Grads/M.A.T. - Colorado College

For our graduate and M.A.T. course offerings, click here. For information on the Experienced Teacher M.A.T. program, see below. For all other options, see the blue navigation bar on the left.

Southwest Studies (for teachers and administrators of all grade levels)
The Southwest Studies M.A.T. program is an interdisciplinary study of the land and people of the American Southwest. This program explores the American Southwest through the disciplines of the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Each summer, a six-week institute is offered which rotates in emphasis, giving teachers a wide variety and breadth of knowledge about the area in which we live. The purpose of the institutes is to increase the knowledge and competence in academic disciplines and subject matters that are of southwest regional concern. This program assumes that some learning related to local social, cultural, and physical environments is an interesting and valuable experience for all teachers of this area or for those interested in the American Southwest.

Arts and Humanities (for high school teachers and administrators)
The goal of this program is intellectual renewal that leads to enhanced teacher effectiveness, accomplished through interdisciplinary study of the humanities from both classical and contemporary perspectives. This program is intended to be flexible in content and provide for the teacher who wants to expand knowledge in a specific area and undertake work in other fields within the arts and humanities. The Arts and Humanities Institute brings an interdisciplinary approach to a subject of general concern and interest. Recent institutes have centered on “War and Art”, “The Meaning of Life”, and “History and Literature”.

The Latin Institute is also offered under the Arts and Humanities degree for teachers of Latin, or for teachers who are interested in becoming Latin teachers. Courses in this program are all advanced Latin courses which focus on readings likely to be encountered in an advanced high school Latin program, e.g. AP or IB syllabi and classical mythology. Candidates take courses that address Roman history and historiography and may include courses in classical epigraphy, numismatics, or archaeology. For more information about the Latin Institute and program, contact Professor Patricia FitzGibbon at pfitzgibbon@ColoradoCollege.edu.

Liberal Arts (for elementary school teachers and administrators)
This program is designed to support the intellectual interests of elementary school teachers. Like each of Colorado College’s Experienced Teacher M.A.T. programs, it is not the goal of the MAT in Liberal Arts to focus on the constantly changing trends in educational methodology. Rather, the goal of the program is to provide teachers with opportunities for academic rejuvenation and intellectual renewal. This goal is based in the belief that the best teachers are actively engaged in higher learning.

Integrated Natural Sciences (for teachers of science)
Colorado College’s M.A.T. program in Integrated Natural Sciences (INS) makes use of a constructivist view of teacher development to introduce science teachers not only to new science, but to new ways of teaching science in which the essential principles of science are learned through themes or issues. Candidates explore ways of teaching science in which the subject content of the science curriculum is linked to classroom practice. The program models effective pedagogy in a series of content-driven institutes that focus on teaching and learning for understanding. Degree candidates are introduced to a culture of learning and teaching that encourages thoughtful conversations among colleagues, classroom-based research, authentic assessment, and leadership skills.
The INS M.A.T. program is a three-year articulated program. To earn the degree, candidates must complete eight Colorado College units of credit (32 semester hours). To accomplish these degree requirements, candidates complete one INS Institute in each of two successive summers. The Institutes vary in content from summer to summer, but always focus on the natural sciences, model effective pedagogy, and include information on curriculum design. During two school years, candidates attend Implementation Seminars during which participants are encouraged to make connections between the content learning of the Institute attended in the previous summer and their science classrooms.
In the third year, degree candidates may either complete a third Institute or select two or three science courses from the undergraduate science curriculum offered by the College during the summer. The final credits (.5-units of CC credit) for the INS MAT program are earned by completion of a Masters Research Project and Paper.
The INS M.A.T. is coordinated and administered by the Colorado College Summer Programs Office along with Dr. Paul Kuerbis, Professor of Education and Director of the Colket Student Learning Center at Colorado College. Licensed teachers who wish to apply to the INS-MAT program should begin the process by contacting Professor Paul Kuerbis by phone: (719) 389-6726; or e-mail:
pkuerbis@ColoradoCollege.edu

To request an application packet, contact either the assistant dean of summer session, Ann Van Horn, at avanhorn@ColoradoCollege.edu or Dr. Paul Kuerbis at pkuerbis@ColoradoCollege.edu.

Degree requirements for the M.A.T. for Experienced Teachers
To earn the M.A.T. degree for experienced teachers, candidates must complete a minimum of eight Colorado College units (32 semester hours) of graduate credit. This can easily be done in three summers.
Most candidates meet this requirement by completing three two-unit experienced teacher institutes, one elective one-unit course, two colloquia, and the masters research paper, which is completed with a faculty advisor on an independent basis.

The minimum course requirements are:

•Two graduate institutes (six-week courses, two blocks, or 8 semester hours). We offer at least one Southwest Studies and one Arts and Humanities institute each summer.
• Two colloquia, (one-week afternoon seminar, .25 units, or 1 semester hour). The research paper methods colloquium is highly recommended for all candidates the first summer. All other colloquia are on current topics of concern to educators. Colloquia meet for two to three hours each afternoon for one week and are among the very few courses offered under the Colorado College Block Plan designed and scheduled to be taken in conjunction with another course. Two to three colloquia are offered each summer and are designed to be taken concurrently with other Summer Session courses.
• ED552, the masters research paper (50 page minimum) on a subject of the student’s choosing. The paper should evolve from the student’s personal interests and coursework in the M.A.T. program. Completion of the masters research paper and a successful oral defense of the paper complete the requirements for ED552. M.A.T. candidates select the topic for the research paper in consultation with a faculty member. The Assistant Dean of Summer Session is available to offer advice on paper topics and selection of the Masters Research Paper advisor.

To earn the M.A.T., candidates should plan to complete all eight units of credit (32 semester hours) at Colorado College. On occasion, up to 4 semester hours of graduate credit earned at another college or university may be considered in fulfillment of degree requirements, provided the credits complement the academic emphasis of Colorado College’s M.A.T. program. M.A.T. candidates who wish to have credits considered for transfer to the program should contact the assistant dean of the Summer Session. Continuing Education credits and other in-service graduate credits do not transfer to the program.
M.A.T. candidates may take courses from the Colorado College undergraduate Summer Session catalog for graduate credit. M.A.T. candidates who wish to take undergraduate classes for graduate credit should have their course selections approved by the Assistant Dean of the Summer Session prior to enrollment.

2nd Summer
Experienced Teacher Institute (Blocks A & B): 2.00 CC units
Colloquium - research methods (concurrently with Block A or B): .25 CC units
Masters Research Paper (anytime): .50 CC units

3rd Summer
Experienced Teacher Institute (Blocks A & B): 2.00 CC units

Total: 8.00 CC units

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