Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Master of Arts in Teaching

Master of Arts in Teaching Courses

This cohort-based program provides an excellent professional foundation, combining explorations of theory with practical application. Engaging online and face-to-face instruction is paired with hands-on classroom experience and culminates with a capstone opportunity in place of a thesis.

The sample schedule shown reflects the 11-month plan for the MAT program.

For more detailed information, contact our Enrollment Office at 310.258.2850 or gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

This program is 30 units to complete.

Core Courses

• MATP 610 Instructional Design for Teaching (3)
• MATP 620 Literacy Theory and Methods (3)
• MATP 624 Educational Foundations, Equity, and Social Justice (3)
• MATP 630 Teaching English Learners (3)
• MATP 661 Teaching Students with Exceptional Needs (3)
• MATP 681 Clinical Experience 1 (2)
• MATP 682 Clinical Experience 2 (2)
• MATP 683 Clinical Experience 3 (2)
• MATP 699 Contemporary Issues in Education (3)

Multiple Subject Methods

• MATP 671 Multiple Subject: Developing Teaching Methods (3)
• MATP 675 Multiple Subject: Advanced Teaching Methods (3)

Single Subject Methods

• MATP 673 Single Subject: Developing Teaching Methods (3)
• MATP 677 Single Subject: Advanced Teaching Methods (3)

GSEP is committed to a learner-centered approach in the programs we offer. Each program has a set of objectives that a student graduating from the program is expected to achieve. The knowledge and skills taught in the program might be introduced in some courses. In other courses, students are asked to apply knowledge by practicing skills and demonstrating their abilities. Within the program, the values and dispositional attributes important for individuals entering the profession are emphasized.

Graduates of the MA in Teaching program will be expected to achieve the following objectives:

1. Engage and support all students in learning
2. Create and maintain effective environments for student learning
3. Understand and organize subject matter for student learning
4. Plan instruction and design learning experiences for all students
5. Develop, implement, and use a range of effective classroom assessments
6. Develop as faith-informed, service oriented professional educators

Graduates of our MA in Teaching program have a bevy of career options waiting for them. Here are some of the career outcomes students can expect after attaining their MAT.

K-12 Teacher

A K-12 teacher is an educator who is responsible for teaching a grade between kindergarten and 12th grade. Depending on grade level, duties often include such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

English Teacher

An English teacher is responsible for ensuring that students, often middle school and high school students learn proper grammar, reading comprehension, and writing skills. Teaching at this level includes duties such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

ESL Teacher

An ESL teacher, or English as a second language teacher, is responsible for ensuring that students learn grammar, reading comprehension, and writing skills within the English language for students whose primary language is not English. Teaching at this level includes duties such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

Math Teacher

A math teacher is responsible for ensuring that students, often middle school and high school students learn proper mathematical skills, often including courses such as algebra and geometry in addition to many others. Teaching at this level includes duties such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher is responsible for developing and providing specialized education to students who meet the needs of students with disabilities. The duties of this position include evaluating student progress and identifying objectives tailored to each student and his or her individual needs in an academic setting.

Behavioral Interventionist

A career as a behavioral interventionist focuses on helping individuals identify negative behavioral patterns such as substance abuse, and works with the individual to help alter these behaviors. This type of work can be in either an individual or a group setting. Behavioral counselors often work in private practices, community clinics, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.

Elementary Teacher

Elementary school teachers educate younger students in grades kindergarten through 5th grade. These educators are responsible for laying the academic foundation for young students as they prepare for further education in high academic capacities. Duties within this role include lesson planning, grading, and implementing a variety of subjects at the accurate grade level.

Spanish Teacher

A Spanish teacher is responsible for ensuring that students of any grade level learn proper Spanish language skills including both written, verbal, and comprehension. Teaching in this realm includes duties such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

Substitute Teacher

Substitute teachers are responsible for overseeing classroom management and instruction during periods when the primary educator is absent for short or long periods of time. Duties that fall under this job description include taking attendance, assigning homework, ensuring the classroom stays on task and on schedule, maintaining classroom cleanliness, as well as other duties that may be assigned.

Physical Education

A physical education teacher is responsible for ensuring physical activity for the students. This includes organizing sports games, extracurricular teams, and more. The goal of this role is to promote physical fitness, health, and wellness for children, young and older.

Science Teacher

A science teacher is responsible for ensuring that students of any grade level learn proper understanding and comprehension in the scientific world appropriate for each grade level. Classes often include biology, sex ed, chemistry, environmental science, and more. Teaching in this realm includes duties such as assigning homework and reading, grading student work, and tracking progress to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards.

Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten school teachers educate some of the youngest students. These educators are responsible for laying the academic foundation for young students as they prepare for further education in high academic capacities. Duties within this role include lesson planning, grading, and implementing a variety of subjects at the accurate grade level.

Middle School Teacher

Middle school teachers educate students in grades 6-8. These educators are responsible for laying the academic foundation for young students as they prepare for further education in high academic capacities. Duties within this role include lesson planning, grading, and implementing a variety of subjects at the accurate grade level.

High School Teacher

High school teachers are responsible for teaching students in the ninth through twelfth grade in both public and private schools.

High school teachers typically specialize in one or two topics, such as math, English, science, art, history, Spanish, French, or music, and generally teach several classes in the course of a day. The primary goal of these teachers is to train and prepare students for college and/or the job market.

High school teachers must have the ability to express information effectively to teens. Calmness and patience are qualities that teachers need; their role can be seen as both an educator and mentor.

School Principal

In education, a school principal is like the center of a wheel, responsible for keeping everything running smoothly. A principal is responsible for ensuring the school operates effectively so that teachers, students, and support staff can perform and complete their respective jobs.

A school principal must be a versatile leader. On any given day, a school principal can serve a variety of functions from curriculum consultant, public relations representative, budget analyst, mediator, manager, or disciplinarian.

All facets of a school are the responsibility of the principal. Typically, school principals report to the school superintendent or an assistant superintendent.

Employment Potential

• 1.9 MIL Job Openings: Nearly 1.9 million job openings for Preschool through Postsecondary School Teachers are projected between 2014 and 2024*
• 77K Average Annual Wage: The average annual wage for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in California was over $77,000 in 2017*
• Employment Level: California had the highest employment level of Elementary School Teachers nationwide in 2017*

*U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017