Introduction to the Program

Established in 1918, Dickinson State began as an educational institution training teachers to serve students in the region. With a continuous teacher education preparation program since its inception. It is a natural progressive move for DSU to expand its offerings into a graduate program. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a response to the teacher shortages in North Dakota, especially in rural areas.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the MAT program is to prepare highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent graduates of higher education as secondary school teachers. The graduate degree program is designed for individuals without teaching credentials but who have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree and wish to become a teacher in an expeditious fashion. The MAT’s focus is on preparing secondary school teachers. It is not an advanced credential for practicing teachers. Those who currently hold a teaching credential and are interested in further education should explore the Master of Arts in Education transfer option.

Admissions Requirements

The MAT’s focus is on preparation to teach secondary school rather than on earning an advanced credential for practicing teachers. Completion of the program qualified a graduate for a secondary school teaching license in one of several content areas. It is recommended that you visit with the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education  to determine if your undergraduate degree lends itself to licensure.

  • Admission to the MAT at Dickinson State University requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or its equivalent from a school in another country. Official, final and sealed transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
  • Admission to the MAT requires a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The method of calculating an Admission GPA is based on the last 60+/- semester undergraduate credits (90+/- quarter credits), using complete semesters (quarters). Applicants with a GPA below a 3.0 may be admitted based on documented potential.
  • Applications must submit a Statement of Purpose describing their interest of study and any relevant education, research, commercial, government or teaching experience.
  • Applicants must complete and submit the DSU Graduate Studies Application.
  • Applicants must pay the non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee. The fee may be paid in-person, by check, or money-order. Contact the Office of Admissions with questions at 701-483-2175 or (800) 279-HAWK, dsu.hawk@dickinsonstate.edu.

Curriculum

**Courses are offered online or in distance education formats.

EDUC 501 – Educational Foundations (3 credits)

This course will look at the historical, legal, and intellectual development of education in the United States, including the traditional and contemporary philosophical thoughts and their educational implications. Topics will include principles of effective human learning and the teacher as a facilitator of learning experiences. This course will also examine the current issues and trends influencing educational practice.

EDUC 511 – Cultural Diversity in a Complex World (3 credits)

This course will examine curriculum and pedagogy from the perspective that all students, regardless of the group to which they belong, such as those related to gender, social class, ethnicity, race, culture, religion, or exceptionality, should be ensured educational equity in school. This course will promote attitudes and teaching strategies that meet the needs of diverse students, families, and communities.

EDUC 521 – Curriculum Design, Delivery, & Assessment (3 credits)

This is an inquiry-based course for the reflective practitioner to develop deep understandings of curriculum content emphasized by PK-16 state and national common core standards and their impact on college readiness skills. It will include an examination of current trends in curriculum design theory and assessment strategies and their application in teaching and learning. The emphasis will be on the relationship of current research to contemporary practice.

EDUC 531 – Educational Research (3 credits)

This course will provide an examination of the research techniques most commonly used in education, and an evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses and applications of each framework. Students will also analyze and reflect on educational research and its ability to inform practice, and will acquire strategies to promote the efficacy of using and understanding data to make actual improvement in K-12 schools.

EDUC 541: Integrating Technology into the Learning Environment (3 credits)

This course is intended for educators at all levels of technology proficiency, from novice to experienced, whose aim is to enhance their capacity to use technology as a tool for teaching and learning. Established educational technology standards will guide students in the course in preparing instructional systems that feature a variety of teaching techniques and technological resources. Students will examine a range of traditional and emerging technologies and the research describing best practices when using those tools to facilitate and assess learning. Students will synthesize course concepts with their own experiences in elementary and secondary education.

EDUC 513 – Literacy in the Content Areas (2 credits)

This course will examine the content, instructional methodologies, and evaluation techniques for reading in content classes. Participants will learn teaching strategies to enhance students’ learning of subject matter while developing their literacy.

EDUC 514 – Content Area Teaching Strategies (2 credits)

This course examines specialized methods and classroom practices appropriate to the specific subject area, including curriculum planning, effective instructional and assessment strategies and collaboration with other professionals who teach courses in the same content area.

EDUC 515 – Childhood and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)

This course involves the study of human change during the development periods of childhood and adolescence. Emphasis is given to theories biological, cognitive, and psychosocial development including typical developmental tasks and problems that children face.

EDUC 520 – Theory and Practice of Classroom Management (3 credits)

The course will introduce students to theories of classroom organization and management that address student learning, diversity and development. Models for organization and management of the classroom environment, materials and procedures will be discussed, as will models for identifying, preventing and resolving behavior problems and promoting personal and social responsibility. All models considered in the course will be examined in light of application to experiences in the school setting.

EDUC 575 – Student Teaching Internship (6 credits)

Supervised student teaching with a focus on planning, implementing, and assessing instruction for whole classes and individual students, as well as professional goal setting and professional development. This internship involves the completion of 12 weeks of supervised student-teaching to meet teacher licensure requirements.

EDUC 585 – Action Research (3 credits)

This course provides the knowledge and skills to design an action research project. Students will learn the steps and protocol associated with action research and will be required to design an action research project on a specific pedagogical topic in a school setting. Prerequisite: EDUC 531 – Educational Research.

Sample Course Rotation

All courses are online.

Summer 1
EDUC 501: Educational Foundations (3 cr.)
EDUC 515: Childhood and Adolescent Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall 1
EDUC 521: Curriculum Design, Delivery, and Assessment (3 cr.)
EDUC 514: Content Area Teaching Strategies (2 cr.)

Spring 1
EDUC 531: Educational Research (3 cr.)
EDUC 511: Cultural Diversity in a Complex World (3 cr.)

Summer 2
EDUC 513: Literacy in the Content Areas (2 cr.)
EDUC 520: Theory and Practice of Classroom Management (3 cr.)

Fall 2
EDUC 585: Action Research (3 cr.)
EDUC 541: Integrating Technology into the Learning Environment (3 cr.)

Spring 2
EDUC 575: Student Teaching Internship (6 cr.)

*Instructional assignments for DSU’s current undergraduate program and the MAT program will be determined each semester, based on enrollment of courses and instructors’ loads.

Accreditation

DSU's Teacher Education Department is accredited by NCATE/CAEP.

Graduate Studies Coordinator

Dr. Christine McCoy
Christine.mccoy@dickinsonstate.edu
701-483-2317