Clarkson University’s newest degree program is a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Computer Science.
The new MAT Computer Science program will be offered at Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus located in Schenectady. The Master of Arts in Teaching, Computer Science program will join Clarkson’s large repertoire of MAT certification pathways, says Education Chair Catherine Snyder.
“New York State just offered this as a new certification pathway for public school teachers,” Snyder said. “With our rich history in technology and computer science, it was a natural fit for Clarkson’s teacher education program to certify new teachers in computer science teaching.”
For years, Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus has offered certification in Earth science, physics, chemistry, biology as well as mathematics and technology. Clarkson also offers certification in social studies, English, business, and seven languages, including Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and Russian as well as offering a certification pathway for teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
“The MAT in Computer Science is part of a set of new programs Clarkson is offering the field in order to meet the needs of P-12 partners and students,” Snyder said. “Within the last two years we have added teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and the MAT in Business and Marketing degrees. Both of these new degrees will provide highly qualified new teachers in shortage areas.”
MAT Computer Science candidates will complete a full year residency with a mentor teacher in the field as part of their education. This residency surpasses New York State requirements and support provided in other programs by providing Clarkson’s candidates with an extensive clinically-based grounding in the field.
Snyder said adding the computer science program, which will start enrolling candidates in the summer, makes sense given the growth of technology. Applications for the new program are being accepted now.
“We pursued this degree offering in response to the need for computer science teachers in our P-12 partner schools,” Snyder said. “This is a growing field, and a discipline which everyone needs a baseline set of skills and knowledge to be successful.”
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