GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK - Biola University

6. Conduct quality research, learning from natural revelation, and effectively communicating
findings to the educational community
7. Demonstrate discernment, individually and in team settings, creatively solving problems as
contextual needs emerge within the educational community
8. Embrace God‘s calling to maximize one‘s leadership skills, demonstrating the qualities of a
constructive change agent in the educational community to advance the Kingdom of God
For more detailed information visit these websites:
http://www.biola.edu/academics/education/grad/programs/maed/
Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
A blend of weeknight, Saturday, and online classes prepare students academically to teach with
confidence and effectiveness. At the same time, a focus on biblical integration and spiritual development
will ready teacher candidates to impact their students and colleagues for Christ.
The MAT is a practitioner's degree, designed to give candidates the advanced skills and understanding
for classroom application. The MAT focuses on classroom practices. The MAT program is designed
primarily for students with a bachelor's degree who desire to earn a credential while working towards a
master's degree. Students may also earn the MAT without the credential if they enter with teaching
experience.
The learning outcomes students should achieve through the MAT are to:
1. Develop each candidate‘s subject matter expertise and subject specific pedagogy so candidates
can make subject matter comprehensible to all K-12 students.
2. Prepare each candidate to assess student learning through skillful pre-assessment, monitoring,
and post-assessment, using a variety of holistic learning assessments to inform the
teaching/learning cycle.
3. Develop each candidate‘s ability to plan lessons that engage, support and differentiate student
learning through providing developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate instruction
that makes content accessible to all students.
4. Expose candidates to a variety of effective learning environments and strategies so they can
make appropriate use of instructional time and create a positive learning environment for all
students.
5. Prepare each candidate to become a self-reflective practitioner who understands his or her
professional, legal, and ethical obligations and continues to pursue professional growth on a lifelong
basis.
6. Develop and inspire a passionate understanding of the Great Commission to encourage clarity of
their individual calling, enabling each teacher candidate, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
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