Teaching, M.A.T. (Single Subject)
Degree Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is primarily designed for two audiences:
- Students with a B.A. or B.S. in any subject who desire to earn a credential while working towards a Masters.
- Credentialed teachers who desire to sharpen their practitioner skills through induction, the Clear Credential, and/or enter a personalized program for advanced coursework.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching, 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).
- Demonstrate Christian attitudes and actions conducive to the development of professional excellence and witness to the community (ULO 3).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or have satisfied the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR).
- Verify subject matter competency. Candidates must present a letter verifying completion of a state-approved subject matter program or evidence of continuous progress toward meeting the subject matter requirement.
- Verify possession of a Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and submit valid TB tests results.
Students enrolling in online programs will need all of the above listed admissions requirements as well as the following:
- Verify computer literacy sufficient to become actively engaged in learning online by passing an online proficiency test offered by Biola University's Distance Learning Department or providing proof of successful online learning in a prior course.
- Verify access to a computer and the Internet sufficient to engage in Biola University's Distance Learning Programs.
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. core courses and Capstone must be passed with a grade of "B" or higher.
- Candidates must complete the Master of Arts in Teaching with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Candidates must successfully complete SEED 594 Action Research, and all professional requirements (e.g., electronic portfolio, including key assignments) related to the coursework and learning outcomes.
- 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.
- 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 Graduation Counselor in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section).
Transfer of Credits
Students transferring from an accredited graduate program may transfer a maximum of 6 approved credits for their M.A. in Teaching. Courses transferred must be equivalent to Biola University's and have direct applicability to the student's program design. Only courses with a grade of "B" (3.0) on a 4.0 grade scale or higher will be considered for transfer towards the M.A. in Teaching degree; a grade of "B-" is not transferable. Credits considered for transfer must have been taken within five years prior to the date of admission.
Curriculum Requirements
Students must complete Single Subject teacher preparation and pedagogy coursework and M.A.T. 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 1 | 3 |
| SEED 570 | Introduction to Spiritual Formation for the Educator | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Exposition of New Testament Segments or Themes (taken as "Life of Christ") | ||
Other approved TTBE 3-credit course | ||
| Single Subject Specialization Courses | ||
| Preparation Coursework 2 | ||
| SEED 514 | Secondary Student Teaching I | 6 |
| SEED 515 | Secondary Student Teaching II | 6 |
| SEED 519 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
| SEED 525 | Secondary Content Area Reading | 3 |
| SEED 526 | Psychological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| SEED 539 | Secondary Curriculum, Differentiation, and Assessment | 3 |
| SEED 541 | Methods of Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students | 3 |
| Pedagogy Coursework | ||
| SEED 533 | Single Subject Pedagogy | 2 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| Course must be passed with a grade of "B" or higher. 3 | ||
| SEED 594 | Action Research | 3 |
| 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 | 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. |
| 3 | To produce quality research, it is recommended to be the only course taken in the final semester. |
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-" of 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
All candidates must pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or equivalent. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
RICA Exam
Multiple Subject candidates must pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) exam.
Subject Matter Competency Requirement
Candidates must prove subject matter competency by completing an approved subject matter program or passing equivalent subject matter exams (CSET). These exams must be passed 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. If an exam is required, a U.S. Constitution exam and study packet is available in Biola's 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. If approved, public school candidates remain in their full-time teaching position while fulfilling all requirements for student teaching. Private school candidates will fulfill half of the student teaching requirements at the private school; the other half of student teaching will most often be fulfilled during the summer in a public school setting. See the Student Teaching Field Placement Coordinator for details. Candidates with less than two years of teaching experience may be required to complete one of the following courses prior to student teaching under contract.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEED 518 | Designing Successful Classrooms: Starting Right | 3 |
| or SEED 523 | Behavior and Classroom Management | |
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 (taken as "Christian Philosophy of Education") | ||
| Selected Readings and Topics (taken as "Philosophy of Education") | ||
| Philosophy and Values in Schools and Society | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
