UMD Master of Arts in Teaching
Revised Program 9/1/06

Core Courses:

MAT 610 Educational Research and Technology should be the first course taken in the program. Ideally, the MAT prefixed courses should be taken in order. MAT 614 Curriculum Theory and Practice is the capstone course taken in the program and has a prerequisite of the completion of 21 credits in the program. A final research paper/project is completed in this course. The paper/project is presented at the end of the semester in an open forum. Ideally the capstone project would consist of an action research project but other applied projects or papers are possible and a faculty member in the content area should be utilized as a reader for the paper/project.

Students who plan a research career in Education may choose to write a Master Thesis under MAT 699. Such students should consult with their MAT advisor about which course, in addition to MAT 614 should be substituted for the thesis.

New Course Descriptions:

MAT 610 Educational Research and Technology
Develop the techniques and criteria for understanding and conducting action research in education in preparation for the capstone project in MAT 614. Additional emphasis placed on using technology as an effective teaching and learning tool. Topics include research strategies, literature reviews, research design, data collection, and quantitative and qualitative research techniques.

MAT 611 History and Foundations of American Education
A study of historical and contemporary issues in American Education that include major educational issues from various disciplines, policies, and trends. The disciplines of philosophy, psychology, sociology, and history will provide an intellectual foundation designed to develop an awareness of and critical disposition to pressing concerns in American Education.

MAT 612 Instructional Methodology
The course will focus on theoretical and practical support for attending to issues of student differentiation, environments that support responsive teaching, principles of effective classroom differentiation, instructional and management strategies that support differentiation, and the roles of assessment in differentiation. The course is structured to assist participants in developing approaches to modifying content and process in mixed ability classrooms in order to address the varied readiness, interests, and learning profile needs of a variety of learners.

MAT 613 Urban Education and Social Issues
Provides conceptual frameworks for understanding how race and class operate in schools and instructional methods to ensure inclusive education. Particular emphasis on addressing the diversity needs of our region, including the needs of English language learners.

MAT 614 Curriculum: Theory and Practice
Prerequisite: Completion of 21 credits, including MAT 610.
A study of curriculum dimensions, concepts, design, and products for varied student populations and school settings. This course focuses on curriculum planning for multicultural and multisector educational levels, research of curriculum development, and the study of curriculum issues, trends, and innovations. The capstone project for this course fulfills the expectations for the MAT degree.