Our Dual-Degree Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education (4+1) not only provides aspiring teachers with the knowledge and skills they will need — it also affords students the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with inspiring teachers in the field. As a 4+1 MAT student, your internship experience in a school during your graduate year will help save a significant portion of your tuition via our tuition remission program.
As an educator at the elementary school level, you will teach more than literacy, math, science and social studies. You‘ll also support your students‘ social and emotional growth. At QU, we will teach you lesson planning, classroom management and culturally responsive pedagogy, allowing you to reach all learners.
This dual-degree program allows you to complete your bachelor‘s degree in any major, along with a master‘s degree in teaching and your elementary teaching certificate (first through sixth grades) within 5 years. Completing your master‘s degree immediately after earning your bachelor‘s degree allows you to continue your teaching career uninterrupted, as maintaining your professional license to teach in most states requires the completion of a master‘s degree during the first 6-8 years of teaching.
As a first-year student, you will begin our program with ED 140 – Introduction to Public Education. This 1-credit course introduces you to the teaching profession and our program. It helps you to make choices about coursework and even select a major if you haven’t already done so.
In your sophomore year, you will take two more education courses: foundational classes in diversity and philosophy of education. All of these early courses provide opportunities to build relationships with MAT faculty and fellow teachers and become further involved in our School of Education events and clubs. At the end of your sophomore year, will have an initial advising session with a member of the MAT faculty to review your overall academic status and discuss continuation in the program.
During your junior and senior years, you will spend 20 hours each semester doing a field study in a public school classroom with an experienced teacher. On campus, you will begin to take more specialized education courses. You’ll automatically transition to graduate school after you earn your bachelor‘s degree, and your final year will be spent interning at a local elementary school full time, under the supervision of an on-site mentor and a School of Education faculty member.
Teaching certification and licensure is regulated by each state. Connecticut participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Compact (NASDTEC.net). States that participate in this compact agree to accept the planned program of study of graduates in any of the states that are part of that compact. Therefore, whether you are an in-state or out-of-state applicant, you can become a certified teacher wherever you want to teach.
Earn your master’s degree without breaking the bank.
In the Dual-Degree MAT (4+1) programs in Elementary and Secondary Education, you will experience significant cost savings while pursuing your graduate degree. Your first graduate course begins immediately after you complete your undergraduate degree during a 7-week summer semester; this is the only semester you will be responsible for paying the full tuition and fees. You will then begin interning in a school while attending evening courses throughout the fall and spring semesters. The work you complete during this internship will cover a significant portion of your tuition, so you will only pay for three credits during the spring semester in addition to the fees for both semesters.
Percentage of graduating students in 2021 who have jobs in their chosen fields or are continuing their educations within 6 months of graduation.
We have placed student-teachers in 49 schools across 20 local school districts, allowing students to earn classroom experiences in a variety of school settings prior to graduation.
Our small class sizes ensure a student-centered approach and individual attention.
In today’s competitive market, a graduate degree is often expected and can be the key to your success. Our innovative dual-degree programs give you a clear path to achieving your goals.
As a dual-degree student, you’ll enjoy:
Seamless plan of study: Our dual-degree programs enable you to streamline the completion of both your undergraduate and graduate studies — building relationships with classmates and professors in the supportive and enriching environment that you have come to know.
Save time and money: Certain courses count toward both undergraduate and graduate requirements — allowing you to graduate earlier and spend less money.
Simplified application process: When you maintain good academic standing in the program, you are seamlessly enrolled into the graduate program of study — eliminating the need to find another graduate program, take additional tests for admission or complete a separate admission process.
Career development: Dual-degree students gain access to special career-focused programming — including global networking and internship opportunities, recruitment events, career fairs and other experiential opportunities.
Personalized advising: Students are assigned a dedicated adviser who will help with course selection, assist with internship placements and prepare you for interviews — strengthening your resume before graduation.
Career readiness: Dual-degree students enter the workforce with an advance degree in hand — increasing your potential starting salary and setting you apart from other recent graduates who did not earn a master’s.
The dual-degree program emphasizes the skills employers value — leadership, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. They also reflect our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning and career development.
There are a number of programs within the College of Arts and Sciences that pair well with our Dual-Degree BA or BS/MAT programs in Elementary, Secondary and Special Education. These programs allow you to gain the hands-on skills needed to thrive in a classroom and enable you to seamlessly complete both your undergraduate and graduate studies in just five years.
”I have been able to apply a lot of the knowledge I gained from QU to my own classroom. I always feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of the education program at Quinnipiac.“
All programs in the School of Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
School of Education graduates earn exceptionally high scores on licensure examinations required for certification both within and outside the state of Connecticut, including the Praxis II tests for special educators and elementary and secondary teacher candidates; the Foundations of Reading Test; Spanish ACTFL Test; and the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT), taken by the candidates in the Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership program.
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.