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Teacher Certification and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Programs

Teacher Certification - HWS Colleges offer an innovative Teacher Education Program embedded in the liberal arts. Through a series of seminars and field experiences that complement their regular academic schedules, students can earn New York State teacher certification. Normally, students apply towards the end of their first year, and if accepted, complete seminars and field experiences during their sophomore and junior years and finally student teach during one semester of their senior year.

The Ninth Semester Student-Teaching Option provides students increased flexibility in completing the Teacher Education Program. It permits students to apply as sophomores or can help students balance demanding academic schedules. If all other requirements are completed, students can complete their student teaching semester as a tuition-free ninth semester.

MAT Program - Hobart and William Smith Colleges offer a Master of Arts in Teaching program. Only students enrolled at HWS can be considered for admission to the MAT program. Students apply in two stages. Late in their first year they join the teacher education program (through a competitive application procedure), and in their sophomore and junior years they complete the teacher education seminars and field experiences. In January of their junior year, these students may apply to continue in the fifth year MAT program.

Admission to the program is highly competitive. In order to be considered, students must have an outstanding academic record, an outstanding record of performance in the teacher education program, and strong faculty recommendations. Those who are admitted take a research/thesis preparation seminar in the spring of their senior year.

In the fall of their postgraduate year, they take a semester of teaching along with two education seminars: one to guide their reflection on student teaching, and the other to guide their thesis. In the spring semester they take four graduate courses. Three are courses in a department or departments of the students' choice, and one is a research seminar in the Department of Education that is thematically related to the other courses. Also in the spring the candidates complete a master's thesis/project in their area of concentration.