Program Schedule
The 30-credit MAST is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and can be completed in 18 months. Cohorts of 10-15 students will complete a sequence of six modules using a combination of monthly face-to-face meetings at either Shippensburg University or the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, online interactions, and videoconferencing. Each module will be three credit hours. At the beginning of the program, students will be assigned an experienced science teacher in a local school as a mentor and approximately 25 hours of observation and co-teaching per module will be required.
During the 12-week student teaching practicum (12 credit hours), students will implement principles from the modules and assume responsibilities for planning, instruction, and assessment. Two capstone projects, a professional portfolio and the results of a research project, will be presented at the end of the program.
The sequence for completing the MAST is as follows:
- One module during the first summer (3 credit hours).
- Four modules during the first academic year (12 credit hours).
- One module during the second summer (3 credit hours).
- Student teaching during the fall semester of second academic year (12 credit hours).
- Presentation of professional portfolio and research project during December of fall semester of second academic year.
- Assistance with job placement during the spring semester of the second academic year.