Academics

New Professional Studies—Teaching Program

Master of Arts in New Professional Studies—Teaching

Designed to support practicing teachers’ professional development and practice through the lenses of ethical and moral professionalism, reflective practice and professional collaboration. The program aims to help teachers develop a repertoire of practices that challenges them to surface, revisit, and rethink the routines and assumptions that shape their work. Recognizing that the practice of schooling often thwarts what Parker Palmer calls the "inner landscape of a teacher's life," IET seeks to intentionally create spaces where teachers can reflect upon their practice and, in the critical company of others, design thoughtful and constructive responses to the obstacles that inhibit student learning.

The content and practicality of study arises directly from the realities and concerns in teachers’ classroom and school contexts. Teachers conduct classroom action research projects in their first year and school-based team research projects in their second year. As teachers engage with the curriculum and with each other, they gain a deeper understanding of who they are, what they believe in, where their beliefs come from and what they can do to help all students learn and succeed. The program encourages and supports teachers to develop as professionals dedicated to career trajectories as skilled and knowledgeable classroom teachers and school leaders. Flyer and Details

Course Work for the New Professional Studies—Teaching, Master of Arts:


Teaching Historic Places with Diverse Populations Graduate Certificate

This certificate is designed for: DC metropolitan area classroom history, social studies and language arts teachers, as well as historic sites interpreters, education outreach coordinators, and others who interact with diverse populations of K-12 children and youth. Students will deepen historical thinking and practice. All certificate credits may be used towards Mason’s New Professional Studies—Teaching, Master of Arts degree.

Certificate courses are focused on: historical thinking, place-based learning, collaboration, practitioner inquiry, reflective practice, critical pedagogy, critical multicultural history, urban education theory, the uses of digital media, and the use of alternative modalities, including arts integration.

The certificate program will help educators to: teach history, integrate language arts and history content, deepen uses and meanings of historic places, explore DC as an international center, the nation’s capital and the surrounding neighborhoods; experience key moments, people, places and cultural memories in US and DC history.

Class Schedule: Begins July 9, 2012 with a two–week summer session (Monday–Friday each week). September-December and January-May classes meet on designated Saturdays (up to 2 per month), plus online assignments.

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Course Work for the Teaching Historic Places with Diverse Populations Graduate Certificate:


Transformative Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate

Our NPST: Transformative Teacher Leadership graduate certificate is the heart of New Professional Studies, composed of the first year courses contained in the Master’s degree program. The program will help teachers to develop as critically reflective educators who continually examine and rethink the routines and assumptions that shape their work. Teachers will gain skills and dispositions to be leaders in their schools, in their professional associations, and in their communities as civically engaged advocates for teachers and students. Teachers who initially enroll in the certificate can go on to receive a Master’s with another year of study. Flyer and Details

Course Work for the NPST: Transformative Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate:


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