Lead Faculty: Dr. Dee L. Fabry
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is designed for practicing educators who want to enhance their teaching skills, broaden their intellectual and professional understanding by interrelating educational theory and practice to promote lifelong learning efforts, and sustain their commitment as instructional leaders in the K-12 settings.
Upon completion of this program, candidates are expected to:
Degree Requirements (10 courses; 45 quarter units)
To receive a Master of Arts in Teaching, students must complete 45 quarter units of graduate work. A total of 4.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree.
Those holding National Board Certification qualify for a waiver of one of the following courses: MAT 641, MAT 642, MAT 643, or MAT 644.
Note: Students must have access to Microsoft Office on either a PC or Mac platform.
Core Requirements (6 courses; 27 quarter units)
EDT 612 - Creating Meaningful Learning with Technology
MAT 641 - Education and Social Pluralism
MAT 642 - Program Design
MAT 643 - Models of Teaching
MAT 644 - Foundations of Curriculum
MAT 640 - Applications of Research
(To be taken as the last course in the MAT program)
or
NBC 639 - Leadership Portfolio *
(Only for students in the National Board Certified Teacher Leadership Specialization)
or
MAT 655 - Leadership Impact Seminar *
(*Only for students in the Teacher Education Specialization)
or
MAT 640C - Action Res for the Read Spec (Only for students in the Reading Specialization)
(Prerequisites: Successful completion of MAT 645, MAT 646, MAT 647A, & MAT 647B)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Specialization (903)
Faculty Advisor: Bill Matthew * (661) 864-2360 * wmatthew@nu.edu
The five course sequence in applied behavior analysis is designed to prepare candidates for the national certification examination sponsored by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Applicants for the Certification as a Behavior Analyst will have to meet additional requirements to qualify. All five ABA courses must be taken from National University in order to earn this certificate.
Note: Upon successful completion of this five course sequence, the candidate will receive a Certificate of Completion from National University. This is NOT professional certification by the Behavioral Analysis Certification Board, Inc. (BACB) and does NOT entitle the candidate to claim that they are certified behavior analysis or Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Candidates must take the national certification exam and apply for the professional certificate.
Candidates who are pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching may qualify for the Certificate in Behavioral Analysis provided that the candidate requests the certificate prior to the completion of their degree program.
Prior to qualifying to take the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam, candidates must complete 1500 hours of fieldwork, which is supervised by BACB member. National University does not provide this supervision.
Required Courses (5 courses; 22.5 quarter units)
ABA 601 Assessment in ABA
ABA 602 Processes of ABA
(Prerequisite: ABA 601)
ABA 603 Applications of ABA
(Prerequisite: ABA 602)
ABA 604 Advanced Applications I
(Prerequisite: ABA 603)
ABA 605 Advanced Applications II
(Prerequisite: ABA 603)
Autism Specialization and Certificate (904)
Faculty Advisor: KayDee Caywood * (310) 258-6672 * kcaywood@nu.edu
This specialization is designed for those interested in working with and teaching students that fall within the Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
EXC 621 - Intro Students w/Autism Spect
EXC 622 - Assess & Behavioral App in Aut.
EXC 623 - Intervention/Instr. w/Aut.
EXC 624 - Autism Collab w/Parents & Fam.
Best Practices Specialization (744)
Faculty Advisor: Linda Ventriglia-Nova * (916) 855-4160 * lventrig@nu.edu
The Best Practices program implements research-based practices that accelerate student achievement. It involves the following effective teaching practices: vocabulary development, comprehensive strategies, accelerated English language learning, higher level questioning, differentiated and targeted instruction, student engagement strategies, cooperative grouping patterns, and standard-based instruction. Along with learning the strategies listed above, candidates will be taught how to create multidisciplinary standards-based lesson plans.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
MAT 670 - Theory Best Practice Teaching
MAT 671 - Applied Best Practice Strategies in Classroom Instruction
MAT 674 - Differentiated Instruction
MAT 675 - Integrating Multimedia
Early Childhood Education Specialization/Certificate (741)
Faculty Advisor: Susan Gilbert * (310) 662-2163 * sgilbert@nu.edu
The Early Childhood Education Specialization program has been designed to include the competencies and guidelines as established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Advanced Program standards. The certificate is also structured to meet the State of California Child Development Permit Matrix requirements for employment in pre-school settings and does not confer a State of California teaching credential or license.
Non-residents of California; military personnel or their dependents; and international students should contact the Department of Education of the state in which they reside or intend to reside, or the Ministry of Education of the country in which they live, to determine specific requirements for employment. State or country specific coursework, in addition to the certificate program, may be required to obtain a permit, license or credential necessary for employment. Candidates assume the responsibility for determining and meeting these requirements.
The four course sequence specializing in early childhood education is designed to prepare candidates with teaching experience for meeting the unique needs of teaching children from birth to age 8.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
ECE 650 - The Early Childhood Teacher
ECE 651 - Transitions in Early Childhood
ECE 652 - Cognition and the Young Child
ECE 653 - Best ECE Teaching Practices
Early Childhood Special Education Specialization (898)
Faculty Advisor: Lucinda Kramer * (714) 429-3132 * lkramer@nu.edu
This specialization is designed for individuals who have completed Level II coursework in special education and hold a Professional Specialist Credential, Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Severe disabilities. Completion of the specialization extends teaching authorization from birth through 22.
Prerequisites
Completion of Level II coursework in either Mild/Moderate, Moderate/Severe Education Specialist credential, Learning, Handicapped or Severely Handicapped credentials, and experience in early childhood development with a concentration in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Professionals in other fields should schedule an appointment with lead faculty in special education for admission.
Required Courses (6 courses; 27 quarter units)
EXC 603 - Dev. EC Spec Needs
EXC 605 - Assessment ECSE
EXC 606 - ECSE Family & Partnership
EXC 607 - IFSP Process
EXC 608 - ECSE Interventions
EXC 609 - ECSE Field Experience (must be the last course)
Additional Requirements for the Certificate and Application Information
After completing their coursework successfully, students must meet with a credential advisor to complete the exit paperwork and application for the certificate to the CTC.
Educational Technology Specialization (745)
Faculty Advisor: Cynthia Chandler * (858) 309-3457 * cchandler@nu.edu
This specialization is designed for individuals wishing to develop their knowledge and skills for using technology in the educational setting.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
EDT 605 - Technology and Educational Theories and Practices
EDT 610 - Teaching in the Online and Hybrid Environment
EDT 660 - Multimedia and Interactive Technologies
EDT 671 - Curriculum Design for Online Learning
National Board Certified Teacher Leadership Specialization and Certificate (897)
Faculty Advisor: Ronarae Adams * (858)642-8352 * radams@nu.edu
The School of Education and National Board Certified Teacher Center provide the following services, opportunities, and program enhancements for new, practicing, and retired practitioners. The five-course sequence is designed to meet the needs of two groups of teachers:
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
(NBC 639 is the capstone course and replaces the general MAT 640 required for the Master of Arts in Teaching.)
NBC 680 - Quality Teaching and Learning
NBC 681 - Membership in Learning Communities
NBC 682 - Videotape Analysis
NBC 683 - Student Work and Assessments
Reading Specialization and Certificate (740)
Faculty Advisor: Marilyn Moore * (858)642-8301 * mmoore@nu.edu
This five-course sequence is designed to meet the needs of teachers who already have a valid teaching credential and want to attain a specialty in assessing student reading capabilities and provide appropriate reading instruction in response to those assessments. (MAT 640C is the capstone course and replaces the general MAT 640 required for the Master of Arts in Teaching.)
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
MAT 645 - Dev. Fluency in Reading
MAT 646 - Comprehension Strategies
MAT 647A - Lang Arts Assess and Instruc I
(Prerequisites: MAT 645, MAT 646)
MAT 647B - Fld St: Lan Art Assess & In II
(Prerequisites: MAT 645, MAT 646, MAT 647A)
Completion of the reading specialization qualifies the candidate for a state of California Reading Certificate. Upon successful completion, the candidate should contact their credential advisor for the reading certification application procedures. All courses must be taken at National University No coursework is accepted from another university for this program and no substitutions are allowed.
Special Education Specialization (747)
(5 courses; 18 quarter units for students seeking a CA Level II Education Specialist Credential)
(905) (4 courses; 18 quarter units for students not seeking a CA Level II Education Specialist Credential)
Faculty Advisor: Stuart Schwartz * (858) 642-8371 * sschwartz@nu.edu
Individuals who desire to obtain the Level II Education Specialist Credential (CA) must complete the following five courses:
EXC 655A - Professional Induction Seminar (3 quarter units)
EXC 656 - Best Practices Spec Needs Stud
EXC 657 - Comm. Resources & Transition
EXC 658 - Adv. Spc. Mild/Moderate
or
EXC 659 - Adv. Spc. Moderate/Severe
EXC 655B - Exit Seminar (1.5 quarter units)
Individuals who are not seeking the Level II Education Specialist Credential (CA) should complete the following three courses and choose one elective from the below list:
EXC 656 - Best Practices Spec Needs Stud
EXC 657 - Comm. Resource & Transition
EXC 658 - Adv. Spc. Mild/Moderate
or
EXC 659 Adv. Spc. Moderate/Severe
Elective:
EXC 615 - Tech for Persons w/Disab.
EXC 620 - Positive Behavior Support
EXC 644 - Reading Methods for Special Education
EXC 650 - Consultation and Collaboration
Teacher Leadership Specialization (899)
Faculty Advisor: Sid Castle * (858) 642-9351 * scastle@nu.edu
This five-course specialization comes from the Advanced Learning Press’ Center for Performance Assessment, which offers a unique master’s degree program that provides teachers with the skills and theories to be leaders in their classrooms and schools. It is a collaborative effort with Advanced Learning Press, which already offers a ten course master’s degree in educational leadership. All the courses will be offered online. Similar to the National Board Specialization, the capstone is an alternative course to MAT 640 Applications of Research for the Art of Teaching. The capstone course is MAT 655 Leadership Impact: Synthesis of Theory and Practice.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
MAT 651 - Assessing Educational Leaders
MAT 652 - Leadership Accountability
MAT 653 - Motivational Leadership
MAT 654 - Seminar in Social Issues
Teaching and Learning in a Global Society Specialization (746)
Faculty Advisor: Gwendolyn Stowers * (858) 642-8333 * gstowers@nu.edu
The Teaching and Learning in a Global Society Specialization is geared to provide candidates with knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively teach the increasingly diverse students in our society.
Required Courses (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
TED 665 - Cognition, Lang. & Cult
TED 666 - Cultural and Linguistics
TED 667 - Diversity and Change
TED 668 - Multicultural Literature
This program is available online.
National University is an affiliate of the National University System.