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January 16, 2020Clarkson University Now Offering Master of Arts in Teaching, Computer Science Degree at Capital Region Campus
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.”
As a private, national research university, Clarkson is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, scholarship, research and innovation. We ignite personal connections across academic fields and industries to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. With its main campus located in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the New York Capital Region, Beacon, N.Y., and New York City, Clarkson educates 4,300 students across 95 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, the arts, education, sciences and health professions. Our alumni earn salaries that are among the top 2.5% in the nation and realize accelerated career growth. One in five already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.
