Wilkes University Aims to Address Teacher Shortage with Master of Arts Degree in Teaching
“We believe every student deserves access to a high-quality education,” said Deborah Zbegner, dean of the College of Health and Education at Wilkes. “The shortage of teachers poses a formidable challenge and Wilkes is committed to delivering this creative and transformative master of arts in teaching program.”
Designed for people who already have a bachelor’s degree but are not currently licensed to teach, the master of arts degree in teaching (MAT) offers a path for college students and recent graduates who have developed an interest in teaching, as well as working professionals who want to pursue a new career path.
The program offers initial middle level certification to teach English, math, science or social studies for fourth through eighth grade. Once certified for middle level, participants can test for certification in other content areas or grade levels without pursuing an additional degree. “Once you have the initial certification, it opens the doors. You can take the state exam for almost any other subject,” said Tony Roma, associate director of graduate admissions. “In Pennsylvania, it’s all about the initial certification.”
To prepare for the initial certification, the Wilkes MAT requires students to complete 30 credits of general education requirements and professional practice courses. While the majority of the coursework is online, students also gain hands-on experience through field hours and student teaching. Wilkes is also an approved provider for intern certification, which means a student may obtain certification and a teaching position before completing the program, using the time in the classroom as their student teaching requirement.
Students can complete the MAT program in under two years, and the online courses and reasonable cost for graduate credits make the program attractive to working professionals. Program graduate Yosara (Yoshie) Gonzalez, originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, now resides in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The MAT program’s flexibility made it possible for Gonzalez to continue her educational journey and share her passion for learning.
“I love interacting with the students and learning from them,” said Gonzalez. “I like challenging them to be curious about life and be creative with the way they express their views. It is a symbiotic interaction between students and teachers. We grow and learn together, and they motivate me to keep up to date with the current times.”
With the MAT’s flexible nature and variety of different pathways for entry and program completion, the program makes it easy for those interested in changing careers to quickly begin changing lives in the classroom.