Master of Arts in Teaching, MAT

Note: The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is currently only accepting applications for the edPIRATE 2025-2026 cohort. Students in the edPIRATE cohort take coursework in the rural educational justice elementary education or middle grades teaching area. All other MAT teaching areas are on pause and are not currently accepting applications.

For information about the edPirate cohort please reach out to Shawnda Cherry (1805 Charles Blvd., Building 123; 252-328-1831; cherrys23@ecu.edu) or visit https://education.ecu.edu/edpirate/.

Program Coordinator: Kristen Gregory (221 Speight Building; 252-328-1134; gregorykr18@ecu.edu)

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) includes teaching areas in elementary education, English education, Hispanic studies, history education, middle grades education, music education, physical education, rural educational justice elementary education, science education, and special education.

For the teaching areas currently on pause, the College of Health and Human Performance and departments in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences offer subject matter courses and content specific methods courses, as well as supervise interns. The full-time program is designed to be completed in twelve months, beginning in the summer and finishing the following summer. Successful completion of the MAT leads to a graduate degree and initial (A) teaching licensure.

Upon acceptance into a teaching area, the MAT Program Coordinator serves as the student’s advisor.

The Master of Arts in Teaching, MAT requires 30-42 s.h. of credit as follows:

Required core courses - 15 s.h.

Teaching area specific courses - 15 -27 s.h.

(Choose from one of the following areas.)

Elementary education (24 s.h.)

English education (24 s.h.)

Hispanic studies (24 s.h.)

12 s.h. from the following:

(9 s.h. must be at the 6000-level)

History education (24 s.h.)

3 s.h. from the following:

Middle grades education (24 s.h.)

Music education (24 s.h.)

Physical education (24 s.h.)

Rural educational justice elementary education (15 s.h.)

Choose 15 s.h. from the following:

Science education (24 s.h.)

Special education (27 s.h.)

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the MAT will be met when the following have been completed.

Unconditionally admitted to graduate standing.
Accepted to a program area and assigned an advisor.
Completion of 12 s.h. of graduate credit over and above any entrance deficiencies or conditions.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of credit regulations which have been established by the Graduate School apply to this degree program. Transfer of credit is only accepted when it is fulfilling a deficiency or content area of knowledge.

Residence Requirements

The residence requirement for a nondoctoral degree program is met when a student has earned at least one-half of the graduate degree credit for his or her program while in residence, which is defined as taking courses on the campus of East Carolina University, at designated off-campus residence centers. If the program is 100% DE, the residence requirement is met when a student has proven North Carolina residency.

Other Requirements for the MAT

General requirements for the completion of the master’s degree are as follows:

30-42 s.h. of course work
A cumulative grade point average of 3.0
Meeting specific teaching area requirements
Successful completion of the MAT Portfolio