Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching at UNC Greensboro is designed for candidates who currently hold a bachelor’s degree, but did not pursue teacher education or licensure as an undergraduate. This program offers eight concentration areas — Elementary Education, Middles Grades Education, Secondary English Education, Secondary Mathematics Education, Secondary Science Education, Secondary Social Studies Education, Special Education, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) — that culminate with the development of an Initial Competencies Portfolio, providing eligibility for candidates to apply for “A” licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Our teaching candidates come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds including communications, business, psychology, and political science. They also join the program from careers in fields including retail, engineering, and social work. The common denominator is a strong interest to teach young students and to have a direct impact on the lives of others.

MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING Program Distinctions

UNCG’s School of Education has been consistently rated as one of the “Top Graduate Schools of Education” by U.S. News & World Report.

Students can choose from eight concentrations, allowing candidates to pursue licensure in areas where schools frequently seek qualified teachers. Concentrations include:

• Elementary Education
• Middle Grades Education
• Special Education
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Secondary Science
• Secondary English
• Secondary Social Studies
• Secondary Mathematics

About the Elementary Education Concentration

The Elementary Education program provides an accelerated pathway to teacher licensure, extensive clinical experiences, and strong emphasis on evidence-based instruction. Through faculty mentorship, hands-on teaching opportunities, and a focus on effective instructional practices, students in the MAT in Elementary Education concentration graduate ready to make an immediate impact on students’ learning and success. UNCG integrates clinical experiences throughout the program, allowing students the ability to gain hands-on experience in local partner elementary classrooms and complete a supervised student teaching internship.

More on the Middle Grades Education Concentration

The Middle Grades Education concentration combines sustained classroom experience, specialized preparation for grades 6–9, innovative teaching methods, and a strong focus on a wide range of learners — equipping future teachers to enter the profession with confidence and practical experience. Not typically found in MAT programs, students in the Middle Grades program will take Teaching and Learning in Makerspaces as part of the curriculum. This class helps future teachers integrate creativity, problem-solving, technology, and hands-on learning into middle school classrooms.

Information About the Special Education Concentration

The Special Education program offers a fast-track pathway to teacher licensure while preparing educators to serve learners in K–12 settings. Through a fully online cohort model, students learn alongside peers, engage with experienced faculty, and develop expertise in evidence-based practices that improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Throughout the program, students engage in case studies and problem-based learning experiences that emphasize the implementation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral interventions.

About the TESOL Concentration

The TESOL pathway combines accelerated teacher preparation, hands-on clinical experiences, and specialized training in multilingual education. Through a cohort-based model, candidates develop expertise in areas such as language acquisition and literacy instruction while completing extensive field experiences in K-12 schools. The curriculum goes beyond general teacher preparation by emphasizing specialized TESOL coursework, including applied linguistics, literacy instruction for multilingual learners, classroom language assessment, ESL methods, and cultural and legal issues affecting English learners

Learn about the Secondary Science Concentration

The Secondary Science teaching program emphasizes science-specific pedagogy, helping candidates understand both scientific content and how students learn science. It combines rigorous science teaching preparation with extensive classroom experience. Students examine scientific inquiry, environmental issues, STEM learning, and the relationship between science, technology, and society which prepares them to create engaging, relevant science learning experiences.

Information About the Secondary English Concentration

The Secondary English Education concentration combines specialized training in literacy and English language arts instruction with extensive classroom experience in local high schools. Through coursework focused on adolescent literacy, writing instruction, youth literacies, and innovative teaching practices, students learn how to engage learners while building strong foundations in literature, language, and composition. Through graduate-level coursework, classroom experiences, and fieldwork, you’ll learn how to help students develop essential skills in reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking. 

About the Secondary Social Studies Concentration

The Secondary Social Studies Education track at UNC Greensboro utilizes specialized social studies pedagogy, hands-on classroom experience, and preparation for a variety of learning environments. Unlike many alternative licensure programs that serve multiple subject areas through a common curriculum, the Secondary Social Studies Education program is tailored for students with backgrounds in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, or sociology who want to teach social studies at the high school level.

More on the Secondary Mathematics Concentration

The Secondary Mathematics Education concentration combines rigorous mathematics-focused coursework, innovative teaching methods, and extensive classroom experience to prepare future educators for success. Through specialized courses in mathematical thinking, problem solving, and mathematics pedagogy, students learn how to help adolescents develop deep conceptual understanding and confidence in mathematics. The program goes beyond general teaching preparation to focus on how students learn mathematics and how teachers can make complex mathematical concepts accessible, engaging, and relevant.

The MAT Student Experience

Unlike programs that concentrate classroom experiences into a single semester, UNCG MAT students complete internships and student teaching experiences throughout the program, providing sustained opportunities to apply instructional strategies in real school settings.

After GraduatiNG WITH YOUR MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING

Graduates of UNCG’s MAT program earn a master’s degree while completing the requirements for North Carolina initial teaching licensure, positioning them to enter the education profession immediately after graduation.

Depending on their concentration, graduates are prepared for roles such as:

• Classroom Teacher (Elementary, Middle Grades, or Secondary)
• Special Education Teacher
• ESL/TESOL Teacher
• Inclusion Specialist
• Resource Teacher
• Curriculum Facilitator
• District-Level Education Specialist

While many graduates begin as classroom teachers, the master’s degree and advanced preparation provide a foundation for future educational leadership opportunities.