Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T)
We have a masters level licensure program that has been developed for individuals already possessing an undergraduate science degree and little or no education course work.
The program begins each May and successful individuals graduate 15 months later at the end of the summer in time to begin working that fall.
Graduates of the program will have a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and will have completed all requirements for licensure in the state of Iowa.
Required Courses
Summer I
CI 514 (Introduction to science teaching) 2 cr.
20 clock hours Field Experience
CI 529 (Educational Psychology and the Secondary Classroom) 3 cr.
SPED 501 (Teaching Students with Disabilities) 3 cr.
HPC 504 (Foundations of American Education) 3 cr.
Fall
CI 518 (Science Methods I) 2 cr.
CI 591D (40 clock hours supervised field exp.) 2 cr.
CI 547 (Nature of Science and Science Education) 3 cr.
CI 506 (Multicultural Gender Fair Education) 3 cr.
Spring
CI 519 (Science Methods II) 2 cr.
CI 591D (60 clock hours supervised field exp.) 2 cr.
CI 517 B, D, J, or M (Student Teaching) 12 cr.
Summer II
CI 546 (Advanced Pedagogy in Science Education) 3 cr.
CI 505 (Using Technology in Learning and Teaching.) 2 cr.
CI 599C (Creative Component) 3 cr.
Total Required Credits = 45
Note: Updated on Apr. 22, 2008
Frequently Asked Questions
What program is available at ISU to become a secondary science teacher?
Can I keep my full time job while I complete this program?
Are courses offered online or through the ICN?
What is required for admission to this program?
What is the cost of the program?
Is financial aid available?
How do I know what science areas I will be licensed to teach?
Are the teacher preparation courses part of the master's degree?
If I enroll in the program, how often would I need to travel to Ames?
How is this program different than alternative licensure programs such as those offered online or through some school-district "fast track" programs?
Is there a limit on the number of people admitted to the program?
What program is available at ISU to become a secondary science teacher?
We have a masters level licensure program that has been developed for individuals already possessing an undergraduate science degree and little or no education course work. The program begins each May and successful individuals graduate 15 months later at the end of the summer? in time to begin working that fall. Graduates of the program will have a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and will have completed all requirements for licensure in the state of Iowa.
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Can I keep my full time job while I complete this program?
The program is designed to produce highly effective science teachers who, because they are successful, will enjoy teaching. Such a program is demanding and requires students be full time graduate students during those 15 months.
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Are courses offered online or through the ICN?
Because learning to effectively teach requires face-to-face interaction and modeling of effective teaching by faculty, we limit the science methods courses to 27 students and all courses are offered on campus except for the extensive field experiences that occur in public schools.
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What is required for admission to this program?
Qualifications for our program include a bachelor's degree in a science or science-related field and acceptable GRE scores (a minimum score hasn't been set yet). We also require a letter of intent and 3 letters of recommendation, and complete transcripts. Application materials can be downloaded from the graduate college webpage that can be accessed through the university homepage: www.iastate.edu. Applications are due on or before February 1.
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What is the cost of the program?
Please see the graduate college homepage for tuition information.
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Is financial aid available?
Because secondary science is a state shortage area, the state is offering loan deferment and loan forgiveness programs. For information on this program, see www.IowaCollegeAid.org , or csac@max.state.ia.us. Other scholarships and financial aid may be available. Check the graduate college homepage for information.
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How do I know what science areas I will be licensed to teach?
If your undergraduate degree is in biology, chemistry, or physics, you will be licensed in that area. If your degree is in a more specialized or hybrid field, such as electrical engineering, we will likely need to review your transcripts. The state of Iowa has specific requirements for licensure and we need to ensure your coursework is aligned with those requirements. To meet with an advisor regarding your coursework and state licensure requirements, you can set up an appointment with our Curriculum & Instruction advisor, Al Campbell. To make an appointment, contact Nancy Lahner at (515) 294-7603.
In addition to your primary area of endorsement, you may also be able to obtain additional endorsements, depending on your university science coursework. For example, many biology majors find that a second endorsement in chemistry is quite easy to obtain. In some situations, an individual's course work may already meet state requirements while in other cases a few additional courses will be needed. We advise earning multiple endorsements as this will afford you optimal flexibility when you begin looking for a teaching position. However, we do caution you to avoid endorsement in an area where you do not possess sufficient content understanding. Strong science content knowledge is necessary for effective teaching and children deserve teachers who are knowledgeable in their field.
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Are the teacher preparation courses part of the master's degree?
Yes. The 15 month program is a master's level licensure program, so all of the teacher preparation courses count toward the M.A.T. degree. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have a master's degree from ISU and will be recommended to the State of Iowa for licensure. The state actually issues the license. It requires completion of a state-approved licensure program and a background check.
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If I enroll in the program, how often would I need to travel to Ames?
Courses vary by semester, and student teaching can be done in several locations near Ames, including Des Moines. The program structure may vary, but tends to look something like this:
May: One course that meets two or three evenings a week for three or four weeks. During this course you will also be required to spend a minimum of 20 clock hours observing teachers and students in the public schools. Another late afternoon or evening class likely will meet beginning sometime in May.
Mid-June through mid July: Two courses that typically meet M-F during the day.
Fall semester: Three classes that meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings (the days may change in the future). Also required is a semester long field experience that requires you to keep open your mornings (8-noon) or afternoons (noon to 3) the entire semester so that you can be placed in a field experience where you will be videotaped.
Spring semester: 15 weeks of student teaching plus one course that meets on Monday evenings.
May/July: One course meets three late afternoons a week for four weeks A second class will meet sometime during May-July. The creative component is also completed at this time.
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How is this program different than alternative licensure programs such as those offered online or through some school-district "fast track" programs?
If you are going to make the significant commitment and take on the enormous responsibility to teach children, a quality program is much more likely to help you become an effective science teacher. Those who graduate from alternative licensure programs are rarely prepared for the demands of teaching in today's schools, and are more than twice as likely to leave the profession. Effective science teacher education requires that complex sets of teacher behaviors and pedagogical strategies be modeled and explicitly taught to teacher education students, and that these experiences are coupled with closely supervised field experiences where important support and feedback is provided. Whatever avenue you pursue for science teacher licensure, ensure that you receive multiple science methods courses (not just a general methods class), multiple early field experiences under the guidance of a cooperating teacher, educational psychology, and coursework that is taught by faculty who are both scholars in the field and have significant K-12 teaching experience. Teaching is a very difficult profession that is both cognitive and emotionally taxing. Quality preparation is a must!
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Is there a limit on the number of people admitted to the program?
Yes. Enrollment is limited because students must be placed in classrooms for practicum experiences and student teaching.
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Undergraduate 
