Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

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, their graduating students are among the most qualified and sought-after teachers in the field.

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 intern. 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.

For many MAT programs, students take anywhere from a semester to a full year of coursework before receiving a practicum assignment. Clarkson streamlines the path to hands-on, professionally valuable experience. You, in turn, get to immediately make a difference and drive progress in your chosen field.

Full-year residency and internship assignments take place in a secondary school. Here, see what it takes to be an educator by creating lesson plans, managing classrooms and staying on track toward learning and socio-emotional outcomes. Your mentor-teacher collaborates with you to refine your instruction and classroom skills.

Entrance into the teaching residency is contingent on completion of the "Psychology of Teaching" and the appropriate "Curriculum and Methods" course with minimum grades of “B” and with permission from the chair.

We commit to your success through scholarships and grants that help you pay for this next step. Even find grants specifically for prospective teachers.

Students from select undergraduate institutions may be eligible for scholarships.

Students generally need a GPA of 3.2 or higher to qualify. Please inquire with the Department of Education at 518-631-9870 for a list of partner schools and details.

Clarkson’s Master of Arts in Teaching full-year residency program supports Black teacher candidates with Black Educator Initiative scholarships (based on eligibility), mentoring, living stipends (between $3,000-$5,000 based on eligibility), affinity groups, emergency funds (to help with certification exams, an interview suit, car repairs, etc.) and tutors. Grant recipients also earn the title of Fellow in the Black Educator Initiative program. Learn more about the Black Educators Initiative.

The New York State Education Department has awarded the Department of Education at Clarkson University the Clinically Rich – Intensive Teacher Institute TESOL Grant. This grant provides a $4,500 scholarship for up to 20 candidates per year in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Clarkson’s Education department may award additional funds to applicants who are eligible for additional grants and scholarships as matching funds.

Scholarships are available for applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching program who apply and are accepted early. Applicants intending to start in the Fall or Summer semester must commit to attend by the end of the previous calendar year. Applicants intending to start in the Spring semester commit to attend by July 1. Students are eligible to receive the "Commit to MAT" Education Scholarship. This award varies in value between $2,500-$6,000 based upon the student’s application portfolio.

The Education Department Scholarship is the most prestigious merit award in the Department of Education at Clarkson University. Students’ applications are automatically reviewed for merit scholarship eligibility based on previous coursework and the rigor of their undergraduate portfolio.

Clarkson University’s Master of Arts in Teaching program offers this fellowship in conjunction with the Emma Willard School, an all-girls boarding high school in Troy, NY. The fellowship awards a full-tuition scholarship, as well as a stipend and room and board at Emma Willard, where the fellows live and teach a reduced course load. Fellows complete the Master of Arts in Teaching over two years, receiving the fellowship each year, and then are provided assistance with their career search.

Clarkson University provides need-based tuition assistance to a limited number of students. To qualify, students must complete the FAFSA, as well as a need-based scholarship application.

The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) is seeking candidates from Clarkson’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program to serve as teachers. The English-speaking school, which was founded in 1990, educates more than 400 students (preschool through grade seven) from 21 different countries. Teachers do not need to speak Chinese to be considered for the fellowship.

Clarkson University is fortunate to receive unique scholarships from generous donors. There are also scholarships designed to support students who grew up in Schenectady or the Capital Region. Applicants are encouraged to inquire about other current opportunities.

Clarkson’s STEM Up NY program provides up to 20 scholarships to aspiring teachers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects to help address the shortage of secondary teachers for those subjects in high-need schools. Scholarship recipients receive $20,000 for their undergraduate senior year, $20,000 for the year it takes to complete their Master of Arts in Teaching and extensive support in preparing for and securing their first teaching positions. Learn more about the STEM Up NY Noyce Scholarship.

The New York State Education Department has awarded the Department of Education at Clarkson University the Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) grant. This grant provides a $5,400 scholarship for qualified candidates from historically underrepresented groups. This award recognizes the quality of Clarkson University’s MAT program, as only eight of the over 200 teacher education programs in New York State receive this funding. Learn more about the TOC grant.

The Dean’s Scholarships are the most prestigious merit awards in the Department of Education at Clarkson University. Students are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on previous coursework and the rigor of their undergraduate portfolios.

The Schenectady Foundation Scholarship is awarded to one student every year. The successful candidate has graduated from Schenectady High School or a high school in Schenectady County. The candidate must complete the full-year teaching residency at Schenectady High School and express intention to pursue a teaching position in the district or in a high-need setting. The scholarship awardee receives $7,500 in tuition support from the Schenectady Foundation, which is matched by Clarkson University.

This scholarship was established in memory of Harriet and Roscoe L. Williams, whose lives of dedication and service enriched schools and communities in the Dutchess County, Adirondack and Capital District regions of New York. The Williams family provides scholarship assistance to highly qualified MAT graduate students who are preparing for careers in classroom teaching and educational administration in New York State.

In addition to scholarships, students may be eligible to receive transfer credit or course waivers for previous study. Course waivers and transfer credits reduce the cost of earning a degree from Clarkson University.

The Bauhofer Scholarship and the Allen Scholarship celebrate the dedication of individuals preparing for careers in the classroom.

Explore all MAT Scholarships.

A complete application consists of the following:

Prerequisites:

Pa. Department of Education reduces wait time for new teacher certification

Wait times down for teacher certification in Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) — Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) has said that teachers are now spending less time waiting for their certificates and more time in the classroom.

The Department of Education said since 2022, they have reduced wait times for in-state certificates by more than two months. It is one of many steps they are taking to try and address Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage.

“We want them in the classroom as soon as they can possibly be there,” said Carissa Pokorny-Golden, director of PDE’s Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality.

Getting new teachers certified as quickly as possible is a priority, especially with the state’s teacher shortage reaching what some call a “crisis.” Pokorny-Golden said when she started at PDE in 2022, new teacher certifications took about 10 to 12 weeks. A big reason is that PDE was severely understaffed, with about 12 to 16 employees evaluating certification applications.

Months-long wait times are a problem, especially for students graduating in May and going into teaching.

“It’s unnerving when you don’t get your certification when you expect it to come,” Pokorny-Golden said.

Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesperson Chris Lilienthal added, “It’s getting really close to August and that’s when these folks are hoping to start their job.”

Lilienthal said becoming a teacher is a complicated process with several steps.

“It’s a very rigorous program they have here in Pennsylvania and they want to make sure that they aren’t throwing up obstacles in the way for young people who want to be teachers. They don’t want to create an incentive for them to get to a point in that process and say you know what, this is too hard, this is too complex, I’m going to change majors,” he said.

Cutting down wait times removes one more obstacle. Pokorny-Golden said PDE hired four more evaluators. That has helped cut time for in-state new teacher certifications down to one to three weeks. Out-of-state and specialized certificates still take longer, but Pokorny-Golden said the state is continuing to hire more people to help.

“We’re hoping to reach the goal that they will be able to get all certificates done within at least four weeks,” she said.

PDE has also made several changes to their website to make it easier to use. A big change is the addition of a certification clock, which shows the real time wait for different levels of certification.

“A lot of their phone calls, a lot of their emails are you know, asking, you know, how long is my certification going to take?” Pokorny-Golden said.

PDE’s website also features a revamped certification page to make it easy to find answers to frequently asked questions, as well as step-by-step guides and instructional videos. This is all part of an effort to streamline the process as much as possible.

“We think it makes the process more transparent, more accountable and it certainly makes it a lot more user friendly for educators,” Lilienthal said.

Both PSEA and PDE agree this is a step in the right direction, but both groups are also working on several other ways to ease the teacher crisis. PDE has approved an apprenticeship program for high school students and also works on grants for professional development for teachers already in the field. PSEA is pushing for funding towards scholarship programs and raising teachers’ starting salaries.