The M.A.T. Program is jointly administered with The Citadel’s School of Education and has been nationally recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) at the secondary-school level. It is designed for anyone seeking initial certification to teach English in the public schools. (If you are currently teaching in an independent school or plan to do so, then either the M.A. or the M.A.T. provides the necessary preparation.)
Students take a series of courses offered through the Education department in such areas as educational psychology, the history of education, and data collection and analysis, and a series of courses in literature and rhetoric through the English department. Your program of study in English is determined through an analysis of your undergraduate and other school transcripts. Students’ English programs of study will vary, depending on their previous coursework.
If you would like a preliminary transcript analysis to give you an idea of what your English program of study would look like, email Dr. Tom Thompson with copies of your unofficial transcript(s). For your formal transcript analysis, you’ll need official copies of your transcript(s).
Courses in English
NCTE, a national organization devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts, requires that M.A.T. candidates have taken the following courses or their equivalents:
- Major British Writers I and II
- Masterpieces of American Literature
- World Literature I and II (ENGL 520 & ENGL 521)
- Informative Speaking/Persuasive Speaking
- Film Studies (ENGL 560)
- African-American Literature (ENGL 535)
- Advanced Composition (ENGL 562)
- Literary Criticism (ENGL 555)
- History of the English Language (ENGL 554)
- Modern English Grammar (ENGL 553)
- Adolescent Literature (ENGL 552)
Students must take at lease two of these courses at the graduate level. In addition, students must take two graduate English courses designed specifically to help them teach English more effectively: Teaching with Technology (ENGL 564) Methods and Materials for English Language Arts (ENGL 595).
For a list of current and upcoming course offerings, click here. The rest of the required courses may be taken at the undergraduate level at any accredited undergraduate institution. Please note that credits taken elsewhere must be approved in advance by the director of the M.A.T. English Program.
The College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, and Trident Technical College all offer courses that will help you complete your program of study, although not all are available every semester. Clicking on these links will take you to web pages where you can search for available classes.
All teaching internships are coordinated by the School of Education.
Admission Requirements
GPA: a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applicants with less than a 2.5 undergraduate GPA may appeal to The Admission, Retention, and Certification Committee.
Transcripts: Official transcripts of the baccalaureate degree and all other undergraduate or graduate work from accredited colleges and universities.
Prospective students for the M.A.T. should apply online through the School of Education.
Contact Us
Dr. Thomas Thompson
Director of the M.A.T. Program in English
Email: thompsont@citadel.edu
OR
Dr. Tammy J. Graham
Coordinator of Teacher Education
Email: grahamt1@citadel.edu