Master of Arts in Teaching Latin and Classical Humanities Program Celebrates 50 Successful Years—and a Nearly Perfect Job Placement Rate

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The UMass Amherst Master of Arts in Teaching Latin and Classical Humanities (M.A.T) program is celebrating 50 years of operation this year. To recount their successes, we sat down with Professor Teresa Ramsby, the former program director for thirteen years, and Professor Brian Breed, the current program director, to learn about what makes the M.A.T. program so special. 

Ramsby still teaches two of the program’s pedagogy courses and has now taken the role of program licensure coordinator, ensuring that students complete the necessary steps for state licensure. Breed has worn many hats in the department, but as of late, he is closely involved with the program’s curriculum and administration. He contributes to the classes in the graduate degree program and the supervision  of students’ teaching placements. 

Along with Associate Professor Ginna Closs (who will return to direct the program after a year away on a Fulbright fellowship), Ramsby and Breed work hard to ensure students’ experience in the M.A.T. program is worthwhile and well-developed. They also depend on the work of their colleagues in Classics to teach courses for the graduate students, mentor them, and observe their teaching.

This program is a two-year curriculum and training degree that works to prepare a new generation of K-12 teachers. “You want to give them as much understanding of the pedagogy associated with their discipline as possible,” Ramsby says. 

All students have completed an undergraduate degree in Classics, so they are well-versed in “Latin, Greek, Archeology, and Ancient history, and a handful of other fields”, according to Breed. 

A Top Graduate Program

As one of the top graduate programs of its type in the country, their pool of applicants is consistently impressive. 

Breed explains, “We draw on a national pool of very talented, very ambitious, and very-well prepared students who want to come into our program.” 

Ramsby says that “most professors in our field know that if they have a student who says ‘I want to teach Latin,’ they should say, ‘UMass Amherst.’” 

The M.A.T. program closely studies trends in Latin and Classics educational pedagogy to ensure that they are delivering current and sound educational training. The program’s philosophy centers on accessibility to Latin and Classics. 

Breed details that they are “trying to continuously adapt methods and resources for teaching to meet the needs of current students.” 

They work to tackle the elitist attitudes that have been synonymous with Latin and Classical Studies in the past. 

“Anyone should be able to show up in Latin and find something interesting, regardless of where they came from or what language they speak at home, or what kind of school they attend,” Breed says. 

Ramsby explains how this accessibility is credited to their students, as they bring a variety of learning and true fascination to the program.

“Another thing our students bring with them is a real interest in the ancient world,” she says. “Not just Rome and Greece, and that’s been really neat to see in the past several years. Students are interested in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Nubia, and the Provinces of the Roman empire, and Britannia, so looking beyond the peninsula of Italy and Greek mainland, and looking at the whole picture of the ancient world and bringing that cultural diversity to their students.” 

The How and Why of Teaching Latin

The department is consistently working to ensure they are staying on top of new pedagogical research and trends. 

Not only do they inform their students “how you teach Latin,” but they explore “why you teach Latin,” Ramsby says. 

This is done through intense experiential learning: graduate students begin teaching on day one. They start as teaching assistants in introductory Latin and general education classrooms, and work their way to a full-time teaching placement in a local middle or high school. 

Professors and administrators in the program work closely with students to ensure their placement is conducive to their developing teaching style, making the program a personalized and well-supported learning experience. 

A Nearly Perfect Job Placement Rate

This year, the M.A.T. program is home to eight graduate students. This number is a bit lower than their typical enrollment, but it is reflective of trends impacting the field. Ramsby notes that “languages have taken a back seat in a lot of students’ minds since a lot of colleges have dropped their language requirement.”

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools had to cut their language programs to accommodate for a lack of funding, resulting in a lessening demand for Latin and Classics teachers. Yet the trend has not affected the attitudes of M.A.T. students. 

Both Ramsby and Breed say the students in the program are enthusiastic for their discipline, equally interested in pedagogical studies, as they are always looking for new ways to bring their studies into their classroom. 

Ramsby says they share a “broad based willingness to look around them for other sources of information.”

Most importantly, they truly love to work with young people. Ramsby explains that these students are “motivated, enthusiastic and committed to education.” 

It is this sense of passion and involvement that grants the program an impressive job placement rate, nearing 100%. 

Breed explains that students who graduate from the M.A.T. program typically have their choice of district. 

“When administrators are reviewing applications, our students are considered high quality candidates,” he says. 

It is this support that motivates program graduates to not only become well-rounded teachers, but school leaders, authors, researchers, and professors within the field. 

High Quality Teaching Education and Preparation

One of the most impressive facets of the M.A.T. program is their commitment to financial support: the program is fully funded by the university. 

“We are tremendously grateful to the support of the university, HFA,” Breed says. “Essentially, the university has recognized that these students contribute valuable skills on our campus, whether as Latin teachers for our beginning program or our large general education classes. They can graduate without debt, which is wonderful, and were so grateful for all the support we’ve received.” 

Ramsby explains this partnership as “a nice synergy between HFA, the College of Education, and the department, helping these students prepare for a really fulfilling career.”

Students are able to explore Latin and Classics at virtually no cost to them. This financial support is one of the many reasons why the M.A.T. program is of such impressive caliber when it comes to student-centered learning. 

In looking at the years to come, the department is hopeful that their program will continue to deliver high quality teaching education and preparation. Ramsby says pedagogical trends and developments will guide their curriculum, staying consistent with their goal to produce highly skilled and deeply passionate educators.

Ramsby is hoping to celebrate the program’s 50 year anniversary this spring at their annual M.A.T. alumni event. 

To continue supporting the Classics department, please visit the UMass Amherst Foundation's website and consider making a donation to “HFA: Department of Classics”.