Webster’s MAT in elementary education degree program provides a strong knowledge base of content, child development, and current research that supports best practices in elementary education. The degree emphasizes the principles and practices of inquiry-based and cooperative learning differentiated instruction, and culturally responsive teaching.
This graduate degree program is designed to provide the foundation for teacher preparation leading to initial Missouri teacher certification in Elementary Education
The goals of the MAT in elementary education are to cultivate graduates who are:
1. Knowledgeable Learners
Candidates in the elementary MAT will:
a. understand, demonstrate, and apply knowledge of many disciplines
b. learn how to engage students through an integrated and innovative curriculum c. that builds learners confidence.
2. Reflective Collaborators:
Candidates in the elementary MAT will:
a. demonstrate their ability to facilitate student learning and to reflect on
educational outcomes.
b. demonstrate their ability to collaborate with colleagues, students, and families.
3. Informed Instructors
Candidates in the elementary MAT will:
a. use educational theory, best practices, and research to design curriculum, and conduct assessment .
b. learn pedagogical strategies to motivate students to learn.
c. teach students academic, social and technological skills for living in a changing world.
4. Responsive Educators
Candidates in the elementary MAT will:
a. Recognize and appreciate the needs of diverse learners based on child development theory and research.
b. Create a positive learning experience that responds to the needs of all learners.
c. Celebrate the talents and cultures of all students
Policies and Procedures
The candidate should consult the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the catalog for Webster University policies regarding course attendance; conduct; grades; academic warning, probation, and dismissal; transcripts, and graduation. Procedures for registration and drop, add, and withdrawal from a course are outlined in the Enrollment section of this catalog.
Requirements for Missouri Initial Teacher Certification in Secondary Education
Students must contact the Teacher Certification Officer in the School of Education for a transcript evaluation and information regarding teacher certification. Successful completion of a teacher work sample (TWS) is required prior to a recommendation for an initial teacher certification from the university to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
To achieve Missouri state certification in Elementary, Grades 1-6 candidates are required to take more than 33 credit hours and should consult with the Teacher Certification Officer in the School of Education to complete a transcript evaluation. This is necessary to identify the exact number of credit hours that an MAT candidate will require to complete certification with the degree.
Students must pass the Praxis Exam before Apprentice Teaching.
Note: students are advised that the full initial certification in Elementary (grades 1-6) may require more than the listed hours required for the MAT degree program, alone.
The following courses are required for the MAT degree in elementary education.
The following courses must be taken while in-residence at Webster University.
Foundations
- CMAT 5000 Teaching in a Diverse Society
- CMAT 5010 Curriculum Theory, Development and Assessment
- CMAT 5015 Differentiated Instruction and Assessment. (It is recommended that candidates have a prior course in the Psy-chology of the Exceptional Student before taking this course).
- EPSY 5170 Behavior Management
Communication Arts Courses
- COMM 5960 Differentiated Reading Instruction (Prerequisite: COM 5820 and COMM 5840)
- COMM 5640 Communication through Art Forms
- COMM 5440 Integrated Language Arts
Clinical Experiences
- CMAT 5090 Practicum: Elementary
- CMAT 5091 Apprentice Teaching: Elementary School
- CMAT 5096 Apprentice Teaching Seminar
In each of the three curricular areas below, one course must be taken in residence and will count toward the degree.
Developmental Psychology
- SPED 5860 Psychology of the Exceptional Student
- EPSY 5160 Advanced Child Development
- EPSY 5130 Educational Psychology
Reading Methods
- COMM 5820 Foundations in Reading
- COMM 5840 Reading & Writing as Cognitive Processes
Content Methods Courses
- SCIC 5010 Contemporary Science Methods or (EDUC 4580)
- EDUC 4575 Methods of Teaching Elementary Social Studies
- COMM 5000 Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry for children
All of the above courses are required to complete the requirements for initial Missouri teacher certification in the Elementary Education program.
The following additional courses are required to complete the certification program.
- Art or Music History or Appreciation
- Economics – Any course in economics
- EDTC 5010 Classroom Technology
- Geography – Cultural or regional (not physical)
- MTHT 4310 Elementary School Mathematics Methods
- Second College Level Math appropriate for Elementary Teachers
The State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires 21 hours in an area of concentration for e
Application and Eligibility to CMAT 5090, Elementary School Practicum
Registration in CMAT 5090 Elementary School Practicum must be approved by the student’s advisor by designated date one semester prior to when practicum is taken. Please see postings outside the School of Education Office or website, for specific deadlines. No late applications will be accepted. B or better is required for the practicum. [http://www.webster.edu/education/students/resources.shtml].
Application to CMAT 5091, Apprentice Teaching: Elementary School
Successful completion of CMAT 5091 Apprentice Teaching: Elementary School is required to meet the graduation requirements of the MAT in elementary education.
Application and registration in CMAT 5091 must be approved in writing by the student’s advisor early in the semester prior to practicum taking place. Please see postings outside the School of Education Office or on the website for specific deadlines. Students who are full-time paraprofessionals or teachers in an approved educational setting may be eligible to earn credit for Apprentice Teaching through an assessment process (see School of Education Student Resources).
Eligibility requirements for acceptance to CMAT 5091, Apprentice Teaching
1) Students must have successfully completed all required courses for initial teacher certification in elementary education.
2) Students must have successfully completed CMAT 5090 Elementary Practicum with a B or better
3) Students must have passed Praxis II, #011 Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment with a score equal to or greater than the Missouri qualifying score prior to registration in CMAT 5091, Apprentice Teaching: Elementary School. Students are limited to no more than two opportunities pass the Praxis.
Students who are interested in applying to this degree program should also see the Admission Section of this catalog for general requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Receipt of official transcripts from the baccalaureate granting institution.
- Undergraduate CUM GPA of 2.50
Send all required documents to the following address:
Webster University
Office of Admission
470 East Lockwood Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63119-3141
Degree Admission
Full acceptance into the MAT degree program requires
- An official transcript from an accredited baccalaureate degree granting institution.
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher representing all higher education coursework completed.
- B- or better in College Level Mathematics
- B- or better in College Level Composition
Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) represents a significant milestone in a candidate’s academic career. Candidates may continue enrolling in the program and demonstrating their knowledge, skills, and dispositions and mastery of program standards.
Advancement to Candidacy occurs upon completion of:
- Complete 12 hours of graduate credit with grades of B or better (including CMAT 5000).
- Acceptance into the Teacher Certification program (contact the School of Education Teacher Certification Office for more information).
- Candidates must remain in good academic standing.
- Candidates must maintain a CUM GPA of 3.0 with no incomplete grades.
Candidates will be restricted from registering in further coursework, until advanced to candidacy. Candidates must complete the ATC form and submit it to the appropriate Department Associate.
CMAT 5000 Teaching in a Diverse Society (3)
Students explore issues in teaching in a multicultural setting, examining the implications of diverse student populations and emphasizing values and beliefs about learning and teaching. The course explores the historical and philosophical foundations of education, focusing on the implications for current diverse classrooms. Students will examine traditional and contemporary philosophies in their historical context and discuss the impact of these on student and teacher roles, curriculum, assessment and instruction, and classroom organization and management.
CMAT 5010 Curriculum Theory, Development and Assessment (3)
This foundation course is an overview of important educational theories. It is designed to examine global curriculum theories and practices and to analyze current educational issues through reading, writing, discussing and presenting ideas. Individuals explore historical perspectives, philosophical theories, and sociologic influences related to contemporary educational concerns. This course will also focus on how to develop curriculum plans that effectively teach all levels of students. Participants will learn how to write lesson plans and unit plans following School of Education guidelines that focus on rationale, description of learners and setting, accommodations for diversity, selection of appropriate goals and objectives, and pre-, during-, and post- assessment of learner's knowledge throughout the unit, as well as unit assessment of learner outcomes. Participants will learn to describe what P-12 students need to know and be able to perform by the end of the unit and will develop a daily general schedule for the lessons included. Participants will learn how to apply research from a variety of resources including print and media and will explore the multifaceted ways for using technology in the classroom. By the end of the course participants will understand how curriculum theory and practice affect the classroom and be able to reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses as a teacher of P-12 students. Prerequisite: CMAT 5000.
CMAT 5015 Differentiated Instruction and Assessment (3)
Based on curriculum theories of assessment, models will be developed for quality assessment using reliability and validity. Summative and formative assessments will be developed, based on student learning and meeting national, state, and organization standards; performance assessment, including teacher-work samples and portfolio assessment will be studied. Qualitative and quantitative measures of evaluation will also be described. Various methods of documenting assessments will be applied. Methods for creating and measuring student dispositions will be developed. In addition, strategies to promote the social and academic integration of all students in the general education classroom will be provided. Topics include the following: inclusive education philosophy and research, tiered academic intervention (RTI), collaborative practices, roles and responsibilities, parent collaboration and communication, curriculum adaptations, differentiated instruction and positive behavior supports. Prerequisite: CMAT 5010 or SOCS 5760.
CMAT 5090 Practicum: Elementary School (3)
The focus of this practicum is observation and participation in classrooms in an elementary school setting. Practicum occurs near the end of the candidate’s program of study and may only be taken when the candidate has completed the majority of their program. Filing of appropriate forms must be completed one semester prior to placement, by the posted deadline. Private, public and parochial district placements will be made in the St. Louis County and/or St. Louis City areas.
CMAT 5091 Apprentice Teaching: Elementary School (9)
Teacher certification students only. This course is meant for students seeking certification in elementary school education. The apprentice teaching experience is an intensive, full semester field experience in which students are provided the opportunity to instruct under the expert supervision of university supervisors and cooperating teachers. Prerequisites: CMAT 5090 with B or better and all required courses must be completed. The praxis exam must also have been passed by the student in order to register for CMAT 5091. Private, public and parochial district placements will be made in the St. Louis County and/or St. Louis City areas. Concurrent registration in the Apprentice Teaching seminar in required.
CMAT 5096 Apprentice Teaching Seminar (1)
This seminar will help students in their apprentice teaching focus on multiple factors affecting their class-room experiences, student interactions and curriculum (including planning, classroom organization and structure, unit and lesson planning, and student assessment) through the creation of a Teacher Work Sample. The course is designed to better prepare each student to meet the MoSTEP Standards. The seminar is a concurrent registration with the appropriate apprentice teaching course. Prerequisites: CMAT 5090 or CMAT 5092 or CMAT 5094 with B or better, and all required courses must be completed.
470 East Lockwood Avenue