, feedback, and evaluation.
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