English Teaching (M.A.T.)

Purdue University
Master of Arts for Teachers (M.A.T.)
Department of English and Linguistics
College of Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts Building 145 ~ 260-481-6841 Fax: 260-481-6985

Hardin Aasand, Chair
Lewis C. Roberts, Graduate Program Director

To earn this degree, you must complete at least 36 credits (courses are generally 3 credits each). You must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 or better in courses taken to fulfill degree requirements; no course with a grade below B will count toward the degree.

At least eight of your courses (normally 24 credits) must be graduate-level courses administered by the Department of English and Linguistics. These must include: (1) a course in the English language or linguistics; (2) a course in rhetorical or composition theory, and; (3) a course in ethnic or minority literature. At least five more courses must be elected from among the graduate offerings of the Department of English and Linguistics. Up to 12 of the 36 required credits may be elected from courses approved by the director of graduate studies, but administered by a department other than English and Linguistics. For example, if you are working toward certification, you may be able to count some of your education courses as electives for the M.A.T.

You may elect to write a master’s thesis (3 - 6 credits). If you do not write a thesis, you must complete a 700-level seminar offered by the Department of English. Courses in Liberal Studies will not fulfill this requirement. The M.A.T. program does not require you to demonstrate foreign language proficiency or to sit for a comprehensive examination.

In addition to completing these requirements, you must hold a teaching license in English, and provide a copy of your Indiana State Teacher’s License. You must complete all M.A.T. degree requirements within five years of your admission to the program.

Teaching Assistantships

Graduate students may qualify for appointment as a teaching assistant (TA). To qualify, the student must have completed 50501, Teaching Composition, with a final grade of B or better, be recommended by the instructor of that course, the Associate Director of Writing, and be approved by the Director of Writing. Also (effective Fall 2011) newly appointed TAs must complete the one-credit-hour course 50601, Practicum in Teaching Composition, with a final grade of P(assing) in one of the first two semesters of their teaching. To become and remain a graduate TA, students must be in good academic standing.

Limited spaces are available for teaching. New TAs will typically be assigned one or two sections of 13100, Introductory Composition. Subsequent assignments may include the assignment of 12900, Basic Writing, with the approval of that course’s Coordinator. TA appointments carry a stipend and partial remission of fees.

Program Requirements

Core: Credits 9

One course in the English Language or Linguistics
One course in Rhetorical or Composition Theory
One course in Ethnic or Minority Literature

Electives Administered by the Department of English and Linguistics: Credits 15-27

Approved Electives: Credits 0-12

Electives must be from appropriate departments.

Total Minimum Credit Hours: 36

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies and procedures governing your academic career. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the Graduate Director.