Connect with us!
Discover the benefits of earning your degree from Sacred Heart University.
Master of Arts in Teaching with Initial Teacher Certification
Begin Your Journey Take the Next Step
Earn Connecticut Educator Certification
The Farrington College of Education & Human Developments graduate program leads to certification in Elementary Education (grades PK-6) or Secondary Education (grades 4-12; Biology, Chemistry, English, General Science, Mathematics, Social Studies/History & Spanish).
Through the program, you will gain the most up-to-date teaching methods from instructors with real-world, public-school experience. You will apply your knowledge in elementary and secondary school environments through class based practicum or the optional school based experiences.
Candidates who complete this 42 credit program, including their student teaching placement, will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Upcoming Events
Certification Requirements
SHU students complete the following to earn Connecticut State Certification:
- Successfully complete our state-approved teacher preparation program
- Achieve passing scores on the Praxis Subject Assessments: subject area for secondary and elementary subjects for elementary. A passing score on the CT Foundations of Reading Exam is also required for elementary certification
Facts & Statistics
Bring your education to the classroom through our school-based experiences
The Traditional Teacher Residency is a year-long tuition-paid, full-time experience that allows you to gain valuable skills while you work in a local public school environment, build professional relationships and apply your practice to course instruction. As part of the residency, the school district pays for 30 credits of your MAT tuition—significantly reducing your overall program cost.
Residencies run concurrently with your MAT coursework and is available to students at both the Fairfield and the Griswold locations.
Teachers@Heart Residency Program
For those seeking a deeper residency experience, SHU offers the Teachers@Heart Residency, a highly immersive, full-year preparation model in select partner districts. Residents gain extensive classroom experience, targeted mentorship and financial support in addition to paid tuition.
More Information
The Master of Arts in Teaching with Initial Teacher Certification is offered at both the Fairfield campus and the Griswold location.
If you are already a certified teacher seeking a master’s degree, visit our Master of Education program page.
Fairfield
Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment
Griswold
Program Director - Griswold
The education program prepared me very well for my teaching career. Each course was geared towards an important pillar within education such as math, literacy, special education or differentiation. I have applied many of the strategies and/or skills that I have learned. Not only does our program contain highly-effective courses; it also has an internship component that greatly enhances this experience. The internship provided me with real-life experience as a teacher that I may not have had otherwise. This internship, coupled with my education courses, was a combination that I feel was the reason for my success.
The Latest in Farrington College of Education & Human Development
View More News-
New Organizational Transformation Fellows Named
Academics, Advancing SHUPublished:Faculty and staff will collaborate on projects that advance workplace culture, professional growth and organizational change -
Global Service-Learning Reaches Kenya
Academics, Campus Life, Community OutreachPublished:Seven students joined SHU’s first Africa-based service-learning trip to support girls and families in Kenya -
Alum Wins National Dissertation Award
Alumni Engagement, Student Spotlight & OutcomesPublished:Jennifer Riggle honored for helping to transform engagement and mental health in rural schools
