Distance Learning

Western Governors U Launches Online Master's Program for English Teacher Prep

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 12/03/14

Western Governors University (WGU) has launched a new online master's degree program for students who want to become English teachers in middle schools or high schools.

Open to students who have an undergraduate degree in English and still need a teaching certificate, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) English is designed to prepare graduates for licensing in all 50 states. The program is currently accepting applications and students who are accepted will be able to start on the first of any month, beginning in February.

With more than 13,000 students, WGU's Teachers College offers more than 20 master's, bachelor's and post-baccalaureate licensure degrees. The new program, like all of WGU's programs, is competency based.

"Designed to meet the needs of adults, WGU's programs allow students to study, complete assignments and take tests on schedules that fit their busy lives," according to a news release. "Students move through courses at their own pace, advancing as soon as they're able to demonstrate that they've mastered the material. Coursework and curriculum are developed in collaboration with academic and industry experts to help ensure that graduates are prepared for their careers. WGU's terms are six months long, and tuition for Teachers College programs are about $3,000 per term. Tuition is charged at a flat rate, regardless of the number of courses completed, so students who have the time to accelerate can finish faster, saving both time and money."

Key areas covered by the MAT English program include:

• Foundations of teaching;
• Instructional planning and presentation;
• English pedagogy;
• Preclinical experiences;
• Demonstration teaching, including practice and student teaching; and
• Research fundamentals.

"WGU's Teachers College has long been recognized as a leader in STEM education, producing the most science and math teachers in the country," said Philip A. Schmidt, vice president and dean at WGU Teachers College, in a prepared statement. "This new MAT English degree is a great complement to those STEM programs and will help prepare those seeking to become English teachers to be effective and successful as they enter the classroom."

More information is available at wgu.edu.