The MAT program is intended primarily for those who are teaching, or intend to teach, at the K-12 level. The program emphasizes language, literature, and culture. Candidates are admitted on the basis of their prior formal background and professional experience and performance. They should have the equivalent of a Minor in Italian before applying or, as an alternative, take some undergraduate courses. The MAT in Italian is considered to be a terminal degree, in that it does not lead to the Ph.D. program. Any student who seeks admission to the Ph.D. program after completing the MAT degree must apply through the normal application process.
Requirements and Procedures for the completion of the M.A.T. in Italian
Candidates for the M.A.T. must satisfactorily complete ten term courses (30 credits), including the completion of a teaching portfolio.
Coursework
MAT students are required to take a total of 30 credits. Applicants for the MAT are encouraged to take the courses offered during the summer at the World Languages Institute prior to being admitted to the MAT program. Courses with a grade of B or better will be counted toward the degree.
Of the 30 course credits, 27 credits of coursework, must be chosen among courses in Italian literature, civilization, language, cinema, and methodology taken primarily at the Rutgers Summer World Languages Institute or in the Italian Department (with the permission of the Graduate Director) and a further 3 credits are assigned to the Teaching Portfolio. The 27 credits that are earned at the World Languages Institute should be distributed in the following fashion: 12 credits in literature and culture; 9 credits in language, grammar, and language across the curriculum; 3 credits in methodology; 3 elective credits. The majority of courses taken in the Italian Department should be in Italian. One of the courses may be a course taught in English, chosen in consultation with the Graduate Director.
Students may participate in a summer study abroad earning up to 6 credits toward the degree, with the approval of the Graduate Director.
Students may elect to take one course (3 credits) at the Graduate School of Education, with the approval of the Graduate Director.
The Graduate Director may accept up to 12 credits from another institution to be used toward the degree only after 12 credits have been completed at Rutgers. Up to 4 undergraduate courses are permitted by the Graduate School.
Teaching Portfolio
MAT candidates who have accumulated 27 credits of course work are encouraged to register for their last three credits, which is an independent study, to begin work on a teaching portfolio. Students with only 24 credits may register concurrently during the academic year or during the summer for the last WLI course needed to acquire 27 credits as well as for the independent study. Before registering for the independent study, MAT candidates should confer with the departmental graduate director to inform him/her about their number of credits acquired to date and to indicate their readiness to begin work on a teaching portfolio. At that time, candidates should discuss with the graduate director the appropriate choices for the portfolio committee.
For detailed information consult the site of the World Languages Institute https://tlc.rutgers.edu/wlimain/mat-teaching-portfolio-project
M.A.T. Learning Goals
Learning Goal 1 for Students: Achieve mastery in reading and analyzing critically and creatively literary, cultural, and cinematic texts of the Italian tradition.
Assessment of student achievement of Goal 1: • Grades in graduate courses • Seminar presentations • Assessment of Teaching Portfolio by committee of graduate faculty members • Review by faculty of student progress.
Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 1: • Close advising to ensure that students are being prepared in a coherent and academically rigorous fashion • Effective monitoring of student progress • Evaluation of teaching effectiveness of instructors in graduate courses o If effectiveness is below expectation, work with instructor to improve effectiveness • Periodic review of curricular offerings, degree requirements and assessment tools by program faculty and in consultation with the office of the dean of the graduate school and/or the unit dean.
Learning Goal 2 for Students: Ability to teach Italian language, literature, and culture.
Assessment of student achievement of Goal 2: • Performance in Methodology course • Assessment of Teaching Portfolio by committee of graduate faculty members • Seminar presentations • Review by faculty and close mentoring.
Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 2: • Supervision of student teaching and Mentoring • Participation in second-language acquisition workshops organized by the department and attendance of workshops organized by the World Language Institute • Videotaping of classes with review of videotapes • Review of student evaluations • Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors in graduate courses • Periodic review of curricular offerings, degree requirements and assessment tools by program faculty and in consultation with the office of the dean of the graduate school and/or the unit dean.
The Italian graduate faculty, with input from students of the MAT program, will regularly review the structure and content of the program and the feedback received from assessment and surveys. These reviews will be used to provide the best possible education to students in order to meet the needs for highly trained individuals in the field of Italian language, literature, and culture.
