Change the world by changing lives - one student at a time.
It is never too late to become a teacher. No matter your background, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree will help you transition into the field of education as a middle school or high school teacher.
One of the greatest obstacles for adults aspiring to enter the profession of teaching is having to complete a fourteen-week, unpaid student teaching experience. In 2023, the Iowa State Board of Education passed legislation allowing individuals with a bachelor’s degree to move directly into the profession of teaching once they complete their teacher preparation coursework (skipping student teaching).
In 2024, Drake University first began offering this option to graduate students with the goal of addressing the teacher shortage problem in Iowa but also maintaining high standards for teacher preparation.
Individuals who successfully gain admission into the Drake MAT Intern Program complete an accelerated program of study towards initial licensure at the secondary level.
If successful, these individuals then apply to state Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) for an intern license, which allows them to serve as the teacher of record in an Iowa classroom.
With all of the rights and privileges granted to a licensed teacher, teacher “interns” receive a full salary and benefits while they complete their first year of teaching.
The internship year is supported by both faculty and staff at Drake University—and by the administration in the school where they work.
At the end of their first-year, successful teacher interns graduate with both an MA in Teaching and their initial (two-year) licensure from the BOEE.
This is a minimum 36-credit hour degree program. The degree program is designed for individuals who hold undergraduate degrees in a field outside of education, but would like to obtain teaching certification at the middle or high school level (5-12). Would you rather teach younger students? Consider the Master of Science in Teaching program to be prepared as an elementary school teacher.
This part-time program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Courses are offered during the day, in the evening, and online to accommodate your lifestyle. You can continue to work while you move toward the completion of your master's degree. Courses can be taken all year round.
In addition to courses needed to receive your teaching license, you'll fulfill requirements that will certify you to teach in at least one subject area. As an MAT student, you are required to complete at least one endorsement while attending Drake. Contact the School of Education Coordinator of Graduate Admission for a transcript review to see which courses from your undergraduate transcript may count toward an endorsement. The number of courses you will need to take to complete an endorsement will depend on how many of your undergraduate courses fulfill state requirements.
For more information about the MAT program, contact:
Todd Hodgkinson, PhD
Associate Professor
todd.hodgkinson@drake.edu
515-271-4565
There are a number of scholarship opportunities for students pursuing teacher licensure. See the full list of scholarship opportunities offered to School of Education students.
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