A forward-thinking approach to confront the realities of today’s classrooms
The MAT@USC is specifically designed to help you develop the skills needed to raise the level of your teaching to meet the needs of today’s classrooms. More than a disparate collection of courses, the MAT@USC was conceived and developed to consistently and effectively address the growing educational needs of an ever-changing population.
Developed by renowned USC faculty, the curriculum is grounded in the most current research related to teacher preparation and tackles head-on many of the problems that teachers face in today’s classrooms. Course content is continuously updated to reflect the changing needs in education.
Hear more about program curriculum from our faculty:
Coursework is divided into four broad categories that provide students with theoretical foundations, teaching strategies and the practical experiences necessary to make a difference in schools across the country.
| Category | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Foundations | Provide in-depth knowledge in sociological and psychological theories and their application in the classroom. Foundations classes also introduce students to the latest strategies for infusing technology into instruction. |
| Teaching Methods | Lay the foundation for teaching linguistically and ethnically diverse students in urban schools. Courses introduce students to planning, implementing, and assessing instruction across all content areas. |
| Language and Literacy | Ground students in the theories of language and literacy for both primary and second language learners and the application of these concepts across all content areas. Language and literacy issues are at the forefront of educational reform efforts nationally and globally. |
| Field Experience and Capstone Portfolio | Field experiences are an integral part of most MAT courses. From the beginning of the program, students are placed in local classrooms to observe and practice the applications of theories and instructional methods from mentor teachers. To demonstrate the knowledge and skills developed throughout the program, students will complete a comprehensive summative portfolio. |
The Capstone Experience
In this program track, you will complete an action-research project that challenges you to examine two areas of your teaching capabilities that you would like to improve. Individually guided by faculty members, you will spend time reviewing existing academic research in those areas and planning how to put your new learnings into practice. You will then implement these changes into your own classroom, record your teaching performance with a digital video camera and upload your experiences for evaluation by your instructors and peers as part of the final review process.
Program Length
The program is comprised of a minimum of 30 units you can complete in about one year on a full-time basis or over two to three years on a part-time basis.
Click here to learn more about this groundbreaking program today.
