Willamette University

Graduate School of Education

Full-time MAT Program (10-month)

The Willamette University Graduate School of Education offers an outstanding Master of Arts in Teaching program to prepare teachers not only for the classroom, but for educational leadership. Our field-based program develops reflective professionals who are content knowledgeable, student-centered, collaborative and culturally competent.

Program Structure

  • 10 months - The program is begins in mid-August and ends mid-June.
  • Exploration Week - MAT candidates will spend one week in mid-October immersed in an educational setting designed to increase exposure to diverse learners.  Locations may be local within the Willamette Valley, or further away in either Ecuador or Chicago.
  • Class schedule - Courses and field experiences occur Monday-Friday.
  • Authorization Levels - Some courses are divided into cohorts based on intended authorization levels (Elementary or Secondary)

K-12 MAT Program
August-October October-December January February-June
Educational and Developmental Psychology K-12 Teaching and Learning I Teaching and Learning II
Educating Diverse Learners Literacy in the Content Areas
Classroom Management
Inquiry into Educational Practice I Inquiry into Educational Practice II Inquiry into Educational Practice III
Math and Science Methods (elementary) Language Arts and Social Studies Methods (elementary)  Specialty Methods (elementary)
General Methods (secondary) Methods I (secondary) Methods II (secondary)
Clinical Experience I Clinical Experience II Clinical Experience III

Why Willamette MAT?   

  • Traditional in-class delivery (some courses may have an online component) with all courses held at the Graduate School of Education.

  • Full-time program allows candidates to complete master's degree in under a year. 

  • Candidates can add the ESOL endorsement while completing the MAT program.   

  • All Willamette MAT graduates meet No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements as highly qualified teachers.

  • In addition to earning MAT degree, all graduates earn the Oregon Initial Teaching License.  Due to the high standards associated with Oregon's testing requirements, the Oregon teaching license has a strong reputation, resulting in reciprocity across most of the country. 

  • High standards for incoming candidates (passing of appropriate exams) ensure that candidates have appropriate content knowledge and skills. 

  • Keenly focused on developing effective teachers as well as educational leaders.  Candidates participate in a Teacher Research Symposium each spring during which they present a research project in an area of interest. 

  • Faculty and peers provide an academic, social and professional support group insuring your success throughout the year.