Department of Education

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Science

In one year, successful MAT candidates will earn a master's degree and preparation for certification to teach biology, chemistry, or physics/engineering in grades 7-12.

Science is one of many powerful lenses we use to understand ourselves, the world, and the universe. It is exciting, ever-evolving, and always relevant. However, secondary science education has failed historically to engage diverse learners in essential questions, meaning-making, and inquiry that are based on phenomena and curiosity, especially in urban contexts.

Our Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in Secondary Science seeks to develop passionate science educators who leverage students' funds of knowledge in culturally responsive classrooms where students not only learn science ideas but also engage actively in science practices and realize their potential as scientific thinkers and contributors to the field.

Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree that includes a concentration of coursework in biology, chemistry, physics/engineering, or a related area to be admitted into the program.
 

Our MAT program starts each year in June (Summer Term). The application for graduate admission opens in early September and is due January 15 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
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Faculty Supervisor – Science Cohort

Essential Information

Transcript Requirements for Biology  
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) before entering the program which include foundations in:

  • Botany 
  • Zoology 
  • Physiology 
  • Genetics 
  • Ecology

Transcript Requirements for Chemistry — 
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) before entering the program which include:

  • Organic chemistry
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Physical chemistry
  • Biochemistry

Transcript Requirements for Physics/Engineering — 
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) before entering the program which include:

  • Mechanics 
  • Electricity and Magnetism 
  • Optics 
  • Properties of Matter
  • Thermodynamics

Other Scientific Fields of Study ––
Those with related majors should contact Diane Silva Pimentel to inquire about whether their courses meet certification requirements.

  • Online application. The application opens in September and is due January 15. 
  • Transcripts. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before the start of classes.

  • Three (3) letters of recommendation. Applications may be submitted without all three letters of recommendation, but an admission decision will not be released until they are received.

  • Personal statement. It should address why you want to teach your subject to structurally and economically disadvantaged students and how you believe education can be a tool for equity.

  • Resume/CV. Teaching experience or coursework in education is not required, though we expect applicants to have prior work with children or adolescents. 

  • TOEFL/IELTS: Required for any non-native English speaker who does not have a degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction.

  • Interview for selected candidates: An interview may be requested of potential candidates for admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to come to Brown for an interview, but a telephone or virtual interview may be arranged if necessary.

The GRE is not required to apply for the MAT program. 

MAT candidates begin a summer session running from mid-June through early August. 

MAT candidates then begin year-long teaching residencies in late August, and coursework in early September. The year concludes with Commencement at the end of May.

The design of the program makes it necessary for all students to begin the program in June and complete the 12-month sequence.

The following plan of study is required of all secondary Science MAT students:

EDUC 2500

Foundations of Teaching and Learning  

EDUC 2510C

Educational Theory and Practice 1: Science  

EDUC 2515

Learning Theory and Special Populations  

EDUC 2520C

Educational Theory and Practice for Science II  

EDUC 2525

Instructional Design, Planning, and Integrating Technology  

EDUC 2530C

Educational Theory and Practice in Teaching Science III  

EDUC 2535

Teaching Literacy and Language to Emerging Bilinguals Across the Disciplines I  

EDUC 2545

Teaching Literacy and Language to Emerging Bilinguals Across the Disciplines II  

EDUC 2555

Assessment and Using Data to Support Student Learning  

EDUC 2565

Practicum and Seminar I  

EDUC 2575

Student Teaching and Seminar  

EDUC 2385

Education Inequality and Community Assets: Contexts and Change

The following tuition charges are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year. Tuition generally increases by 3-5% each year. Tuition and fee charges for the 2024-2025 academic year will be set in early 2024. 

Per Credit $8,207
8 credits required for degree completion $65,656

Learn more about masters tuition and fees

The MAT program awards both need and merit-based scholarships, with the majority of funds dedicated to need-based awards. All applicants will be considered automatically for limited merit-based funds.

Learn more here.

Urban Education Fellowship

Applicants are encouraged to apply for an Urban Education Fellowship (UEF). As part of Brown University’s commitment to the local Providence community, the Fellowship offers loan forgiveness if the Fellow teaches for three years after program completion in a school in Rhode Island's urban core region. 

To apply for this fellowship, you will need to submit a separate essay with your application describing how your experiences and commitments prepare you to be a strong teacher for Providence-area urban youth.

Upon successful completion of all components of the Teacher Education program, MAT candidates receive a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

After completing these requirements and passing the required Praxis II tests (Discipline Specific Test Secondary) candidates are eligible to receive initial certification from the RI Department of Education.

Rhode Island is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement, allowing graduates reciprocal certification without transcript evaluation in most states. Graduates of the program may be eligible for teacher certification by transcript evaluation in states that are not NASDTEC members. Please note that several states require additional testing such as Massachusetts, New York, and California.

Multilingual learners (MLLs), who speak a wide variety of heritage languages in addition to learning English, comprise 10% of the U.S. school population, with numbers growing across the country.

Students in the MAT program enroll in a yearlong course dedicated to learning differentiation strategies for multilingual learners in their disciplines. They examine the intersection of culture and language, learn about the process of second language acquisition, and discuss specific issues affecting MLLs, including testing, family engagement, and challenges facing children who enter the U.S., and specifically Rhode Island, during their middle or high school years.

Through examination of sheltered instruction strategies, integration of WIDA English language development standards, and review of culturally responsive pedagogies, MATs will learn to plan and deliver high-quality instruction that is differentiated to meet the needs of MLLs. Students have multiple opportunities to practice strategies with multilingual learners in their residency sites and to reflect on their pedagogy with MATs in different disciplines. Through successful completion of the course, MATs will earn an MLL endorsement for their Rhode Island State Certification.

Please see our events calendar for a schedule of upcoming information sessions.

When I graduated college I reflected on my vision for the world and the world I would want to live in. It was then that I realized that teaching was the right field for me. Teaching is shaping the future of our world and empowering students to pursue their passions and curiosity. Moreover, I decided to teach science because I believe scientific inquiry can be a powerful tool for understanding social justice issues.

Sarosha Hemani, MAT'21 Science Teacher, Central Falls High School, RI
 
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