Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
The MAT Year
Inquiry. Collaboration. Reflection. These principles drive the foundation of the MAT year. The 12-month experience at Brown combines practice and theory through coursework and teaching placements in a variety of settings. Leading to teacher certification in elementary (grades 1-6) or secondary (grades 7-12) education that is reciprocal in 44 states, this yearlong program provides intensive, high-quality preparation that inspires candidates to become teacher leaders in their disciplines and in their schools.
Feedback. Personalization. Growth. The small size of the MAT program fosters meaningful connections with faculty who are experts on teaching and learning in their discipline. Building on a dynamic network of students, MAT candidates and alumni, mentor teachers, and faculty, the MAT program provides a rich experience that supports collaborative and reflective practices applied to excellent teaching and learning for all of our nation’s children.
Why Brown
The need for excellent teachers has never been greater. We believe teaching is intellectually challenging work that enhances knowledge and human sensitivity. It is work that can subtly but surely make a mark on the world. MAT graduates pursue leadership opportunities in the classroom and beyond. As teachers, educational researchers, school leaders, and community advocates, they seek to influence reform in our nation’s schools.
Course of Study
The Department of Education at Brown has a long history in teacher education. Both the elementary and the secondary M.A.T. programs are dedicated to the idea that teaching is creative and intellectually serious work. Those who are introduced to the craft of teaching at Brown are immersed in a community of education scholars and practitioners engaged in local, national and international efforts to assist education and the teaching profession. That community includes the Education Department faculty, the Education Alliance and the Annenberg Institute for School Reform. This rich environment fosters discussions about teaching practice and education reform.
Mission Statement
The Brown Teacher Education Program prepares future educators to understand fundamental principles of teaching and learning and to employ that understanding to work effectively with all children, youth, families and communities. Intentionally small in size, the program seeks to ensure that future teachers learn best practices in curriculum design and instruction, and to develop personal characteristics that enable them to work collaboratively with others. Student teachers are encouraged to seek constructive feedback, take risks, engage with colleagues in exploring sensitive issues of race, class, linguistic diversity, sexual orientation and gender, and to explore opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our commitment to contributing to the creation of a truly democratic, multiracial, multicultural society begins with the program’s work in the community and the schools and is best seen through the ability of graduates to reflect critically on their work and the world.