Frequently Asked Questions

• May I take courses in the MAT program prior to admission?
• Is there conditional admission?
• What if I don't meet all the admission requirements?
• What is the Career Commitment Essay (CCE)? When are the evaluations of the CCE scheduled?
• What undergraduate academic or teaching content majors are required for admission?
• What are the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test and PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises?
• May I retake the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test and PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises?
• What are non-program course requirements?
• May I be a part-time student?
• May I transfer education courses from another school prior to program matriculation?
• May I complete this program taking only late afternoon and evening courses?
• How many credits are required?
• When are MAT program courses scheduled?
• What are the kinds of activities and time estimate for FNED 546 and ELED 500?
• When should additional courses be completed?
• Can applicants earn middle level, special education, or other teaching endorsements?
• Will the MAT Program lead to teacher certification in Early Childhood (pre-K - Kindergarten)?
• When do I need to do a change in plan of study?
• How do I apply for the student teaching experience?
• How do I apply for teaching certification?
• When do I take my prerequisite courses?
• What is the process known as the performance assessment and what are its components?

May I take courses in the MAT program prior to admission?

The only program courses that may be taken prior to matriculation is CEP 552, ELED 500, and FNED 546.

Is there conditional admission?

No.

What if I don't meet all the admission requirements?

• If you don't meet the requirements because you lack certain background courses (e.g., college-level mathematics), you may be accepted but required to complete additional course work.
• If you do not achieve minimum score on PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test, we may suggest that you consider a second baccalaureate degree in elementary education.

What is the Career Commitment Essay (CCE)? When are the evaluations of the CCE scheduled?

The Career Commitment Essay and CCE score report are required components of the MAT application. A CCE scoring guide accompanies the application. Each essay is scored by a trained group of K-16 evaluators. Currently, there are five scheduled scoring days occurring in October, November, February, April, and June. The score report will be available to the applicant a week after the scoring day. The MAT Admission Committee will not review the application until the Committee receives the essay and CCE score report.

What undergraduate academic or teaching content majors are required for admission?

Unlike undergraduates in teacher education programs, you are not required to have a specific academic major or teaching content major. However, some districts require you to have a academic or content majors related to one or ore of the subjects that you will teach.

What are the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test and PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises?

These are two standardized tests required for teacher certification in the State of Rhode Island. The PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test is a multiple-choice test with 130 questions related to four content areas: mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. A score of 145 on the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test is required prior to admission. The PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises is a test where you apply your knowledge of teaching and content knowledge by hand-writing your response to the four prompts—one in each content area: mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. A score of 148 on the PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises is required prior to student teaching. See http://www.ets.org/ for more information about the nature of the test, topics covered, cost, registering, and schedule for testing. Both tests are two hours each. They can be taken together or separately.

May I retake the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test and PRAXIS II Content Area Exercises?

Yes.

What are non-program course requirements?

During the personal interview and plan of study meeting with the program advisor, the MAT applicant will understand what non-program courses are required prior to specific courses and student teaching. Prior to student teaching, MAT students will show evidence of:

• Two college-level math courses. Minimally, college level algebra, pre-calculus, or statistics. Grade C or better. If lacking, the MAT Admission Committee recommends MATH 143 and MATH 144. Complete prior to enrolling in math methods.
• Two college-level science courses in different areas that include lab work. Minimally, a balance of life and physical sciences. Grade C or better. If lacking, the MAT Admission Committee recommends BIOL 109 and PSCI 103. Complete prior to enrolling in science methods.
• Two college-level social science courses. Grade C or better. Complete prior to enrolling in social studies methods.
• Two college-level humanities courses. Grade C or better. Complete prior to enrolling in language arts/reading methods.
• Health/physical education-related course. Grade C or better. If lacking, the MAT Admission Committee recommends PED 346 or HED 346. Complete prior to student teaching.
• Fine or performing arts course. Grade C or better. If lacking, the MAT Admission Committee recommends ARTE 340 or MUSE 341. Complete prior to student teaching.

May I be a part-time student?

Yes. Certain courses need to be completed simultaneously with other courses. See program requirements for specific information.

May I transfer education courses from another school prior to program matriculation?

Usually, no. A graduate-level educational psychology course might be the exception.

May I complete this program taking only late afternoon and evening courses?

No. The program requires at least two semesters with some or all day-time classes.

How many credits are required?

40, although additional credits may be required by the MAT admissions committee.

When are MAT program courses scheduled?

• Both daytime and late afternoon/evening courses are required.
• ELED practicum courses are scheduled during the daytime (8 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Other graduate courses are scheduled from 4-7 p.m. or 7-10 p.m.
• Some 500-level program courses are available during the summer sessions.

What are the kinds of activities and time estimate for FNED 546 and ELED 500?

• FNED 546 Contexts of Schooling: The course is scheduled for four hours, one day/week. Also, there are 15 additional hours during the semester for observations/classroom work.
• ELED 500 Reflections: The Art and Science of Teaching: The course is scheduled for three hours, one day/week. Also, there are additional hours during the semester, which include 3-4 classroom observations and an 8-session after-school teaching project.

When should additional courses be completed?

Prior to ELED methods courses. Other course work is required prior to student teaching.

Can applicants earn middle level, special education, or other teaching endorsements?

Yes. Admission to the MAT program is required. Additional course work is above and beyond MAT program requirements.

Will the MAT Program lead to teacher certification in Early Childhood (pre-K - Kindergarten)?

No.

When do I need to do a change in plan of study?

If you change the course you are planning to take, you need to complete a change in plan of study with your advisor. For example, if you plan to take social studies with a practicum (ELED 536) and decide to take it without a practicum (ELED 528), you must complete a change in plan of study. If you decide to change when you take a course, with the exception of the first three courses (CEP 552, ELED 500, and FNED 546), you do not need to do anything. When making changes in your plan of study, you must complete a minimum of three methods courses with a practicum. One of those methods courses with a practicum is automatically built into the program: ELED 524 Developmental Reading MAT Practicum II. An audit will be completed to ensure this requirement is met before granting permission to student teach.

How do I apply for the student teaching experience?

All courses listed on your plan of study need to be completed before student teaching. In anticipation, you need to attend two information meetings during the semester one year prior to the one in which you plan to student teach. For example, if you plan to student teach in fall 2008, you must attend the information sessions in fall 2007. You will not be notified via letter; you must watch for postings on bulletin boards, contact the Office of School Partnerships and Field Experiences, or call your advisor to find out the time of the information sessions. The meetings are usually scheduled early in the semester. It is critical that you attend these meetings to allow the college sufficient time to secure a placement for you, and to learn about the application process and portfolio requirements for this part of your program. The Office of School Partnerships and Field Experiences holds one meeting in which you sign up for a student teaching placement. The other meeting is held by the Department of Elementary Education and is for the purpose of informing you about portfolio requirements.

How do I apply for teaching certification?

The coursework and field experiences in this program meet state requirements for certification in elementary education. Upon completion, you will earn a master of arts in teaching degree. To obtain certification in this state, you need to complete the necessary forms.

When do I take my prerequisite courses?

Prerequisite courses are required of students whose undergraduate work does not demonstrate the broad base of knowledge necessary for teaching. You need to take your prerequisite courses before taking methods courses to which they are associated. For example, if you have science prerequisite courses, you must take those before your science methods course. If you have math prerequisite courses, you must take those before your math methods course. Any other prerequisite courses should be taken as soon as possible and all prerequisite courses should be completed before student teaching.

What is the process known as the performance assessment and what are its components?

There is an assessment system in place to monitor candidates’ progress throughout the program and to ensure readiness to move on to each level of the program, from admission to student teaching. This system is known as the performance assessment system and began with your admission, during which your credentials were assessed, including the content knowledge from all previous college work, test scores, essay, and recommendations. The second phase begins with your program courses. During each program course, you will complete an assignment that will be the artifact for your Preparing to Student Teach Portfolio. Your course instructor will evaluate your artifact, which must be rated exemplary or acceptable for entrance in your portfolio. If revisions are necessary, they are completed under the guidance of the course instructor. These artifacts, along with your test scores on the state certification tests, an additional essay, and documentation that you have completed all courses on your plan of study, provide evidence that you are ready to student teach. This portfolio will be due in the semester before you student teach. The final phase of the portfolio assessment system is completed during student teaching. The evidence that you have satisfactorily completed all artifacts during this phase of the program will be contained in your Exit Portfolio. Your student teaching supervisor and cooperating teacher will provide instruction in the completion of this portfolio.