The M.A.T. in Foreign Languages is a degree awarded by the Graduate School and sponsored by the College of Education and the Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultures. For information on our recent MAT graduates, please visit our Alumni page.

For more information about the M.A.T. degree, please consult the following links:
*M.A.T. degree programs student guide: http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/secstgid.pdf

*General Advisement Guide and Policies and Procedures Manual for The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.): http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/MATgen.pdf

I. Purpose of the Program

The M.A.T. program is designed for graduates of liberal arts programs who desire to fulfill undergraduate requirements for certification in the public school and pursue graduate study in foreign languages and in education.

II. Admission Requirements: In the event that there is a difference in admission requirements, the specific requirements as listed by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures supercede the generic requirements listed by the College of Education.

• Students seeking admission to the Graduate Programs in the Department of Languages Literatures and Cultures should have completed, or should be close to completing, an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, with a major or equivalent in the pertinent language. A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is expected.
  
• Applicants should normally obtain the following minimum scores on the GRE examination:

Those applying to MAT programs may take the Miller Analogies test and be admitted with a score of at least 40 or 396, depending on the scale.

Students submitting GRE scores from before October 1, 2002, should normally have obtained the following minimum scores on the GRE examination:

Foreign students who are not native speakers of English must also take the TOEFL exam and score a minimum of 570 ( paper based test), 230 (computer based test), or 75 (TOEFL iBT test)

Application procedure:

• Students are invited to go to the Graduate School site and fill out an electronic application. Paper applications are no longer available. All material should be sent to the graduate school in one packet. This material includes the following:
• 3 letters of recommendation, each sent in a sealed official envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal
• an undergraduate transcript
• a 250 word statement of purpose: explain the connection between USC’s programs and your personal goals
• a writing sample (in the relevant language) of between 1000 and 2500 words. This could be a paper written for an undergraduate course or an essay prepared specifically for the application.
• Admission candidates WHO DO NOT WISH TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE should complete the application process by June 1. Applications received after this date will be considered only if space is available.

  III. Credits

  Each of the following links offers a sample Program of Studies available for the French, German and Spanish Program options of the MAT degree.

  French Program of Study
  German Program of Study
  Spanish Program of Study

  IV. Internship

  A year-long internship (directed teaching) is required, comprising 3 hours in the fall and 9 hours in the spring. In order to be eligible for directed teaching, the student must complete successfully an oral proficiency examination (OPI). Please see the MAT Advisor if you need assistance in scheduling this exam. The College of Education also requires a background check. Please see section V of the policies and procedures manual: http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/MATgen.pdf

  
  VI. Comprehensive Examination (Final Evaluation)

  MAT Comprehensive Exam Format
  Exam date: early January (generally the Thursday and Friday before classes begin)

  A. The final evaluation for the M.A.T. in FL consists of a four-hour written and a one-hour oral examination. Each student’s committee will consist of 3 faculty members: 2 from the student’s program and 1 from foreign language education.

  B. The purpose of the written examination is twofold. First, the student is expected to synthesize various components of the program ÿ literature and culture, language and linguistics, and pedagogy and education ÿ so that they constitute an integral plan of study rather than separate components or courses. Second, the student is to specify how his/her program may have practical implications for foreign language teaching. The examination is based upon a M.A.T. Reading List.

  C. The format of the written examination is as follows:
  Area A. General Education/Foreign Language Education, Theory & Pedagogy (120 minutes)
  Area B. Culture & Literature (90 minutes). Area B must be answered in the foreign language.
  Area C. Language/Linguistics or an additional Literary Area (90 minutes)
  The exam will be held over two consecutive days.

  D. Successful completion of both a written and an oral examination is required for all M.A.T. candidates. The oral examination, pending approval of the written examination, will follow within a two or three-week period of the original date of the written exam. Failure to show mastery of either the written language or the overall content tested could be cause for failure of the written examination. Each area will be graded by the committee. At least two areas of the written examination must receive a PASS in order to proceed to the oral examination. Students must receive a PASS on all three areas during the oral examination in order to successfully pass the exam. The written examination will be graded in one of two ways:

  1. Pass. The oral examination will follow.
  2. Fail. No oral examination will be offered. The student must retake the written exam in April.

  In the event of a FAIL at the oral exam, the committee will offer the student the opportunity to retake either the oral or the entire exam in April, for instance in the case of a marginal pass of the written in January.

  E. The one-hour oral examination will be administered after the candidate's three-member committee has had an opportunity to read the written portion and has evaluated it. Questions will be asked on omissions or errors found in the written examination, or on amplification of either the tested material or other material relevant to the student's program of study. At least one area of the oral exam must be in the foreign language.

  F. Results of the written and the oral examination will be reported to the M.A.T. Advisor by the Chair of the exam committee.

  G. The M.A.T. Advisor will compile the questions for the written examination in consultation with the members of the candidate’s committee. The Chair of the Committee (appointed by the M.A.T. advisor) will preside over the oral exam.

  H. Reading Lists are language specific for Areas B & C.
  Area A -- General Education/Foreign Language Education, Theory & Pedagogy will include the following works click here.
  Area B:
  Language specific list for French: http://www.cas.sc.edu/dllc/fren/gradfile/readmat.html

  VII. Admission Requirements to Internships A & B for students in secondary education foreign languages master of arts in teaching program

  For details on the internship requirements, please see the policies and procedures manual: http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/MATgen.pdf

  
  VIII. For Exit Requirements, please see the policies and procedures manual: http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/MATgen.pdf

  Questions? Please contact:

  Professor Lara Lomicka, M.A.T. in FL Advisor
  University of South Carolina
  Columbia, SC 29208
  Tel.: (803) 777-2674
  Fax: (803) 777-0454
  E-mail: lomicka@sc.edu