The Masters of Education in Teaching, Learning and Advocacy (MTLA) is the fastest growing master’s programs at the College of Charleston. Since it launched two years ago, it has grown from nine students to more than 50. The College of Charleston’s (MTLA) is unique because it develops leadership skills and enhances a teacher’s ability to serve students, parents and other teachers in diverse settings.
“The incredible growth of this program is a testament to the need for strong educational leadership that we saw in the community,” says Fran Welch, dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. “We developed the Masters in Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy for teachers who want to serve as change agents in their classrooms, schools and districts.”
This year, the College has partnered with the Berkeley County School District to offer discounted tuition for 20 teachers who will earn their MTLA in spring 2014. Participating teachers come from diverse backgrounds including elementary, middle, and secondary schools where they teach subjects ranging from special education to science. Courses are offered in Berkeley County, making the program more convenient to full-time teachers and enabling greater participation. This is the first partnership of its kind to be offered with a full master’s degree program.
“Many teachers are struggling under the same financial burdens as the rest of the country and may not be able to invest in their education,” says Andrew Lewis, associate dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. “At the same time, it is important for them to continue their professional development – removing some of the financial burden allows these teachers to seek advanced content and knowledge, which translates into the ability to offer best practice pedagogical techniques in the classroom, allows them to assist in leadership roles and help other teachers in their school, and in general, helps promote the advancement of student outcomes.”
The MTLA degree is beneficial for aspiring educators as well as experienced teachers who desire to effectively lead, instruct and advocate in many educational settings. MTLA students develop clear understandings of education policies and their impacts and learn to identify, understand and empathize with cultural elements which influence access to education. Successful MTLA candidates are reflective practitioners, collecting classroom data to shape their own classroom practices. The program has a demanding writing component and challenges students to identify who they are personally and professionally in order to better understand the students and peers they serve.
For more information, contact Dr. mutindi ndunda at ndundam@cofc.edu or 843.953.8046.
