New teaching endorsement opens doors for Ag students

New teaching endorsement opens doors for Ag students

News contact: Laura Hancock | University Advancement
541-962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu

Source contact: Kristin Johnson | MAT Adviser, College of Education
541-962-3529 | kjohnso2@eou.edu

February 16, 2012
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Agriculture science and technology are coming together at Eastern Oregon University in the form of a new endorsement offered through the Master of Arts in teaching program (MAT).

For students enrolled in Oregon State University’s agriculture program at EOU, the endorsement eliminates the need to relocate to Corvallis if their intent is to go into teaching.

Program coordinators believe many students will take advantage of the new option and complete their teacher preparation closer to home.

“This will serve many of our current Ag students who plan to become teachers, as well as others who have wanted to pursue a career in teaching agriculture, but have been unable to relocate across the state to pursue their education,” said Kristin Johnson, MAT adviser. “We are thrilled that students in eastern and central Oregon now have the option to pursue their teaching license and agriculture endorsement at EOU!”

With the endorsement, MAT graduates will be qualified to teach dozens of courses, including but not limited to animal production/science, agribusiness management, agricultural leadership, botany and food science. Many teachers also become involved with their local FFA chapters.

Prerequisites for completing the endorsement include a bachelor’s degree with a major or equivalent in agriculture. OSU currently offers four agriculture-related degrees on the EOU campus.

Students in the MAT program earn an Oregon teaching license and master’s degree in 13 months. It is an extended campus curriculum, enabling students to live and complete their student-teaching in school districts throughout the eastern and central parts of the state. On-campus classes are held periodically and small cohorts of 18-25 students are offered in elementary and secondary education.

EOU’s education endorsement opportunities also include math, biology, chemistry, integrated sciences, physics, language arts, social studies, art, music, physical education, business, foreign languages, and elementary education in multiple subjects.

Applications for the upcoming 2012-13 MAT program are available online at www.eou.edu/ed/mat. The deadline to apply is March 1 and classes begin in July.

For more information contact Kristin Johnson, MAT adviser, at 541-962-3529 or e-mail kristin.johnson@eou.edu.