Converse’s teacher preparation programs comprise a wide diversity of field and clinical experiences in public schools. Our program prepares you to become an effective teacher with an in-depth knowledge base of your field and appropriate teaching strategies for the developmental level of your students, guided by our faculty who continually challenge students to integrate theory with practice.
Converse’s state-approved MAT in Mathematics will help you become a well-qualified, certified math teacher for the middle school classroom. Our Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed for those holding a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education.
Converse’s MAT in Mathematics prepares you to become an effective teacher with an in-depth knowledge base of your field and appropriate teaching strategies for the developmental level of your students. After completing certification requirements you will be certified to teach in grades 5-8 (middle level).
Degree Offered
- MAT in Middle Level Mathematics
Program Goals
Our long-term goal is to develop cultural characteristics and school practices that reflect the needs of the middle school students and the middle school philosophy.
Preparing candidates in a thorough understanding of these characteristics and what they look like in a real school setting will make our candidates uniquely prepared to teach in a middle level school.
Learning Outcomes
- Candidates will analyze adolescent development and learning;
- Candidates will observe, document, assess, and support a struggling reader;
- Candidates will employ developmentally appropriate approaches;
- Candidates will use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum.
Applicants must have the following:
- Graduation from an accredited college;
- Overall GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for full admission;
- A major undergraduate program appropriate for the requested teaching area;
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
Visit the graduate catalog for detailed admission requirements.
For consideration of admission, the applicant should have the following credentials:
- A completed online application, including the $40 application fee
- Official degree-granting undergraduate transcript and graduate transcripts from all colleges attended.
- A competitive score on the Miller Analogies Test
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal statement – Converse’s founder, Dexter Edgar Converse, held the ideal that Converse students “may be enabled to see clearly, decide wisely, and to act justly.” Please write a personal statement, approximately 250-300 words in length, on how your personal goals as an educator tie with the Converse concept of The “Ideal” Educator. In keeping with the Honor Tradition at Converse, your essay must be entirely your own work. Please be specific on how Converse can help you become the “Ideal” Educator, taking special care to organize your essay clearly and proofread your work. The personal statement should be submitted as a part of the application or emailed to the Office of Graduate Admission.
Converse’s goal is to develop teachers with the cultural characteristics and school practices that reflect the needs of the students and the middle school philosophy.
Master of Arts in Teaching Middle Level Mathematics
The MAT in Teaching Middle Level Mathematics (grades 5-8) has a minimum of 45 graduate semester hours. The program will consist of 36 hours in Professional Education and 9 to 18 hours in content area courses. The number of content hours required may vary depending on your post-secondary academic background. Those coming from backgrounds other than mathematics will need to take more content area courses to develop expertise in that specific area. The candidate must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in content area courses as well as a 3.0 GPA in overall program coursework.
Upon completion of the Middle Level Mathematics program in mathematics at Converse you will be able to:
- Provide a thorough course of study in human growth and development;
- Develop skills in appropriate pedagogy and classroom management;
- Promote a broad knowledge of the history, theory, and professional practices promote a broad knowledge of the history, theory, and professional practices that are related to early childhood education;
- Demonstrate computer proficiency in instructional technology including the knowledge of skills, strategies, software and hardware to be used in classroom management and computer-assisted instruction;
- Plan, implement and assess instruction in simulated settings and in real classroom settings as a student teacher.*
*The PRAXIS II exam is taken by students before the completion of student teaching.
All of the courses in the MAT in Mathematics Program are designed to develop, improve, and continually upgrade the process in which our candidates seek to improve on ways they can develop knowledge of their students and their fields. Converse’s goal is to cultivate teachers with the cultural characteristics and school practices that reflect the needs of the middle school students and the middle school philosophy.
These courses are designed to keep their students engaged in learning, to provide a caring and challenging environment, to use a variety of texts to promote opportunities to learn acceptance and appreciation of others, to continue to develop instructional resources, to set attainable and worthwhile learning goals for students, and to develop meaningful learning opportunities for their students. A component for self-reflection and growth is included in each of the core courses as well as the content area courses.
Additional Program Details
See comprehensive graduate tuition and fees here.*
*Tuition and fees subject to change
Learn about Financial Aid opportunities.
More reasons to choose Converse:
Veteran Faculty: Our faculty have extensive experience and are active as researchers, clinicians, and leaders in their fields.
Quality Education: Our curriculum is aligned with professional standards and meets all the requirements for national approvals under the guidance of the Council for Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP), approved by the South Carolina Department of Education. You will be qualified for certification reciprocity with many other states.
Community Partnerships: Our program gives you ample opportunities to work with local public schools and to interact with the local community.
Degree Prestige and Value: Since 1890, Converse has provided students with distinctive education rooted in the liberal arts. Our graduates are principled and productive citizens capable of creative thinking and problem solving and are well prepared for their chosen profession.
Beyond the Classroom
Faculty & Students Present at Math Association Meeting
Converse faculty and students attended the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Southeastern Section Meeting in March 2024 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Associate Professor of Mathematics and Dean of …
Converse University Focusing On The Future By Investing In Teachers
Written by Amanda Mathis On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Converse University, Wofford College, OneSpartanburg, and Spartanburg County School Districts Three and Seven announced their recent collaboration to invest in Spartanburg’s …
The Graduate School
Converse is a nationally recognized and regionally accredited doctoral university.
Office of the Dean
Lienne Medford
Dean of The Graduate School
864.596.9082
lienne.medford@converse.edu
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