Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program at Bard College responds to an urgent need for change in public education, a change that state mandates in the form of high-stakes standardized tests will never be able to accomplish.

This transformation requires teachers who can help high school and middle school students develop the thoughtful self-determination that builds from a genuine enthusiasm for learning, an enthusiasm that results in the ability to apply the methods of inquiry and bring an understanding of critical concepts to the pursuit of living more fully and responsibly.

In its commitment to fostering change, the MAT Program engages M.A.T. degree students, Bard College faculty, and public school teachers in advancing the best ideas about teacher preparation and the improvement of secondary and postsecondary education. Partnerships with a cluster of schools in New York City offer opportunities for urban education reform.