Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the MAT Program in Languages Other Than Spanish

1. What is the relationship between the World Languages Institute (WLI) and the Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT)?
The WLI is the administrative center through which courses are offered leading to the Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT), which is a graduate program of the individual language departments (French, German, Italian). All academic advising for the MAT is done through these departments.

1a. What are the basic requirements for acceptance to the WLI?

• The minimum requirement for acceptance to the WLI is a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in the target language.
• Undergraduate credits in the target language earned via a testing procedure such as CLEP are not accepted for admittane to the WLI.
• It is also helpful to have some background in educational principles as well as a minimum of teaching experience.
• The GRE is not required for admittance to the WLI.

1b. What are the basic requirements for acceptance to the MAT?

• To be considered for acceptance to the French, German or Italian MAT program, the student must complete six credits, or two course, in the WLI with a grade of “B” or above in each course. Consult directly with the appropriate language departments for specific information on which WLI courses the department accepts toward its MAT degree.
• The GRE is not required for admittance to the MAT.

2. Once I am accepted to the WLI, does that mean that I have been accepted to the MAT program?
No. There are two different application processes.

• The first process is for acceptance to the WLI for the first summer of course work. This application is submitted to the Language Institute, and may be found on its website at http://wli.rutgers.edu.
• once accepted to the WLI, consult directly with the appropriate language departments for specific information on which WLI courses the department accepts toward its MAT degree. Only after having completed six credits, or two course, in the WLI with a grade of "B" or above in each course may a student apply to an MAT program. The MAT application is submitted for consideration to the Graduate School of utgers - New Brunswick, not the Graduate School of Education. The candidate is required to complete a graduate application (available online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/apply.shtml) and submit three letters of recommendation, one of which should be written by an instructor in the WLI.
• N.B.: The Graduate School allows students to take no more than twelve credits on a non-matriculated basis. That is, if a student takes four three-credit courses through the WLI and fails to apply for the MAT, he/she will not be permitted to register for additional courses.

3. Once I am accepted to the MAT program, will the courses that I have already taken in the WLI be applicable to my degree?
Provided a grade of "B" or above has been received in each course taken on a nonmetriculated basis in the WLI, these credits are normally counted toward the 30 credits required to complete an MAT degree.

3a. What types of courses are included in the MAT?
The MAT program may include courses on teaching methodology, linguistics / language / theories of second-language acquisition, assessment, technology in the classroom, literature and culture.

3b. How do I choose which courses to take?
Consult directly with the appropriate language department for specific information on which WLI courses the department accepts toward its MAT degree.

4. Is a teaching portfolio required for the completion of the MAT degree?
Consult directly with the appropriate language department for specific information on whether or not a teaching portfolio is required (click here for a description of a teaching portfolio) or is an optional component.

5. I have taken graduate courses at another institution that would seem to apply to the MAT degree, and/or are parallel to courses offered through the WLI. Can these credits be transferred and applied to the twenty-seven credits that are required for the MAT?
The Graduate School’s rule is that the student must complete twelve credits of the Rutgers requirements before a definitive decision can be made on how many or which credits will be accepted for transfer. No student under any circumstances may transfer more than twelve credits from another institution. After earning twelve Rutgers credits, the student may petition to have credits from another institution evaluated for consideration, and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

6. Is it possible to earn credits abroad and apply them to the MAT?
Consult directly with the appropriate language department for specific information on whether or not the department accepts credits earned through study abroad towards its MAT degree.

7. The WLI offers its courses only during the summer, and the MAT program is identified as ‘summer only’ program. But I would like to take courses during the academic year in order to earn credits toward the MAT more quickly. What are my options?
Consult directly with the appropriate language department for specific information on what academic year options might be available.

8. I was not able to take classes with the WLI last summer even though I was accepted to the program. Do I have to reapply to the WLI to take classes this summer?
No. Students who do not take courses the first summer after being accepted into the WLI should contact the office of the Language Institute (732-932-7373) by the following January to update their contact information in order to receive current registration materials. Students who do not take courses the first summer after being accepted into an MAT program should contact the appropriate language department prior to the following summer to verify their status in the program.

9. Does the WLI offer any professional development activities during the fall or spring semesters?
Yes. There are a number of professional development activities that take place during the fall and spring semesters. Information concerning these events is disseminated via a WLI listserv, which requires a current, functioning e-mail address for each student.

© 2006 Rutgers World Languages Institute