MAT in Modern Foreign Language Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program is designed for graduates in Modern Foreign Languages or graduates from equivalent programs or similar backgrounds. The program is for students who wish to obtain Initial licensure for Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish for grades 5–12 (middle, junior, or senior high schools) in Massachusetts. (Licensure reciprocity exists with many states, but students should investigate specifics in the state of anticipated residence.) The MAT is designed as a 12-month, full-time program that may begin in June or September each year. It is further possible to complete the degree over a longer time period as a part-time student.

Students in the program complete courses in education, language acquisition, and foreign language pedagogy. Additionally, students participate in a pre-practicum and practicum (student-teaching).

Learning Outcomes

As a result of successful completion of this program, students will achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Promotes the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction, designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments, analyzing student performance and growth data, using this data to improve instruction, and providing students with constructive feedback on an ongoing basis.
• Promotes the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.
• Promotes the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.
• Promotes the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice.
• Demonstrates subject matter knowledge.

Degree Requirements

Education Coursework (8 cr)

• SED ED 502/503 Professional Teaching Seminar: Analyzing Foundations of Teaching (2 cr)
• SED DS 502 Introduction to Adolescent Development (2 cr)
• SED CT 534 A Practical Approach to Classroom Management (2 cr)
• SED SE 510 Special Education: Curriculum and Instruction (2 cr)

Modern Foreign Language and Language Acquisition Coursework (26 cr)

• SED LS 658 Second Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED LS 565 Applied Linguistics: Language & Linguistics Survey (4 cr)
• SED WL 511 Methods of Teaching Modern Foreign Languages (4 cr)
• SED WL 503 Pre-Practicum in Modern Foreign Languages Education (2 cr)
• SED WL 512 Curriculum & Assessment in Modern Foreign Language Education (4 cr)
• CAS LC 511 Teaching Chinese as a Second Language *Required for Chinese licensure students only
• Electives (4–8 cr)

*Recommended courses include SED TL 512, TL 635, LS 626, any WL course or CAS XL 5XX, LC 5XX, LF 5XX, LS 5XX, or other with advisor approval 

*Students wishing to obtain the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement may take SED TL 525 for one of their electives

Practicum (8 cr)

Students participate in a minimum 300-hour student-teaching experience supervised by a trained classroom teacher and Boston University Program Supervisor. Students take the following:

• SED WL 586 Practicum in Modern Foreign Languages Education (6 cr)
• SED WL 504 Student Teaching Seminar in Modern Foreign Languages (2 cr)

Add-On License in Teaching English Language Learners (ESL)

The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) Program offers a six-course, 26-credit add-on license pathway that allows MAT students in content-specific areas (e.g., Modern Foreign Languages, English Education, Social Studies Education, Mathematics Education, and Science Education to meet requirements for a Massachusetts licensure endorsement as Teacher of English Language Learners (ESL). In this course of study, students are exposed to a theoretical introduction to the nature and structure of language, key factors affecting second-language acquisition, and communicative approaches to the teaching of English as a second or foreign language. In addition to the six courses, students are required to complete an ESL Practicum. This pathway requires MAT candidates to add one additional summer and part-time semester to their regular MAT program timeline.

This pathway consists of the following courses:

• SED TL 508 Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (4 cr)
• SED BI 530 English Language Development: Grade 5–12 English Language Learners (2 cr) or SED BI 535
• SED BI 535 Literacy Development for Bilingual Students: Instruction and Assessment (4 cr)
• SED BI 620 Educational Issues in Bilingualism (4 cr)
• SED LS 658 Second Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED BI 504 Seminar: The Student Teaching Experience (2 cr)
• SED TL 582 and 583 Student-Teaching Practicum I and II: ESL, 5–12 (6 cr)