M.A.T. in Secondary Education - Master's Only

In order to be eligible for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (MATSE) program, you must first:

• Must be seeking their initial secondary teaching certificate 
• Must have an awarded bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Improved grades in recent coursework will be considered.
• Must already have or be willing to complete the teachable major requirements before entry into the masters program. To request a copy of the requirements, please email [email protected]. Teachable major options include: 
• English Language Arts
• Integrated Science
• Mathematics 
• Social Studies

Prospective and Current Student Advising
SEHS Advising Office
(248) 370-4182
[email protected]

Steps to apply:

Step 1: Transcript Evaluation
Request a transcript evaluation to determine if you have met the prerequisite coursework. To have your transcript reviewed, send an email to [email protected] and include:

• A copy of transcripts from all institutions you have attended. If you are an OU alumni, simply provide your full name and Grizzly ID or date of birth.
• If you are using parchment or national student clearinghouse to request your transcripts, send them to yourself and then attach a PDF copy to your email. 
• Please include which teaching  major you are interested in: English Language Arts, Integrated Science, Mathematics, or Social Studies.
• you may have some prerequisite coursework to complete for your teachable major. You can work with the SEHS Advising team to determine when and where to take those classes.
• To schedule an advising appointment to learn more about the admissions process, call us at (248) 370-4182 or email [email protected].

Step 2: Online Graduate Application

• Create an account at gradapply.oakland.edu/apply.
• After creating your account, select “Start new application” 
• Select: "Graduate School Application." 
• For Degree Type, select “Master's Degree”
• For Academic Program and Location, select “Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Education”
• Two professional recommendations will be required as a part of your application

Step 3: Supplemental Application
Supplemental application requirements: Return to the Application home screen to submit the additional supplemental items required for this program. Upload or complete the following:

• Resume or Curriculum Vita: Include all relevant educational, professional, or volunteer experience with children/youth
• Goal Statement: In two pages or less, please include a short biography, your professional goals, and respond to the following: (1) What experiences have led you to believe you would enjoy teaching middle/high school students? (2) What abilities do you have that lead you to believe you can manage a classroom? (3) What grade levels and/or areas of the curriculum do you hope to teach and why? (4) What knowledge, experience or personal attributes do you have that will benefit your students? (5) What do you hope to accomplish in a teaching career?
• Request official transcripts from all post‐secondary educational institutions from which you earned a degree or that you enrolled in for your prerequisite coursework. Official college transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing college or university to [email protected] or in a sealed envelope to: Graduate Admissions - Oakland University, O'Dowd Hall, Room 520, 586 Pioneer Drive, Rochester, MI 48309-4482.

Step 4: Admission Decision
After your application is complete (including all course and testing requirements), it can take up to three weeks to hear a decision. To check on the status of your application, you can contact Graduate Admissions at (248) 370-2700 or [email protected].

One of the primary benefits of Oakland University's teacher preparation program is field experiences provided in local school districts. Students will have varied experiences working with school-age children and have an opportunity to observe instruction, work with students, and implement lessons prior to the student teaching internship. 

• Students will complete initial field experiences for the first three semesters with increasing time commitment (30, 50, 90 hours). Fields are generally completed as weekly or semi-weekly half-day visits to a classroom during the specified semester.
• The final semester is a 15-week full time internship (called student teaching) in a local classroom and includes all school-related activities.
• Field experiences and the student teaching internship are arranged by Oakland University and are requirements from the MDE. Applicants should plan ahead to make accommodations to cover these requirements.
• Since most classes are held in the evening, students can generally still work for the first four semesters of the program. Due to the demands of the full time student teaching placement, students are encouraged not to work more than minimal hours.
• SL&L Account- Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L) - sll.watermarkinsights.com is an online assessment tool that every candidate of the initial teacher preparation programs in the School of Education and Human Services is required to use. Once you are accepted to the program, you will receive an email that will provide you with information to purchase your account.

Successful scores on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) exams are required before student teaching for teacher certification.