The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-education program with appropriate teaching majors and minors, and who desire both a master’s degree and Michigan Standard Teaching Certification at either the elementary or secondary level. Teaching certification can be earned prior to completion of the master’s degree requirements (see Teaching Certification at Certification Requirements). Each of the M.A.T. programs consists of graduate-level courses (several involving work with children in a school setting) and field experiences (pre-student teaching for one semester and student teaching for one semester).

Information regarding teaching certificate requirements can be found at the Teaching Certificates section of this bulletin.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School and the College of Education Division of Teacher Education. In order to be eligible for admission, all M.A.T. applicants must submit the following: Scores from a nationally normed test (i.e., ACT, SAT), verification of participation in group work with children, a negative Tuberculosis (TB) test completed within the last three years,  and a Criminal History Background check completed through Castle Branch. Additional testing is required for Foreign Language majors and minors and Bilingual-Bicultural Education minors prior to admission. Students without appropriate teaching majors and minors and other general education requirements will be required to complete the necessary coursework as post-degree students before entering the M.A.T. program.

Persons interested in the elementary or secondary education M.A.T. degrees should consult with an advisor in the Teacher Education Division regarding appropriate teaching majors and minors and the process for a formal transcript evaluation.

Testing in the content areas is required for State Certification and completed near the end of the professional coursework. 
The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) examination scores must be furnished directly to Wayne State University by Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson, the MTTC testing agency. When registering for the MTTC, students should select "Wayne State University (31)" as a "College or University to Receive Scores."

Students whose examination scores were not released to Wayne State University should request an original score report from Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson. The scores must be mailed directly from Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson to Wayne State University. An original score report is required by the Michigan Department of Education for verification of test scores.