How to Apply
Brown University's MAT program seeks candidates with a strong commitment to youth, knowledge of school contexts, subject expertise, a record of achievement, and a belief in teaching to disrupt educational inequality.
How to Apply
Brown University's MAT program seeks candidates with a strong commitment to youth, knowledge of school contexts, subject expertise, a record of achievement, and a belief in teaching to disrupt educational inequality.
The MAT Admissions Committee takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to reviewing applications. We urge applicants to highlight their experiences with children and schools in their essays and interviews. We recommend selecting recommenders who are familiar with you and can speak about various aspects of your candidacy.
Applicants are strongly advised to have some prior experience working with children or teenagers, such as in roles like tutoring, mentoring, or counseling. No previous teaching experience or an education degree is required. Coursework in your desired content area or teaching field (i.e., the subject you want to teach) is not included in the MAT program and must be completed beforehand.
Application
The application for graduate admission opens in early September and is due January 15 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Our graduate programs start in June (Summer Term).
Application Process and Materials
Coursework Requirements
Applicants should have a bachelor's degree or significant coursework completed in the subject for which they plan to seek certification. Please see below for each content area's required background and coursework for admission.
If you have questions about your previous coursework or would like a transcript analysis, please identify which 8-10 courses on your transcript meet the requirements of the desired content area and send a copy of your transcript to the appropriate faculty member.
English applicants should have a Bachelor's Degree with a major in English or substantial study in a related area of study. Applicants whose areas of study are Comparative Literature, American Studies, African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Creative Writing or Composition are encouraged to speak with Laura Snyder to inquire about whether their courses meet certification requirements.
Transcript Requirements for English —
A minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) in English or related areas is required for admission and should include work in the following:
- Theories of writing or theories of teaching writing
- Critical theory
- Literature of the Western canon, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the English romantic poets
- American literature
- American ethnic literature
- Modern and contemporary literature
- Literature in translation or world literature
- Poetry
- Drama
- Linguistics, focusing on the structure of language and social influences on language development and use
- Media studies
Mathematics applicants should have a Bachelor's Degree with a major in mathematics or have substantial study in related areas. Those with related majors should contact Indira Gil to inquire about whether their courses meet certification requirements.
Transcript Requirements for Mathematics —
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) in mathematics which include:
- Linear algebra
- Differential equations
- Statistics
- Geometry
- Calculus
Science applicants should have a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in biology, chemistry, physics/engineering or substantial study in related areas. Those with related majors should contact Diane Silva Pimentel to inquire about whether their courses meet certification requirements.
Transcript Requirements for Biology —
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 8 courses (or 30 units) before entering the program which includes 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 includes:
- 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
Social Studies applicants should have a Bachelor's Degree with a major in history or a social science field (excluding psychology) or substantial study in related areas. Those with related majors should contact John Palella to inquire about whether their courses meet certification requirements.
Transcript Requirements for Social Studies —
Applicants should have completed a minimum of 9 courses (or 36 units) distributed in multiple areas of social studies. Applicants should have at least 1 course in each of the following areas: American/U.S. History, Non-Western History, and Ethnic Studies. Their coursework should also show evidence of a breadth of knowledge that encompasses these areas:
- Western Civilization
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Geography
- Political Science
- Sociology