With a 30-year history of success, the Clarkson Department of Education offers the tools needed to be both a successful classroom teacher and English language specialist.

The Clarkson MAT program is the right career choice because graduates consistently have a success rate of over 95 percent on the rigorous New York State Teacher Certification Exams and a job placement rate of 100 percent for the past five years. Our students graduate with confidence and hands-on experience in the classroom built during an individually selected, full-year, mentored teaching residency included as part of the program.

The MAT Adolescent Education and ESOL program is a dual degree and licensure-endorsing program that prepares you for the New York State teachers certification in a content area (chemistry for example) at the 5th through 12th grade level, and English to speakers of other languages at the pre-k through 12th grade level. Candidates may choose from the following content areas: biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, technology (K–12), mathematics, English, social studies, business and marketing (pre-K–12), and computer science (pre-K–12).

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MAT Adolescent Education and ESOL Curriculum

The MAT Adolescent Education and ESOL program at Clarkson is a 57-credit-hour program. Coursework focuses on the theory and practice of teaching and can be tailored to your subject of interest. Students can complete their program in two years on a full-time basis or over a longer period of time as a part-time student.

MAT World Language and ESOL Curriculum

MAT Adolescent Education and ESOL Curriculum (57-Credit Program)

Every member of the Master of Arts in Teaching faculty has secondary teaching experience. Students are successful, in part, because they receive extensive mentorship and support from master teachers who bring advanced teaching skills and extensive classroom experience to the MAT program. As a result, our graduating students are among the most qualified and sought-after teachers in the field.

Prerequisites (No Credits):

  • Field Experience - Four days of structured observations in secondary schools. The Department of Education can help organize this. 
  • The equivalent of an undergraduate major in the discipline the candidate would like to teach.
  • Undergraduate liberal arts core including courses in humanities/arts, writing/communication, social sciences, STEM and one semester of foreign language. 
  • Twelve (12) credits in world languages or American Sign Language. The twelve (12) credits can be in different languages.
  • Educational Psychology (an undergraduate course, or independent study with Clarkson's CRC Department of Education exam). 

Required Core Courses (18 Courses/48 credits):

  • ED 540 Psychology of Teaching - Lecture and Lab (3 credits)
  • ED 541 Essential Reading Literacy (3 credits)
  • ED 550 Effective Teaching for All Learners (3 credits)
  • ED 560 The Modern Teacher (3 credits)
  • ED 551 Secondary Residency I (4 credits)
  • ED 501 Practicum (1 credit)
  • ED 503 Professionalism in Teaching I (1 credit)
  • ED 552 Secondary Residency II (4 credits)
  • ED 504 Professionalism in Teaching II (1 credit)
  • ED 5XX Curriculum and Methods of Teaching XXX (3 credits)
  • ED 570 MS Structure and Standards (3 credits)
  • ED 571 Mid Adolescent Literacy (3 credits)
  • TE 530 English Grammar for the ENL Teacher (3 credits)
  • TE 531 TESOL English Linguistics (3 credits)
  • TE 542 TESOL Literacy (3 credits)
  • TE 501 CAS Residency (1 credit)
  • TE 513 Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Language (3 credits)
  • TE 517 TESOL Teaching and Assessment Methods (3 credits)

Research Project (3 Credits):

  • ED 580 MAT Project

Subject Area Courses (6 Credits):

  • Students complete two electives in the subject area in which they will be obtaining certification (six credits). Subject areas include:
    • biology
    • chemistry
    • earth science
    • mathematics
    • physics
    • technology
    • social studies
    • business and marketing
    • computer science
    • Chinese
    • English
    • French
    • German
    • Greek
    • Latin
    • Russian
    • Spanish. 

Requirements for Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (13 Courses/39 credits):

  • TE 501 Teaching Practicum (2 credits)
  • ED 502 NY State Teacher Requirments (0 credits)
  • TE 513 Curriculum and Methods of Teaching ESOL (3 credits)
  • TE 517 Teaching and Assessment Methods for TESOL (3 credits)
  • TE 542 TESOL Literacy (3 credits)
  • ED 550 Effective Teaching for All Learners (3 credits(
  • ED 560 The Modern Teacher (3 credits)
  • TE 530 English Grammar for the ENL Teacher (3 credits)
  • TE 531 English Linguistics (3 credits)
  • TE 540 Foundations of Teaching ESOL (3 credits)
  • TE 551* Teaching Residency (5 credits)
  • TE 552* Teaching Residency (5 credits)
  • TE 580 MAT Project (Research project in TESOL) (3 credits)

*TE 553 and TE 554 are summer residency options for NYS teachers obtaining their MAT-ES

The Clarkson Teaching Residency
MAT graduate candidates complete a half-day, year-long residency in a secondary school, taking full responsibility for at least two classes. Students will be interviewed at the site(s) where they expect to complete their residency. Entrance into the teaching residency portion of the program is contingent upon completion of Psychology of Teaching and the appropriate Curriculum and Methods course with minimum grades of “B” and with permission of the Chair.

Teaching Careers

Outlook

New York may need to hire 180,000 new teachers by 2027, predicts former SUNY Chancellor Emeritus Nancy Zimpher. This looming teacher shortage is expected to impact urban and rural school districts, and foreign languages and STEM subjects the most. 

Class of 2022 Graduate Placement Rate of 100 Percent

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Career Preparation

Wondering how to choose a master's in teaching program? Download our guide to "Getting an Edge in the Secondary Education Market" to learn more about selecting a high-quality degree program. 

Download the Ebook

MAT E-book: Getting an Edge in the Secondary Education Market

A Note From Our Faculty

The cornerstone of Clarkson's Master of Arts in Teaching is the full-year teaching residency. Schools that hire our graduates consistently cite the unique and in-depth residency experience as the reason Clarkson rises to the top of the profession. The time has never been better to consider a career in teaching as the field is changing rapidly in creative and dynamic ways. And, jobs are plentiful. In fact, 100% of graduates from the Master of Arts in Teaching program have received job offers since 2016!

Catherine Snyder, Chair of Education

Catherine Snyder

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition Rate Guarantee

In an effort to keep our educational costs affordable, we guarantee that tuition rates will remain consistent for students who remain in the same course of study and attend at least every fall and spring semester until they’ve completed their degree.

Grants and Scholarships

Clarkson and the government offer grants and scholarships to help you pay for school. There is even a specific grant for prospective teachers. Learn about our scholarships and grants.

Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute Grant Funded Program

Clarkson's TESOL programs are supported by the New York State Department of Education's Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute Grant. Qualified students may be eligible for tuition assistance. The unique program design allows students the flexibility to take courses online while receiving support through a full-year mentored residency. 

Admission

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Online Application Form
  • Resume.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation.
  • Official Transcripts.
  • Faculty Interview.
    • For International Applicants, an English Proficiency Test is required.
      • Minimum Test Score Requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) and Duolingo English Test (115).

    Prerequisites:

    • Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • The equivalent of an undergraduate major in the discipline the candidate would like to teach.
    • Undergraduate liberal arts core, including courses in humanities/arts, writing/communication, social sciences, and STEM.
    • Twelve credits of Foreign Language or American Sign Language coursework that can be in a variety of languages. Native Speakers of Languages other than English can test out of the 12 credits.
    • Educational psychology (an undergraduate course, or independent study with Clarkson’s CRC Department of Education exam. Must be completed prior to summer intensive; can be completed in fall or spring in the first year if students select the two year program).

    Accreditation

    The MAT program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and is registered as an approved pathway for New York State Certification in Adolescent Education and ESOL Education.

    Clarkson University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The following programs have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2026:

    Full accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to continue to do so.

    Contact Us

    If you are interested in learning more, have questions or are ready to apply, contact:

    Office of Graduate Admissions
    graduate@clarkson.edu
    518-631-9831