The University of Pittsburgh has exerted concerted efforts to attract and retain liberal arts majors in teacher education, and insure high caliber graduates from its training program. One such program geared to upgrading the professional quality of its graduates is the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at the University's laboratory school. The MAT program is a graduate internship designed for college graduates with degrees in liberal arts, education, or other professional fields. The program extends over four terms beginning with the Summer Session and continuing for a full calendar year. During this year the intern spends each week of the school year at Falk School, the university's laboratory school. The 180-day clinical experience at the laboratory school involves teaching responsibilities during school hours which are monitored by the master teacher to whom the intern is assigned, and formal classes held after school hours. This paper describes the MAT model of teacher development and the rigorous qualifications and standards employed to insure a high caliber student pool accepted into and graduated from its program. (JD)