Virginia Board of Education
Approves New MAT Program at CNUNews Release - September 16, 2003
contacts:
Marsha Sprague, Director, Teacher Preparation
Christopher Newport University
757-594-7973Michelle Morgan, Coordinator, Media Relations
Newport News Public Schools
757-591-7453
(NEWPORT NEWS, VA)— Newport News Public Schools and Christopher Newport University are pleased to announce that the Virginia Board of Education approved the new Master of Arts in Teaching program at CNU at its July 2003 meeting. The program gives CNU students the opportunity to become licensed teachers through a five-year course of study.
Students will earn a bachelor’s degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences in four years and a master of arts in teaching with a Virginia teaching license in the fifth year. This content-rich, collaborative teacher preparation model is supported by state and national education agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education.
The MAT program includes a partnership with Newport News Public Schools for the new teacher preparation program. The partnership will enhance opportunities for students seeking teaching careers. The school division will provide field experiences and internships for CNU students, and will assist in curriculum development.
The new program will offer endorsements in 14 areas: elementary, art, biology, computer science, English, French, history, history and social science, mathematics, music-instrumental, music-choral, physics, Spanish, and theater.
Licensure will be available through three preparation tracks: a five-year master of arts in teaching, a two-year master’s degree, and a one-year post-baccalaureate licensure program.
The Virginia Board of Education will conduct an on-site review of the MAT program at the end of the two-year pilot program.