Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) History

Whether you are seeking initial or professional licensure, our Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs will help you to develop the skills and competencies needed for the next step on your career path. 

Our MAT program combines the pedagogy of teaching with content specialization in History. 

Program Features 

• Small class sizes: Most courses at the graduate level are conducted with approximately 15 students. 

• Flexible pacing options: This program can be completed in ~2 years full time, or 3 to 6 years part-time. Graduate history courses are offered in online, hybrid, or in-person formats in the evenings during the academic year and during two six-week summer sessions. 

• Faculty: The Salem State University history department is an active community of scholars who regularly publish and contribute to their fields. The faculty prepares students for a range of professions while remaining committed to the core tradition of investigating the changing human condition and sharing this scholarship with the university community as well as the broader public 

• Exciting 300-hour practicum: We have strong partnerships with more than 50 area schools throughout Greater Boston and the North Shore offering excellent field work opportunities for those seeking placement. Educators already working in the classroom may be able to complete their practicum at their place of employment. 

• Concurrent enrollment opportunities: Certificate in Public History; Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Certificate in Digital Studies; and more.  

• Graduate assistantships: Opportunities to apply for graduate assistantships, grants, and scholarships. 

Curriculum 

Our robust 42-credit curriculum is designed to provide students with the skills and confidence needed to begin teaching on day one. The curriculum for our full suite of MAT programs includes 4 core courses in education, 5 core courses within history, 2 teaching methods courses within history, 1 education elective, and a semester-long supervised practicum* and seminar in the field teaching.  

All MAT students take the following four core courses in education: Instruction & Assessment in the Secondary Classroom; Culturally Responsive Teaching; Sheltering Content for English Language Learners; and Effective UDL Classroom Practices. Students also choose an additional education elective of their choice. 

*If you have already completed a practicum (student teaching), the MAT program may not be right for you. Instead, you should look into the MA program. See history program options below. 

History Content 

The MAT in History is designed for liberal arts graduates who want to begin preparation for teaching history at the middle school or secondary level or are practicing teachers who would like to expand their understanding of the educational process while increasing their formal education in history. 

Through consultation with the program coordinators, students will select four content courses: 

Sample Content Courses

• Historiography 

• Oral History 

• Museum Studies 

• American History 

• The Civil War 

• Nazi Germany 

• The Holocaust 

• Modern Latin America 

• History of US-East Asian Relations 

• The French Revolution 

• The Napoleonic Empire 

• Russia Since 1917 

Licensure Opportunities 

We offer the opportunity to progress from your preliminary license through your professional license within one program. As soon as you pass your MTELs (state teacher tests), you can apply for your preliminary license and begin your career as a classroom teacher. Once you have completed your core classes and student teaching, you will be endorsed for your initial license. Upon completing your MAT and finishing at least three years of teaching under your initial license you will be eligible for your professional license. This means that graduates of our program are able to complete all licensure requirements without needing to pursue additional coursework. 

Please be aware that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may change licensure requirements. Students are advised to contact the state for specific, current licensure requirements. Students may access that information at the Department for Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

Opportunities 

Research Resources 

Major repositories are located within a half-day's driving distance of the university. Salem State’s own library offers students access to a rich variety of print and electronic resources. Students love the valuable subscription databases available through the website. 

Professional Development 

Professional Historical Societies: Many graduate students participate and present research as part of regional and national historical societies. 

Phi Alpha Theta: All graduate students are encouraged to apply to Phi Alpha Theta, Salem State’s active chapter of the history honor society. Each year Phi Alpha Theta supports a select number of students to present their scholarship at one of the organizations regional or national conferences. 

Salem State University’s Research Day: Graduate Students and faculty present papers, posters and workshops about their ongoing research. 

Travel 

Salem State history students can take advantage of opportunities to travel with the department to domestic and foreign locations. The department regularly offers summer and spring break trips to different European locations and the American South. These trips can be experienced as part of a travel/study course or as stand-alone travel experiences. Also, the department currently offers guided excursions to sites in New York City and Washington, D.D. because of the popularity of travel/study programs, the department will expand its offerings around the United States and in Asia. 

Careers 

Salem State graduate history students can take advantage of the department’s relationships with practitioners in a variety of fields including archives and records management, museums, and education. Recent graduates have been offered jobs in area school districts, museums research institutions, and historical societies. Others have gone on to pursue PhDs.