WGU Launches New Online Master's Degree for Aspiring English Teachers

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Online, nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) has introduced a new master's degree program for aspiring middle school or high school English teachers who have completed an undergraduate degree in English but still need a teaching credential. The WGU Master of Arts in Teaching English program, which prepares graduates for teacher licensure in all 50 states, is now accepting applicants. Students accepted into the program may start their coursework on the first day of any month, beginning February 1.

WGU's MAT English program combines preparation for licensure as a middle or high school English teacher with coursework to earn a master's degree. The program is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree in English or the equivalent. To learn more about the program—including prerequisite details—or to apply, visit www.wgu.edu/MATEnglish.

"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 Dr. Philip A. Schmidt, Vice President and Dean, WGU Teachers College. "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."  

This new degree program adds to the more than 20 online bachelor's, master's, and post-baccalaureate teacher licensure programs in WGU's Teachers College.  Now with more than 13,000 students and 14,000 graduates nationwide, WGU's Teachers College holds the distinction of being the first exclusively online university to earn accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Earlier this year, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) recognized WGU for having the No. 1 secondary teacher education program in the nation.

Key areas of study in the new MAT English program include:

• Foundations of teaching
• Instructional planning and presentation
• English pedagogy
• Preclinical experiences
• Demonstration teaching (includes practice/student teaching)
• Research fundamentals

Like all of WGU programs, the MAT English is online, accredited, and 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. 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.

For more information, visit www.wgu.edu/MATEnglish.

About Western Governors University 
Established in 1997 by a bipartisan group of U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU has been recognized by the White House as what works in post-secondary education. The nation's first competency-based university, which is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has more than 52,000 students and 40,000 graduates in all 50 states.

WGU has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

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Contact for media inquiries:                          
Joan Mitchell – VP of Public Relations          
801-428-5463 
[email protected]                                              

Contact for enrollment information:
866-225-5948 
www.wgu.edu 

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SOURCE Western Governors University

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