Teaching, M.A.T. (Single Subject - Licensure)
Degree Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) (Licensure), formerly Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), is a highly practical and flexible graduate degree designed to help you thrive as a classroom teacher. Ideal for both current and aspiring educators, this master’s program will equip you with the advanced skills and knowledge you need to become more effective and impactful in the classroom. With many specialization options, the M.A.T. (Licensure) allows you to choose a route that is tailored to your specific educational background and career interests.
The Single Subject Specialization prepares students who desire to earn a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved Single Subject credential while working towards a master's degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching (Licensure), students will be able to:
- Analyze, evaluate, and apply knowledge of current educational issues, settings, and legislative requirements from a biblical perspective (ULO 1).
- Identify personal assumptions and generalizations related to diversity (e.g., gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and [dis]abilities) while affirming that all students are valued as image bearers of God (ULO 2).
- Exhibit growth in one’s professional practice by utilizing professional databases, conducting empirical research, and articulating findings through effective communication in both speaking and writing. (ULO 1, 2, 3).
- Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content of the master of teaching program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2).
Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have completed all bachelor's requirements prior to the start of the program and must have a bachelor's degree conferred from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of the second term.
- Must be a California resident in order to fulfill fieldwork requirements.
- Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved organization and verified equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
- Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Writing proficiency will be evaluated for each applicant in one or more of the following ways: a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above; passage of the CBEST or all CSET subtests, an academic paper, the application essays, or the GRE. A proctored placement exam may be required.
- Applicants for whom English is not a primary language must verify a score of 100 iBT on the TOEFL exam.
- Complete Biola University's Graduate Education Application.
- Interview with a member of the School of Education.
- Satisfy or meet one area of the Basic Skills Requirement in an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option.
- Satisfy Subject Matter Competency by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option or continuous progress toward meeting the subject matter requirement.
- Hold a valid Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and submit valid TB tests results.
Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
Graduation Requirements
- M.A.T. (Licensure) core courses and Capstone must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
- Candidates must complete the Master of Arts in Teaching (Licensure) with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Candidates must successfully complete SEED 594 Action Research, and all professional requirements (e.g., conference requirement, concentration reflection) related to the coursework and Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs).
- Candidates must demonstrate professional behavior as an important aspect of their preparation to effectively impact the field of education (inside and beyond the classroom). For candidates on probationary status, or where a candidate has struggled with professional dispositions (scores of 1 or 2) these concerns may prevent the candidate from moving forward in the program and graduation.
- A minimum of 30 credits is required for the Master of Arts in Teaching (Licensure).
- Candidates must complete the program within five years of continuous enrollment. Candidates who are not continuously enrolled must complete the program within eight years total.
- Candidates must meet with a department advisor and graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See the Graduate Graduation Application section.)
Transfer of Credits
Students transferring from an accredited graduate program may transfer credit following the guidelines below. Credits considered for transfer must have been taken within five years prior to the date of admission.
Program Coursework
- A maximum of 6 approved credits may be transferred towards the M.A. in Teaching (Licensure) program courses.
- Courses transferred must be equivalent to Biola University’s courses and directly apply to the student's program design.
- Only courses with a grade of B (3.0) or higher on a 4.0 grade scale will be considered for transfer towards the M.A. in Teaching (Licensure) program courses; courses completed with a grade of B- (2.7) or lower will not be transferable.
Specialization Coursework
- A maximum of 9 director-evaluated and approved credits may be waived towards the Multiple, Single, or Preliminary Education Specialist Instructions Credentials (Licensure) specialization courses.
- Courses waived must be equivalent to Biola University's teacher credential courses and directly apply to the student's program design.
- Only courses with a grade of B- (2.7) or higher on a 4.0 grade scale will be considered for waiver towards the teacher credential specialization courses; courses completed with a grade of C+ (2.3) or lower will not be transferable.
- Undergraduate courses may be used to waive specialization course requirements; however, such courses cannot transfer in for academic graduate credit on a Biola transcript. Waived course credits are not required to be made up; a minimum of 30 credits is required for the Master of Arts in Teaching (Licensure).
Curriculum Requirements
Students must complete Single Subject teacher preparation and pedagogy coursework and M.A.T. (Licensure) core courses as detailed below. All teacher preparation and pedagogy courses must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Overall, a 3.0 GPA must be maintained in the teacher preparation course sequence in order to student teach and to be recommended for a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Courses must be passed with a grade of B or higher. | ||
| SEED 501 | Philosophy and Values in Schools and Society | 3 |
| SEED 524 | Research in Culture and Intercultural Instruction | 3 |
| SEED 554 | Professional Writing and Research 1 | 3 |
| SEED 7320 | The Life of Christ for Educators | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Behavior and Classroom Management | ||
| Learning, Motivation, and Student Engagement | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| Course must be passed with a grade of B or higher. | ||
| SEED 594 | Action Research 2 | 3 |
| Specialization Courses 3, 4 | ||
| Teacher Preparation Coursework | ||
| SEED 519 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
| SEED 541 | Methods of Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students | 3 |
| SEED 525 | Secondary Content Area Reading | 3 |
| SEED 526 | Psychological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| SEED 539 | Secondary Curriculum, Differentiation, and Assessment | 3 |
| Pedagogy Coursework | ||
| SEED 533 | Single Subject Pedagogy | 2 |
| Clinical Practice Coursework - Students must choose one of the following options: | 12 | |
Student Teaching | ||
| Secondary Student Teaching I | ||
| Secondary Student Teaching II | ||
OR | ||
Intern | ||
| Secondary Intern Seminar I | ||
| Secondary Intern Seminar II | ||
| Secondary Intern Seminar III | ||
| Secondary Intern Seminar IV | ||
| Total Credits | 46 | |
- 1
Successful passage of SEED 554 is required for advancement in the program. Writing support and documentation may be mandatory for some students.
- 2
To produce quality research, it is recommended to be the only course taken in the final semester.
- 3
Biola students who have taken teacher preparation and pedagogy courses at the undergraduate level, and only need student teaching at the graduate level, will not be required to take additional coursework and will meet the required minimum 30 credits for an M.A.T. (Licensure).
- 4
Specialization courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher.
Taskstream Subscription
Candidates must have a paid subscription to Taskstream while taking teacher preparation courses, pedagogy courses, and during student teaching.
Certificate of Clearance and Tuberculosis (TB) Test
Candidates must obtain the application for a Certificate of Clearance prior to taking SEED 519 in order to participate in the required fieldwork sequence. Fees required.
Candidates must submit valid TB tests results prior to taking SEED 519, and annually in order to participate in the required fieldwork sequence in the Teacher Preparation Program. Fees required.
Minimum Grades and GPA Requirements
All teaching credential candidates must maintain an overall 3.0 grade point average (GPA). Students must receive a grade of B- or higher in all teacher preparation and pedagogy courses and score an 83% or higher in all key assignments in order to student teach and to be formally recommended for a Preliminary Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential.
Basic Skills Requirement
Candidates must satisfy the basic skills requirement by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
Literacy Performance Assessment
Pursuant to SB 488, beginning July 1, 2025, all newly enrolled credential candidates in Preliminary Multiple Subject, Education Specialist, and PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction credential programs must pass a Commission-adopted performance assessment that includes literacy instruction in order to be recommended for their credential. This means that current and prospective candidates who wish to take the RICA examination to meet the credential requirement for literacy instruction must take and pass either all three subtests of the written examination or the video performance assessment by July 1, 2025. The RICA examination will be retired as of July 1, 2025, and will no longer be available. Candidates who attempt or have attempted RICA but do not pass either all three subtests of the written examination or the video performance assessment by July 1, 2025, will be required to instead pass the Commission-adopted performance assessment that includes literacy instruction.
Subject Matter Competency Requirement
Candidates must satisfy subject matter competency by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
CalTPA
Candidates must meet or exceed the minimum standards for passing the two state-mandated California Teaching Performance Assessments (CalTPAs). Cycle 1 of CalTPAs must be passed prior to applying for student teaching. Cycle 2 of CalTPAs must be passed prior to applying for a Preliminary Teaching Credential.
Recommendation
Candidates must be recommended by the faculty of the School of Education as having all requisite professional qualities to be successful as a teacher.
Professional Dispositions and Competencies Evaluations
Candidates must demonstrate high performance in each Professional Dispositions and Competencies Evaluation for teacher preparation and pedagogy coursework in order to remain in the Teacher Preparation Program. Evidence of unaddressed concerns (scores of 1 or 2) or failing to meet a professional disposition may lead to dismissal.
Fieldwork Evaluation
Candidates must obtain good to excellent scores in each fieldwork evaluation for teacher preparation coursework including student teaching.
U.S. Constitution Requirement
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires that a teaching credential candidate must have completed a minimum 2-credit course that covers the U.S. Constitution or fulfill this requirement by examination.
Transfer coursework must be reviewed by a credential analyst in the School of Education. Candidates who have taken one of the courses listed below, with a grade of C or better at Biola University, have met this requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POSC 225 | Survey of American Government | 3 |
| HIST 200 | United States History To 1865 | 3 |
CPR
Candidates must show verification of current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — infant, child, and adult — that meets the standards of either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross when applying for the Preliminary Teaching Credential.
Advisor Contact
Candidates must meet regularly with an advisor to ensure that all requirements are met.
Applying for a Credential
After successfully completing student teaching and the associated requirements, candidates make an appointment with a credential analyst in the School of Education at Biola University and apply for the Preliminary Teaching Credential from the State of California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
The Professional Teacher Preparation Program leading to a California Teaching Credential at Biola University is subject to change in response to new legislation and for accreditation/reporting purposes. Please see a credential analyst for current information on completing the requirements for a teaching credential.
SB 57 Options for Private School Teachers
Under SB57 legislation, candidates employed three or more years in WASC-accredited schools may qualify for evaluation by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) of teaching experience in lieu of student teaching. Candidates employed six or more years may qualify for evaluation by the CTC of teaching experience in lieu of teaching methodology coursework and student teaching. See a credential analyst for details.
Student Teaching Under Contract
Candidates who are already full-time teachers in public schools or WASC-accredited private schools may interview to student teach under contract. These candidates may be eligible to complete coursework and Student Teaching at their current school site. Please contact the appropriate Director of Teacher Preparation during the student teaching application process.
Student Teaching Overseas
Candidates may elect to do one-half of their student teaching overseas at a U.S. regionally-accredited or similarly accredited school. If interested, see one of the Directors of Teacher Preparation at least one year in advance of your overseas placement.
Teaching, ACSI
Application information may be obtained from the ACSI liaison in the School of Education Office. The credential program at Biola University meets the requirements for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Certificate. Requirements are identical to the California Preliminary Credential Program as well as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits of Bible courses | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Integration Seminar: Christian Philosophy of Education | ||
| Philosophy and Values in Schools and Society | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The M.A.T. (Licensure) Program leading to a California Teaching Credential at Biola University is subject to change in response to new legislation and for accreditation/reporting purposes. See a credential analyst for current information on completing the requirements for a teaching credential.
