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Jun 30, 2025
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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog
Teaching M.A.T. (With a focus on teaching special populations)
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 Return to: Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences
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Major in Teaching (M.A.T.)
(Major Code: 5451) The Master of Arts in Teaching has two paths available: Path I (WTAMU PACE Alternative Educator Certification) allows individuals to receive initial Texas teacher certification while pursuing a graduate degree. This path will permit candidates to complete initial teacher certification, expand their knowledge and skills to enhance their effectiveness as teachers, and meet state certification requirements in a specified certification area. Options are available in: - Elementary (EC-6 or 4-8)
- Secondary (6-12 or 7-12)
- All Level (EC-12)
- Special Education (EC-12)
Path II (Non-Certification) is for educators who are already certified, or for individuals who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree without educator certification. This path allows candidates to obtain a graduate degree without earning a Texas teacher certification. Note: To teach in a Texas public school, a person must hold a valid Texas Educator Certificate. The two paths for this graduate degree allow individuals the ability to tailor a program to meet their personal career goals by offering either a certification route or non-certification route with an emphasis on understanding the unique needs of special populations. - Please refer to Texas Education Agency (TEA) specific requirements for becoming a teacher in the state of Texas. To teach in a Texas public school, a person must hold a valid Texas Educator Certificate, as specified in 19 TAC Chapter 231. Certification requirements are subject to change per TEA/SBEC decisions. WTAMU’s Office of Teacher Preparation
Admission Requirements
Path I - WTAMU PACE Alternative Educator Certification Path II - Non-Certification Graduation Requirements
Path I - WTAMU PACE Alternative Educator Certification - Completion of professional development/certification coursework, required testing, and supervised clinical experience for the initial Standard Texas Educator (Classroom Teacher) certificate
- Issuance of a 5-Year Standard Texas Educator Certificate prior to administration of the comprehensive exam
Path II - Non-Certification - Completion of all required coursework as outlined in the plan of study
- Passing a written comprehensive exam
GPA Requirement
The candidate must maintain a 3.0 GPA (with no grade below a “C”) on all MAT coursework, and the program must be completed within six (6) years of taking the first graduate course that applies to the MAT degree. Path I - WTAMU PACE Alternative Educator Certification - For additional information, please contact the Office of Alternative Certification, (806)651-2599, or access the website, www.wtamu.edu/pace.
Path II - Non-Certification MAT Coursework (30 hours or 36 hours with the graduate clinical teaching option for Path I)
A total of 30 semester credit hours (SCH) - at least 24 hours at the graduate level is required. An additional six SCH will be required if the candidate chooses the graduate clinical teaching option. PATH I - WTAMU PACE Alternative Educator Certification (30-36 hours)
Required Courses for All Certification Areas (12 SCH)
Choose one of the following courses (3 SCH):
Graduate Clinical Teaching Courses for Candidates Who Choose This Option (6 SCH):
Complete 18 SCH from one of the three professional development/certification areas
1. EC-6 or 4-8 Certification Area (18 SCH)
Required Professional Development Certification Coursework Take one course from the following:
Competency-Based Credit Statement:
Up to six (6) hours of competency-based graduate credit may be earned through successful completion of the WTAMU PACE Module. The PACE Module will transcribe to the following graduate-level courses: These six (6) hours of competency-based credit will only go toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree after the candidate has successfully earned their standard Educator Certificate. The competency-based credits may only be used for the six (6) graduate credit hours listed above and must be applied to the MAT program within 5 years of completing the PACE module. All requests for competency-based credit must be approved through a Department of Education Competency Credit Faculty Review committee. 2. 6-12, 7-12, and EC-12 Certification Areas (18 SCH)
Required Professional Development Certification Coursework Take one course from the following:
Competency-Based Credit Statement:
Up to six (6) hours of competency-based graduate credit may be earned through successful completion of the WTAMU PACE Module. The PACE Module will transcribe to the following graduate-level courses: These 6 hours of competency-based credit will only go toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree after the candidate has successfully earned their Educator Certificate. The competency-based credits may only be used for the 6 graduate credit hours listed above and must be applied to the MAT program within 5 years of completing the PACE module. All requests for competency-based credit must be approved through a Department of Education Competency Credit Faculty Review committee. 3. EC-12 Special Education Certification Area (18 SCH)
Required Professional Development Certification Coursework Choose six courses, with advisor approval, from the following:
Competency-Based Credit Statement:
Up to six (6) hours of competency-based graduate credit may be earned through successful completion of the WTAMU PACE Module. The PACE Module will transcribe to the following graduate-level courses: These six (6) hours of competency-based credit will only go toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree after the candidate has successfully earned their Educator Certificate. The competency-based credits may only be used for the six (6) graduate credit hours listed above and must be applied to the MAT program within 5 years of completing the PACE module. All requests for competency-based credit must be approved through a Department of Education Competency Credit Faculty Review committee. PATH II - Non-Certification Route - M.A.T. Without Texas Teacher Certification (30 hours)
Complete 9 SCH from the Professional Development/Certification Area
Required Professional Development Certification Coursework Choose 9 hours from the following:
Required Special Populations Emphasis Area (12 SCH)
Choose one of the following (3 SCH):
Electives (6 SCH)
Six SCH from inside or outside the Department of Education (must be approved by adviser) |
Return to: Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences
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