The Ithaca College physics & astronomy department— in collaboration with the education department— offers a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. This is a 12-14 month intensive program; graduates of our program are fully eligible for initial teaching certification in the state of New York, which has reciprocity agreements with more than 30 other states and jurisdictions.

Learning Assistant aids students in the classroom.

Admission Requirements for the M.A.T. Program:

Admission to the MAT Program is highly selective. Applicants are expected to have a strong general education background in the liberal arts and sciences; a depth and breadth of knowledge in the content area they intend to teach; a demonstrated commitment to working with diverse adolescents in educational settings; an enthusiastic, creative, and reflective approach to teaching and learning; and an interest in innovation and reform in today's secondary schools.

  • Completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • A major, or the equivalent, in the study of the content area for which you are seeking certification in adolescence education, grades 7-12: biology, chemistry, English, French, mathematics, physics, social studies, or Spanish.
  • Additional evidence of academic proficiency in the discipline as determined by the academic department (i.e. evidence of oral language fluency for applicants in French or Spanish; evidence of strong writing skills for applicants in English).
  • Successful completion, or the equivalent, of at least one year of college level study in a language other than English, as per New York State requirements for teacher certification.
  • Two letters of recommendation, both of which should assess your ability to do graduate work and speak to your potential for becoming an effective teacher.
  • An interview with the MAT Program Chair and a Faculty Advisor in the discipline. (Invited interviews occur after our review of your completed file.)
  • Submission of your score on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), one of the three examinations required for New York State teacher certification. Further details about this exam and a preparation guide are also available.

Prerequisite Coursework for Admission: Education

Three prerequisites in the field of education are required, either the following three Ithaca College courses or their equivalents:

PSYC-21010 Educational Psychology
EDUC-34000 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education
EDUC-21910 Early Field Experience: Theory and Practice (includes 50 hours of field experiences in school settings)

Applicants may submit evidence of equivalent coursework taken at other accredited institutions, as well as satisfactory completion of 50 hours of course-connected field experiences in secondary schools. Applicants who have not completed these prerequisites may be admitted provisionally and enroll in the May and summer session offerings of these courses, just prior to the start of the M.A.T. program.

Prerequisite Coursework for Admission: Content Area

Evidence of academic proficiency in the discipline to be taught will be determined by the appropriate department in the School of Humanities and Sciences. In general, expectations include:

  • an undergraduate or graduate degree in physics, or
  • an undergraduate major in engineering or physical science (chemistry, geology, astronomy), with a minor in physics, or with at least 18 credits of undergraduate and/or graduate course work in physics above the sophomore level