Degrees & Programs

Teach AZ Master's Program

Teach Arizona Master’s Program applications will be accepted for the 2010-2011 cohort beginning on August 17, 2009 and ending on January, 29, 2010.

Beginning in May, 2010, there will be an online version of Teach Arizona available for individuals living in the Pinal County area.  Most of the information below pertains to both the Tucson and the Pinal County cohorts.  However, please read the “Pinal County Cohort” section below for specific information about the online program.

Program Overview:

Teach Arizona is a fast-track, one-year master’s degree program for people who have earned a bachelor’s degree and want to become teachers in one of the following areas:

•    Math
•    Physics
•    Chemistry
•    Biology
•    Earth Science
•    General Science
•    Spanish
•    English
•    History
•    Political Science/American Government
•    Middle School Social Studies(history and political science units only)

Upon completion of the program, students earn an M. Ed. Degree in Teaching and Teacher Education and are eligible for Arizona secondary teacher certification (grades 7-12).  Graduates may complete two additional courses to be eligible for a middle school endorsement (grades 5-6).

To be considered for the Teach Arizona program, you must meet the following minimum requirements

• B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited four-year institution.  You may also have a graduate degree.
• Strong background with approximately 24 units in ONE of the above bulleted content areas.
• 3.0 GPA – calculated by use of the undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least a 3.00 (at least 60 semester units at graduating institution) or, if undergraduate GPA is less than a 3.00, the GPA will be calculated on the most recently completed 60 transfer units.  No professional program credits will be counted (law, medicine, etc.).
• 3.0 GPA in content area coursework.
• Completion of a Graduate College Application, including a $65 fee.
• Résumé
• Three letters of recommendation
• Essays
• Official transcripts from each institution you have attended

   * To determine if this program is a good fit for you, you might want to read the FAQs at the end of this page

Timeline:

Teach Arizona is a cohort program, which means that all admitted students begin the program together, take coursework together and finish as a group.  Coursework begins in May, 2010 and ends in May, 2011.  It is full-time, encompassing a full summer, fall and spring schedule of classes.  During the program, students intern in public schools for the full school year (fall and spring semesters).  Interns transition from observations to guided teaching experiences and finally to full responsibility for teaching two sections.  Teach Arizona interns follow the fall and spring calendars of the schools where they are assigned.

Click to see the tentative 2010-2011 Program of Study for the Tucson-based cohort.

An admission team from the College of Education and partner school districts will review complete applications. Interviews will be the final factor in the admissions process.  Selection of cohort members will include consideration of subject matter priorities of partner schools.

2009-2010 tuition and fees for resident students for summer pre-session, summer I & II, fall and spring were approximately $12,904.  Non-resident tuition and fees were approximately $27,816.  Tuition and fees for the 2010-2011 program may increase.  Books and parking are extra.

Some tuition assistance may be available for applicants in the Math or Science fields.  It is unknown what that assistance amount will be at this time.  You may check with the program directors about that assistance.

Alternative (private) loans are available for summer sessions and federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans are available for fall and spring semesters.  If you are interested in this program, please complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (add hyperlink?) for 2010-2011 as soon as it is available.  In addition, a limited number of non-resident waivers may be available from the College of Education.

The newly established Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program is awarded to UA students who are completing, or intend to complete, coursework to begin a career in teaching and who agree to serve for a minimum of four years as a full-time, highly-qualified, high-need field teacher in a low-income school.  This grant provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to students with an aggregate limit for graduate students of $8,000.  For more information about the education field, teaching, and this grant visit https://financialaid.arizona.edu/grants/teach.aspx

Both the Tucson-based Teach Arizona program and the new online Pinal County-based program follow the same application process.  However, when completing the application, please note that you will have to specify to which program you are applying. It is extremely important that you apply to the correct degree program in TTE.  Teach AZ is an M.ED program, not an M.A. program. The M.A. is only for applicants with a degree in education and certification.  The application is at https://apply.grad.arizona.edu/ .  You will create an account and then proceed to the application.  

Only prospective students in Pinal County can apply to the Teach Arizona online program of study.

The course titles and content for the online and face to face programs will be the same but the timeframe for the online courses may vary from the traditional UA schedule to better accommodate online instruction. Pinal County students, like their Tucson counterparts, benefit from the year-long internship/student teaching field experience in middle and high schools in Pinal County. The fall and spring online courses have been designed to take advantage of the field experience. Monthly half-day face to face meetings will be scheduled during the fall to help students make connections between the online courses and the field experience. In addition to the admission criteria for all Teach Arizona students, Pinal County applicants will be required to have direct access to a computer with a high speed internet connection.

1.       I already have a secondary teaching certificate, but I would like to get a master’s degree.  Am I eligible to apply for the program?

          No.  The program is only designed for students who do not yet have a secondary teaching     certificate.  There may be another graduate level College of Education program that meets your needs.

2.       I don’t have 24 units in one of those social studies areas.  Instead I have units in various subjects such as history, political science, anthropology, philosophy, etc.  Can I combine these and be eligible to apply.

 No.  The program requires the 24 units to be concentrated in ONE of the areas. Also, only courses  with prefixes in history or political science are counted towards those two areas of study. 

3.       What if my degree is not in the area I want to teach? 

That is fine, as long as you have 24 units in one of the approved content areas. 

4.       I live in the greater Tucson area, but I would rather take the Teach Arizona program online.  Can I do that? 

No, the online Pinal County program is open only for students who live in Pinal County.  Student internships will be completed in Pinal County partner schools. 

5.       In addition to the listed criteria to apply, are there other requirements I should be aware of? 

One of the requirements for teacher certification in Arizona is fingerprint clearance.  If you are awaiting trial or have been convicted of certain offenses in Arizona or another state, you may be precluded from receiving a Fingerprint Clearance Card.  Some offenses are not petitionable to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.   (Is it DPS or ADE that one appeals to??)  Packets for submitting your fingerprints to the state are available in the COE Office of Student Services. 

6.       How many people are accepted? 

Up to thirty individuals may be accepted in each cohort, depending upon qualifications.  

7.       I cannot begin the program in May.  Can I begin in the fall? 

No.  This is a cohort program.  Students progress through the program together.  All students must begin in May. 

8.       Is this a full-time program? 

Yes, in the traditional Tucson-based program, the courses occur during the day (with morning site internships and afternoon UA courses).  In the online Pinal County-based program, site internships will occur during the school day, with coursework to be completed during the remainder of the day.  Students generally find it difficult to fulfill work obligations during the program. 

9.       Is this program affiliated with Teach for America? 

No, they are different programs. 

10.   Is teaching in Tucson required after receiving the degree? 

No, there is no requirement to teach in Tucson or elsewhere after completing the program. 

11.   Can I transfer my graduate education coursework to his program? 

Since this is a cohort program, student must enroll in all courses in the program of study. 

12.   Does the program meet State of Arizona Certification Requirements? 

Yes, fingerprint clearance and passing the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) are also required. 

13.   Do I get to work with students in schools? 

Yes.  Field experiences are an important component of the program.  During the fall and spring semesters, students will divide their day between coursework and an internship (student teaching) assignment.  One of the most unique aspects of the program is that Teach Arizona interns are able to spend an entire year at their assigned school site. 

14.   How will my internship assignment be determined? 

The Teach Arizona program coordinator will collaborate with school district representatives to find the best mentor teacher for you.  Students who are admitted to the program may not attempt to secure their own placement.  However, they may share their placement preferences with the Teach Arizona program coordinator.   

15.   In what schools might I be placed for my internship? 

Students in the Tucson cohort may be placed in any of the public school districts throughout the greater Tucson area, including Sahuarita upon request.  Students in the Pinal County cohort may be placed in school districts within Pinal County. 

16.   What are the graduation requirements? 

To graduate, students must remain in good academic standing (3.0 GPA), successfully complete the internship experience, and successfully complete a written classroom inquiry project. 

17.   Are jobs guaranteed after the degree? 

Jobs are not guaranteed.  However, districts need good teachers and Teach Arizona graduates are typically highly sought after.