Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online
Pursue your certification and your master’s degree together and transform your current teaching role into a more fulfilling career.
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Program Overview
Strengthen your expertise with the MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online program
$18,736.50
Total Tuition
As few as 24 months
Duration
30
Credit Hours
This alternative certification route is for candidates who have an undergraduate degree in the subject you want to teach, a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited CE, and a secured position as the teacher of record at a New Jersey school. Apply the industry-relevant curriculum immediately in your classroom to enhance your lessons.
Become a highly effective educator with your Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Secondary Education (Alternative Route). Courses in this CAEP-accredited online program focus on lesson planning, curriculum design, social justice, and developmental differences among learners, preparing you to educate students from various cultural backgrounds.
As a graduate of this online master’s, you will be able to:
- Use information on learners’ strengths to design lessons that are appropriate to their varying cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical needs
- Establish high expectations for learners, demonstrate the ability to modify instruction, and implement assistive tools and technology to address the specific learning differences and needs of all learners, according to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS)
- Evaluate and use relevant and appropriate research, resources, and materials of the discipline to impact learning
- Design learning objectives, success criteria, and common learning opportunities in alignment with NJSLS and College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards that demonstrate accurate knowledge in major concepts, use of academic language, and tools of inquiry of the discipline
- Design instructional plans to develop learners’ communication skills and academic language (vocabulary, syntax, and discourse) of the discipline
- Design assessments of mid-to-high level cognitive demand that provide evidence of learner understanding of learning objectives
- Use assessment data and evidence to reflect on instructional planning and teaching and modify teaching practice
- Use information on learners’ strengths to design lessons that are appropriate to their varying cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical needs
- Establish high expectations for learners, demonstrate the ability to modify instruction, and implement assistive tools and technology to address the specific learning differences and needs of all learners, according to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS)
- Evaluate and use relevant and appropriate research, resources, and materials of the discipline to impact learning
- Design learning objectives, success criteria, and common learning opportunities in alignment with NJSLS and College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards that demonstrate accurate knowledge in major concepts, use of academic language, and tools of inquiry of the discipline
- Design instructional plans to develop learners’ communication skills and academic language (vocabulary, syntax, and discourse) of the discipline
- Design assessments of mid-to-high level cognitive demand that provide evidence of learner understanding of learning objectives
- Use assessment data and evidence to reflect on instructional planning and teaching and modify teaching practice
Career opportunities:
- Secondary School Teacher
- Coach
- Curriculum Developer
- Instructional Coordinator
- Educational Consultant
- Adjunct Professor
- Secondary School Teacher
- Coach
- Curriculum Developer
- Instructional Coordinator
- Educational Consultant
- Adjunct Professor
Also available:
Not yet working as a teacher, but still want to earn your teaching credentials? Individuals who are new to teaching and not yet working as the teacher of record in a NJ school should pursue our traditional route MAT in Secondary Education program.
$18,736.50
Total Tuition
As few as 24 months
Duration
30
Credit Hours
The College of Education at William Paterson University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Need More Information?
Tuition
Fit the MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online program into your budget with our affordable tuition
The William Paterson University College of Education offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to all of our online students, wherever they reside. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
$18,736.50
Total Tuition
$624.55
Per Credit Hour
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) | $624.55 | $1,873.65 | $18,736.50 |
Tuition breakdown:
$18,736.50
Total Tuition
$624.55
Per Credit Hour
Calendar
Add these crucial program dates to your calendar
William Paterson University online education programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, with 7-week courses and six start dates each year.
Now enrolling:
1/5/25
Apply Date
1/27/25
Class Starts
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | 1/27/25 | 1/5/25 | 1/8/25 | 1/17/25 | 1/22/25 | 3/16/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring II | 3/24/25 | 3/2/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/19/25 | 5/11/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer I | 5/19/25 | 4/27/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/14/25 | 7/6/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer II | 7/14/25 | 6/22/25 | 6/24/25 | 7/3/25 | 7/9/25 | 8/31/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall I | 9/8/25 | 8/17/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/29/25 | 9/3/25 | 10/26/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall II | 11/3/25 | 10/12/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/24/25 | 10/29/25 | 12/21/25 | 7 weeks |
Now enrolling:
1/5/25
Apply Date
1/27/25
Class Starts
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Take the next step toward advancement with our streamlined admission process
At William Paterson University, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. Review the Program Map to determine eligibility of this program in your state. Not yet working as the teacher of record in the classroom? Consider the MAT Secondary Education traditional route.
The requirements include:
- Undergraduate degree in the content area you want to teach
- Position as the teacher of record in a NJ school
- Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited Certificate of Eligibility (Limited CE) in NJ
- Resume with contact information of two references
- Submit online application and $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Every candidate should have an undergraduate degree in the content area in which they wish to teach
o Content area options supported by WP include Art, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, French, Japanese, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physical Science, Social Studies, and Spanish
o This content area of focus must include at least 30 credit hours in the defined subject area
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (basic skills requirements) test
- Passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment aligned with the student’s desired area of teaching
- Resume with names and contact information of two references
- Residency application
- Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited Certificate of Eligibility (Limited CE) issued by the state of New Jersey
Special Note: Applicants to the Alt Route must be working as the teacher of record in a NJ school. Long-term substitute teachers, student aids, or paraprofessionals are not eligible and should consider the MAT Secondary Education traditional route.
Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment ServicesWilliam Paterson University
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Courses
Learn more about the MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online curriculum
For the MAT in Secondary Education (Alternative Route) online program, you must complete a total of 30 credit hours of core courses.
SMAT 5110: Educational Foundations
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course presents teacher candidates with the historical, philosophical, theoretical, and practical background for a successful induction into teaching. It is designed to help bridge the perceived gap between theory and practice. In this course teaching is understood according to the latest Professional Teaching Standards and recommendations of the New Jersey Student Learning and College and Career Readiness Standards. The course will introduce planning, conducting, and assessing learning experiences. It will also cover Autism, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), and Child Abuse Recognition.
SMAT 5120: Learner Development and Differences
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces teacher candidates to the developmental and cultural attributes of adolescents and how those factors interact with classroom environments, broader socio-cultural environments, pedagogy, and instruction. Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of students—including students with disabilities—, establish a culture of learning, and design lessons that celebrate and engage all learners.
SPED 6430: Curriculum Design for All Learners
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will introduce candidates to designing school curricula (goals, method, materials, and assessments) that are flexible enough to accommodate the individual learning needs of all learners within general education classrooms. Using the model of Universal Design for Learning, candidates will learn to develop curriculum, instruction, assessments, and classroom environments that are accessible and applicable to students, teachers, and parents with differing abilities, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
SMAT 5130: Methods of Lesson Planning
Duration: 16 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to run concurrently with the Clinical Practice Teaching Internship or Alternate Route Teaching position. Candidates will learn strategies for teaching literacy across the content areas and the theory and elements of lesson planning through different curriculum orientations, such as cultural transmission, disciplined inquiry, and critical inquiry. Candidates will develop learning objectives that align with learning standards, engage students to inquiry-based learning, support academic language, and design assessments to support student learning.
SMAT 5140: Methods of Unit Planning
Duration: 16 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to run concurrently with the Clinical Practice Teaching Internship or Alternate Route Teaching position. Candidates will learn strategies for teaching literacy across the content areas, how to write unit goals, engage in advanced methods of unit planning, instructional differentiation, and assessment to teach the NJ Student Learning Standards to diverse learners in the middle and high school. Candidates will develop success-criteria based on learning standards, use assessments to inform instructional practices, facilitate learning activities, and analyze teacher effectiveness to reflect on their teaching.
SMAT 5150: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces candidates to research and standards of professional ethics and collaborative practices. Candidates will reflect on their participation in professional communities and demonstrate their commitment to professional ethics and dispositions. Candidates will reflect on the ethical and political implications of their teaching and demonstrate skills and commitment to affording all learners access to a rigorous College and Career Readiness skills.
SMAT 5160: Teaching for Social Justice I
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course synthesizes the methods content course, field experience/residency, and educational foundations by focusing on topics such as the context of schools, school reform, advocacy, research about teaching diverse students and school politics. Students will be expected to produce a justice-oriented school reform project, and the first three chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, and Methodology), which will be completed in the next part of the course. Students will explore the economic, and institutional constraints on schools, and the intellectual, cultural and social possibilities of schools.
SMAT 5260: Teaching for Social Justice II
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course is the second part of Teaching for Social Justice and the capstone course for the Masters of Arts in Teaching program. The course synthesizes the methods content course, field experience/residency, and educational foundations by focusing on topics such as the context of schools, school reform, advocacy, research about teaching diverse students, and school politics. Students will be expected to complete the final chapters of and justice-oriented research project (Results, and Conclusion chapters). The research project is designed to move candidates toward critical reflective practice.
EDUC 5210: Alternate Route Supervision and Seminar I
Duration: 16 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides supervision for alternate route K-12 teachers of record. Supervision and seminars are designed to assist the alternate route candidate in applying professional knowledge, humanistic practices and reflective thinking to classroom situations. Candidates are observed a minimum of four times by a Clinical Supervisor (university professor) who assists them in developing professional knowledge, including the ability to plan, instruct, assess and reflect on practice using content and skills from all prerequisite courses. The seminar provides additional support and assistance during the first years of teaching and afford time for discussion of classroom issues such as the context for learning, student factors, characteristics of students, selecting learning segments, assessing student learning, and reflecting on the teaching-learning continuum.
EDUC 5220: Alternate Route Supervision and Seminar II
Duration: 16 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides supervision for alternate route K-12 teachers of record. Supervision and seminars are designed to assist the alternate route candidate in applying professional knowledge, humanistic practices and reflective thinking to classroom situations. Candidates are observed a minimum of four times by a Clinical Supervisor (university professor) who assists them in developing professional knowledge, including the ability to plan, instruct, assess and reflect on practice using content and skills from all prerequisite courses. The seminar provides additional support and assistance during the first years of teaching and afford time for discussion of classroom issues such as the context for learning, student factors, characteristics of students, selecting learning segments, assessing student learning, and reflecting on the teaching-learning continuum.
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