Brandeis University Education Program
Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Concentration
Program Information June 2017 – July 2018
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Optional path to dual
Earn a
Master’s
degree in one year and two summers
Become a certified certification in teacher in public elementary or Moderate Jewish day school Special Needs
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Key Dates for 2017 - 2018 December 1
Early decision deadline, Rolling
admissions begin. Applicants whose application is complete will receive their decision within 30 days. (Decision from applicant due within 60 days) November
Open House
February
Open House
April 15
Decision due for regular applicants;
placement discussions. May 15
Registration for incoming students
June 19
First day of summer classes
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About the MAT in Public Elementary Our Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a year-long intensive program which prepares students with strong liberal arts backgrounds to become highly qualified, licensed classroom teachers. The program combines two summers of study on the Brandeis campus with a nine-month internship in a public elementary or Jewish day schools in the Boston area. Public Education-Elementary Concentration prepares beginning teachers with the capability and vision to succeed in today’s schools and to play key roles in creating the schools of tomorrow.
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What We Offer Choice of an internship in a partnering urban, suburban or Jewish day school A Massachusetts Initial License (Grades 1-6) Personalized attention from faculty, mentors and colleagues in a small cohort Faculty who have experience both teaching in schools and in conducting research A holistic approach to child development and learning Inquiry and reflection culminating in your own teacher research project Additional Massachusetts K-8 Certificate in Moderate Special Needs Generous financial aid
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Distinctive Features of the Program A year-long internship in one of our affiliated schools, working under the guidance of a dedicated cooperating teacher. Child Study and other ways of understanding and building upon the educational strengths and learning needs of individual children. Challenging coursework in literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, all emphasizing the essential role of inquiry and integrated with classroom practice. Ten Semester option (BA or BA-MAT) for qualified Brandeis undergraduates.
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As public educators in the democratic tradition, we respect and welcome the contributions of family and community to children’s formal and informal learning. We are committed to teaching as a public practice governed by standards, ethical and academic integrity, and responsibility. Teaching License The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program leads to the initial license to teach in Massachusetts, which has reciprocity with the other states and the District of Columbia. Candidates for the MAT degree are expected to satisfy all of the requirements for initial teaching license in their field, including the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
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Program Outline
Courses MAT students in the elementary concentration are in a four-semester program. Courses include: SUMMER 1 COURSES Foundations of Education (ED 264) Explores philosophical, sociological, historical, and political contexts of schools in the United States,
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including legal issues and concerns, teaching concerns, and current issues and trends. Emphasizes curriculum theory and the link between the developing child and instruction. Usually offered every summer. Making Art (ED 264) Students are challenged to turn their ideas into a visual works using art supplies. This is a model for classroom teachers in differentiation – how their future students can express their concepts in varied ways and using other media. Art projects include sculpture, mixed media, paintings and drawings. Then students display their art pieces for other people to see, appreciate and understand the work.
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Teaching Reading (ED 107) Examines theories and methods of teaching reading and language arts to children in elementary and preschools. Emphasizes competencies necessary for developmental reading. Explores strategies for literacy, including the interrelated aspects of writing and spelling. Requires a field experience of fifteen hours. Usually offered every year. Field experience: Practicum Reading (Waltham public schools) (ED 107) Teaching Mathematics (ED 262) Focuses on the learning, discovery, and exploration of the skills and strategies needed to teach mathematical concepts and skills in elementary school classrooms. Usually offered every summer.
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FALL COURSES Fundamentals of Teaching (ED 267a) Central seminar taught in conjunction with the Field Internship (ED 265a). Explores and evaluates approaches to instructional planning, formative and summative assessment, classroom culture and management, and emergent issues. Also policy and regulatory issues at national, state, district, and building level as they impinge on daily practice. Reflective practice, inquiry, and critical colleagueship are themes. Portfolio requirement. Field experience: pre-practicum (ED 265a)
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Literacy & Social Studies (ED 101) Focuses on principles and effective procedures for teaching literature and social studies in elementary classrooms. Emphasizes the cognitive, social, and cultural dimensions of literacy learning as well as strategies for reading and writing nonfiction and critical approaches to the teaching of social studies. Usually offered every year. Psychology of Student Learning (ED 157) How do children learn? Topics in this survey course include models of learning, cognitive and social development, creativity, intelligence, character education, motivation, complex reasoning, and learning disabilities. Course methods include contemporary
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research analyses, case studies, group projects, short lectures, and class discussions. English Language Learners (ED 175) Examines the intersection of culture and language, including issues such as testing, family involvement, and different challenges facing English Language Learners. While this course will be of interest to anyone working with English learners, teachers are now required to be teachers of English in addition to content teachers. (Upon completion, participants will have acquired the skills and knowledge base for Category 1 and 2 as defined in the MA requirements for teachers.)
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SPRING COURSES Fundamentals of Teaching (ED 267b) A continuation of ED 267a, the central seminar taught in conjunction with the Field Internship (ED 265b). Field experience: Internship (ED 265b) - 2 days/week - 4 days/week - 5 days/week - 21/2 days/week. Lead Teaching "Mini placement." Supervised teaching internship designed to help connect theory and practice. Students gradually build proficiency in teaching, adding responsibilities and skills over time. Students have guided opportunities to observe, plan, and teach core subjects, to manage classrooms, to get to know students and families, and to participate fully in the life of the school. Interns
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receive regular mentoring from school and university personnel. Reflective Teaching (ED 263) A weekly seminar closely coordinated with the Field Internship (ED 265b). Students explore and evaluate approaches to classroom organization and management, instructional planning, and assessment. They form habits of critical colleagueship and develop skills to study their teaching and their students' learning. Students also assemble a teaching portfolio that documents their learning in relation to program standards.
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Inquiry-based Science Teaching & Learning (ED 261) Focuses on the learning and exploration of scientific concepts and strategies needed to teach inquiry-based science in elementary classrooms. SUMMER 2 COURSES Teaching Diverse Learners (ED 260) Examines specific learner characteristics of students with disabilities as well as modifications (program, instructional, environmental) and strategies that facilitate a more successful learning experience for these students. Usually offered every summer.
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Making Classroom Culture (ED 221) Looks at methods for building an empathetic classroom community from the moment their year begins until the last few minutes of school Class: Teacher Research (ED 266) Students design and carry out a systematic investigation addressing a question or problem arising in their practice. Students explore principles and methods of classroom-based research and review examples of published teacher research. Students present their inquiry projects to fellow students, mentor teachers, and faculty in a teacher research colloquium at the conclusion of their second summer session.
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Application Instructions
Apply to the program
Apply for Merit and need based scholarships
Prepare for interview
Candidates for admission to the MAT program apply to the Brandeis Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). Applicants submit either an electronic application (preferred method) or a paper application. An application fee of $ 75 for online applications is required of all applicants, except for those who apply for early admission. Electronic applications require payment with a credit card. Please note that the MAT program begins in June. Early Decision (see below) applications are due Dec. 1.
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Applicants to the Elementary MAT must state the concentration to which they are applying: 
Public or

Jewish day schools
Rolling Admissions: Applications received after the December 1st early decision deadline will be reviewed in the order received until the cohort is full. After the program fills, qualified applicants may be offered a place on our waitlist. Information on tuition costs and our generous scholarship opportunities can be found at www.brandeis.edu/programs/education/mat/Costs
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For questions about the application process and timetable not answered in the document, please email mat@brandeis.edu or call (781) 736-2022. Early Decision Declare interest in early decision
Complete application by Dec. 1
Schedule Interview
Committee decides within 30 days
Early admission to the MAT program is a possibility for qualified applicants. Early decision confers several advantages: the application fee is waived; candidates who are given early admittance know sooner rather than later that their graduate school spot for summer is
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secured. Deadline to apply for early decision is December 1. The application fee is waived for early decision applicants. Applicants should declare their interest in early decision by emailing both GSAS (farina@brandeis.edu) and the MAT Program (mat@brandeis.edu). Doing so will notify the review committee of your wishes and will allow the application fee to be waived.
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Admissions Process Applicants who have formally submitted their application to GSAS are encouraged to also submit a scholarship application to the Education Program. Information, forms and instructions are available on our scholarships page. Early decision applicants are expected to complete their application within 30 days after the December 1st deadline. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed in the order received and completed until the cohort is full. Applicants may be interviewed as part of the review process. The interview may be done in-person if the applicant is able to meet with the committee on campus or via video conference online.
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Applicants admitted to the program are advised to complete the To-Do Checklist for Accepted Students on the GSAS website. Admission to the program becomes official only after the deposit has been paid. Application Requirements Statement of purpose 2-3 letters of recommendations
• academic • work with youth • employer
Transcripts
• undergraduate • other transcripts
CV/resume GRE Merit based Scholarship
• self reported • official when admitted
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Statement of Purpose In essay form, please discuss your reasons for undertaking graduate study in education at this time. Explain one or two of your core reasons for going into teaching. State the subject area in which you wish to specialize and explain your reasons. Describe your relevant experience and other qualifications. Your statement should be 3-5 pages long and uploaded to your online application. Two Letters of Recommendation (submitted
electronically) One letter should address your academic/intellectual qualifications.
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One letter should address your experience and/or potential for work with children or youth. Applicants with substantial work/professional experience may want to consider a letter from an employer. When applying online please include the complete contact information, including e-mail address, for your referees in your application. The referees will then be contacted directly with the electronic link for submission of their letter(s). Transcripts Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended must be uploaded to your application; please do not mail official transcripts to our office. Candidates must
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provide official transcripts indicating successful completion of undergraduate degree program(s) before registration. Please note Prospective applicants are invited to submit transcripts for preliminary review by the MAT program. The program will then advise as to any gaps in the academic record which may need to be filled. Transcript review is most useful if undertaken before Dec. 1. If interested in transcript review, please email: MAT@brandeis.edu. Applicants who wish professional experience to be taken into account for purposes of review of academic qualifications should submit an additional statement of explanation. Suitable documentation may be required.
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For further information email MAT@brandeis.edu. Curriculum Vitae/Resume List all colleges and universities attended, experiences with children or youth, major extracurricular activities and employment, detailing particularly those relevant to your proposed field of study; any honors or prizes awarded; and community service, publications or research projects with which you have been associated. Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE's) or Miller Analogies Test Exams are required for admission into the MAT program. The GRE (General Test) is the preferred exam. If you have taken your GRE's within the last 5
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years, please provide us with an official copy of your current scores. If you have not taken the GRE test or for more information, you can visit their website at www.ets.org/gre. The ETS code for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is 3092. For Miller Analogies Test, our code is 1197. Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) MTEL passage is a requirement for the teaching license in Massachusetts and is a graduation requirement for all MAT. The MAT program strongly recommends that applicants take the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL prior to matriculation, i.e., in the fall or spring preceding the desired date of entry to the MAT. The Communication and Literacy Skills
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MTEL is not an admissions requirement; however, prospective MAT students will benefit by having attempted the test prior to matriculation. For more information on the MTEL please see: www.mtel.nesinc.com. Non-native speakers of English International students should visit the international admission section of the GSAS website for information on TOEFL, IELTS or PTE requirements. Scholarships and financial assistance
Financial support for graduate students and prospective teachers is available from a variety of sources. The following are sources of particular interest to Brandeis MAT students. The information is
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correct to the best of our knowledge, but applicants are responsible for obtaining current and correct information from appropriate officials. Aid based on evidence of outstanding potential as a teacher The Brandeis Public Educator Scholarship The Public Educator Scholarship provides scholarship to an MAT student in the Elementary or Secondary concentration with outstanding potential to contribute to the improvement of public education through an active and creative life as a teacher in the public sector. * The Scholarship Committee at its discretion may, and generally does, award Brandeis Public Educator scholarships in lesser amounts, in the interest of providing support to as many highly promising students
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as possible, and with the aim of assembling a student cohort of diverse backgrounds and talents. The Brandeis Alumni Scholarship for Teaching The Alumni Scholarship provides tuition remission of almost 25%, in addition to any need-based aid for which the student may be eligible. It is awarded to any Brandeis graduate admitted into the MAT program, in honor of the University’s historic commitment to social justice and the similar commitment demonstrated by the student in choosing teaching. Americorps or City Year alumni/staff The application fee is waived for Americorps and City Year alumni/staff; Americorps and City Year candidates admitted into the MAT program are awarded a 25% tuition scholarship. No separate
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application is needed for the Americorps/City Year scholarship. Candidates should select "Americorps/Peace Corps" in the "affiliations" portion of the online application form. Please go to http://alumni.cityyear.org and search “Brandeis� for more information. Aid based on demonstrated financial need Tuition Grants Tuition grants of up to 20% may be awarded to students found eligible on the basis of financial need. Students may apply for need-based aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Brandeis University code is 002133.
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Stafford Loans Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans are available to students with demonstrated financial need. MAT students may apply for Stafford loans for two academic years. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Brandeis code is 002133. Information and assistance regarding need-based grants and loans, including suggestions for locating other sources of financial aid, is available from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) website: https://www.brandeis.edu/gsas/prospectives/financi al-assistance.html or by calling 781-736-3410.
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Teacher Loan Forgiveness Programs MAT students who, upon graduation, go on to teach in federally designated low-income schools and/or in the sciences may be eligible for loan forgiveness up to $5,000. For more information on loan cancellation and deferment options for teachers go online to Federal Student Aid. MAT students may also be interested in the recently established TEACH GRANT PROGRAM; information available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grantsscholarships/teach Please note that loan forgiveness programs employ very strict criteria.
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For general assistance in considering costs of attendance and sources of support for your graduate education, you will find the professional staff at the Graduate School or Arts and Sciences (GSAS) knowledgeable and helpful.
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Contact Us Danielle Igra, Ph.D. Director of Teacher Education digra@brandeis.edu 781-736-8519
Marjorie Margolis Teacher Education Specialist ekell@brandeis.edu 781-736-2050
Marya R. Levenson, Ed.D. Director, Education Program mlevenso@brandeis.edu 781-736-2022 Rachel Kramer Theodorou, M.Ed. Elementary Education Faculty Leader rbkramer@brandeis.edu 781-736-2023
Eileen Kell Senior Program Coordinator ekell@brandeis.edu 781-736-2002 Manuel Tuan MAT Coordinator tuan@brandeis.edu 781-736-2022
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Notes