M.A.T.Social Sciences Education

Social Sciences Education

The M.A.T. in Social Sciences will give you the education you need to take your existing academic background and use it in the classroom. The program will expand your understanding of social science and cover subjects related to teaching methodology, curriculum building and other skills necessary for success in the classroom, and for teaching licensure. The program requires applicants to provide a senior-level research paper that synthesizes primary and secondary sources and develops and sustains a coherent argument.

What You'll Learn

The M.A.T. in Social Sciences is is a 39-semester hour program that will develop your skills as a teacher and increase your understanding of social sciences. Students will take courses like Foundations of Teacher Leadership in a Diverse Society; Child and Adolescent Development; Political Science; Anthropology; and Advanced Teaching Methodologies in Secondary Social Science Education. The program also includes practical experience during an semester-long internship paired with a seminar course. Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation of licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Where You'll Go

WCU’s M.A.T. graduates will be eligible to teach social sciences in grades 9-12. The National Education Association states the average salary for North Carolina public school teachers is $47,783 for the 2014-15 school year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting a 6% increase in high school teacher hirings by 2022. There are also a number of opportunities across the nation and internationally for primary and secondary teachers.