In Massachusetts, teachers need to earn their Professional Licensure after they’ve taught for 5 years in a public school. A Professional Licensure helps you deepen your content knowledge and strengthen your teaching practices.
Our MAT-Professional Licensure program combines five advanced pedagogy courses along with five content courses, and has the flexibility to allow you to earn credit toward licensure in Special Education or English as a Second Language.
For students who have already earned their masters degree, we offer the opportunity to advance your teaching license. Our program provides you with the content courses needed to earn a Professional Licensure. Students are eligible for their professional licensure if they:
- hold an Initial License from another institution
- have obtained an Initial license through a district-based program
- have same area and level as Initial License
MAT students can prepare for professional licensure in:
- Biology, grades 8-12
- Chemistry, grades 8-12
- English, grades 5-8
- English, grades 8-12
- French, grades 5-12
- General Science, grades 5-8
- History, grades 5-8
- History, grades 8-12
- Mathematics, grades 5-8
- Mathematics, grades 8-12
- Physics, grades 8-12
- Political Science/Political Philosophy, grades 5-8
- Political Science/Political Philosophy, grades 8-12
- Portuguese, grades 5-12
- Spanish, grades 5-12
4+1 BA/BS-MAT: a fast track to teaching
UMass Dartmouth undergraduates may enroll in up to 15 credits of graduate-level education courses in place of five free electives in their undergraduate program. These five courses complete half the master's degree as an undergraduate, significantly reducing the time and costs associated with earning a graduate degree.
Changes to Graduate Studies admission requirements
In response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, admission requirements for graduate degree and certificate programs may have changed.
Learn more about changes to requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in content area or closely related field from an accredited university with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- Completed application for the master’s degree program (MAT).
- Personal statement describing your beliefs about teaching and learning and why you have chosen teaching as a profession.
- Two letters of recommendation from someone who can attest to your ability/potential as a teacher.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
- Copies of MTEL score reports Communication and Literacy (01) and content area.
- Resume.
- Copy of Preliminary License or Initial License (if applicable).
Non-licensure requirements
- Copy of Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), or scores from one nationally normed test (GRE, GMAT, any MTEL, etc)
- 2 letters of recommendation
Professional licensure requirements
- Proof of initial licensure
- 2 letters of recommendation