Teaching, M.A.T. (Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Internship) (Licensure)
Degree Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) (Licensure), formerly Master of Arts in Teaching, 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 Special Education Specialization prepares students who desire to earn a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved Education Specialist 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 the Basic Skills Requirement by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option.
- Satisfy Subject Matter Competency by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option.
- 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 8 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
Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Internship (Licensure)
All candidates for the M.A.T. Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Internship (Licensure), formerly M.A.T. Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Internship, must complete the following courses and required fieldwork.
| 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 | ||
| Must be passed with a grade of B or higher. | ||
| SEED 594 | Action Research 2 | 3 |
| Specialization Courses (42 Credits Online) 3 | ||
| Prerequisite Coursework 4 | ||
| SEED 518 | Designing Successful Classrooms: Starting Right 5 | 3 |
| SEED 530 | Reading Process and Approaches 5 | 3 |
| Specialization Coursework | ||
| SEED 561 | Issues in Special Education 5 | 3 |
| SEED 562 | Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners 5 | 3 |
| SEED 563 | Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs in Inclusive Settings | 3 |
| SEED 564 | Behavior and Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs 5 | 3 |
| SEED 580 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| SEED 532 | Diagnosis and Remediation in Reading | 3 |
| SEED 582 | Consultation, Collaboration, and Communication for the Education Specialist | 3 |
| SEED 583 | Curriculum Design for Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs | 3 |
| Clinical Coursework | ||
| SEED 611 | Special Education Intern Support Seminar I 6 | 3 |
| SEED 612 | Special Education Intern Support Seminar II 6 | 3 |
| SEED 613 | Special Education Intern Support Seminar III 6 | 3 |
| SEED 614 | Special Education Intern Support Seminar IV 6 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 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 special education courses at the undergraduate level will be required to take remaining graduate special education courses and meet the required minimum 30 credits for an M.A.T. (Licensure).
- 4
All candidates for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instructional Credential (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) who come to Biola University with a SB2042 Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential will have the prerequisite coursework waived. Additionally, candidates who have taken undergraduate or graduate equivalents of the prerequisite coursework will have their transcripts evaluated for equivalency. The Prerequisite Option will be determined by the Program Director during the interview process to the program.
- 5
SEED 518, SEED 530, SEED 561 plus SEED 562 or SEED 564 are preservice requirements.
- 6
Requires prerequisite coursework, pre-service coursework, and additional requirements that can be taken during this program.
Minimum Grades and GPA Requirements for Credential Courses
All Education Specialist coursework must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Overall, a 3.0 GPA must be maintained in the Education Specialist course sequence in order to intern and to be recommended for a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential.
Taskstream Subscription
Candidates must have a paid subscription to Taskstream while taking Education Specialist courses, including prerequisites, and during internship.
Certificate of Clearance and Tuberculosis (TB) Test
Candidates must obtain a valid Certificate of Clearance prior to taking Education Specialist courses in order to participate in the required fieldwork. Fees required.
Candidates must submit valid TB tests results prior to taking Education Specialist courses with fieldwork. TB tests results must be done annually in order to participate in the required fieldwork. Fees required.
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 internship.
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 internship.
Education Specialist CalTPA
Candidates must meet or exceed the minimum standards for passing the two state-mandated Education Specialist California Teaching Performance Assessments (Education Specialist CalTPAs). Candidates are expected to pass Cycle 1 of the Education Specialist CalTPAs prior to Special Education Intern Support Seminar III. (Candidates will be required to enroll in additional CalTPA remediation course(s) if Cycle 1 is not passed by the end of Intern Support Seminar II.) Cycle 2 must be passed prior to applying for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential.
Portfolio Assessments
Candidates must complete and successfully present the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) electronic portfolio.
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 Education Specialist coursework in order to remain in the 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 Education Specialist coursework, including Intern Support Seminar.
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. This requirement must be met prior to applying for internship.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 200 | United States History To 1865 | 3 |
| POSC 225 | Survey of American Government | 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 Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential.
Advisor Contact
Candidates must meet regularly with an advisor to ensure that all requirements are met.
Applying for a Credential
Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Intern Credential
Candidates who receive a job offer and have met the associated requirements, may apply for an Intern Credential and enroll in the Intern Support Seminar. The Intern Support Seminar is taken by candidates who hold an Education Specialist (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Intern credential. If approved, candidates may begin their full-time teaching position while fulfilling all requirements for the Education Specialist (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential. See the credential analyst in the School of Education for details and applicable prerequisite requirements.
Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential
After successfully completing the Intern Support Seminars and the associated requirements, candidates make an appointment with a credential analyst in the School of Education at Biola University and apply for the Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential from the State of California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) 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.
