Program Overview

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) online program is a 33-hour alternate-route teacher certification program. Program participants are eligible to obtain a three-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (which certifies them to teach grades 46 in Mississippi) after completing the nine semester hours of pre-teaching coursework and passing the Foundations of Reading exam, provided they meet all program admission requirements.

About the Program

• The program focuses on providing the pedagogical knowledge and skills needed for elementary instruction (K6) to individuals with sufficient content knowledge.
• Coursework includes lesson planning, classroom management, literacy instruction, special education, and STEM methods.
• Participants may then pursue a five-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (K6) after obtaining a full-time teaching position in a Mississippi public school as the teacher of record and completing all remaining coursework in the MAT Elementary Education Program.

Mississippi Teacher Residency Program

• Pre-Applications are now open for individuals interested in partial program funding through the Mississippi Teacher Residency Program.
• Individuals selected for this program will receive:
  • Tuition for the first 12 hours of coursework
  • Vouchers for the Foundations of Reading Test
  • Stipend to assist with textbooks and technology
  • An assigned mentor for support during the first year of classroom placement

Program Information

Degree

• M.A.T. in Teaching

Emphases

• Elementary Education

Required Credit Hours

• 33

Program Type

• Master's Program

Program Location

• Online

School

• School of Education

Duration

• 1.5 - 2 years

Admission Requirements

• A bachelors degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher learning.
• 3.0 GPA overall or on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, OR a minimum ACT composite score of 21, OR a minimum SAT equivalent, OR passing scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examination.
• Passing score on the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis 5018).
• Participants must have a valid Social Security number and provide the Mississippi Department of Education with proof of lawful presence in the US.

Courses

• EDCI 613: Lesson Planning & Assessing Student Learning
  • Prepares future teachers to design and implement effective instruction that meets the diverse needs of students.
• EDCI 615: Classroom Facilitation and Management
  • Involves candidates in situations that introduce them to various ways of managing a classroom.
• EDSP 601: Exceptional Students in the K-12 Classroom
  • Explores individual differences and characteristics of exceptional, diverse, and at-risk students in the general education classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Master of Arts in Teaching?
  • A masters degree program for individuals possessing an undergraduate degree in a field other than education.
• What are the benefits of the MAT?
  • Flexibility to complete the program online, receive a 3-year provisional license, convert to a 5-year AA Mississippi Educator License, and more.
• What are the admission requirements?
  • Bachelors degree, ACT or SAT score, or Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examination score, and passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment for Elementary (4-6).
• What are the goals of the program?
  • To provide certification and support to participants as they teach and earn a masters degree, and to create the next generation of teachers for the state of Mississippi.
• Is the Praxis required?
  • Yes, the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis 5018) is required.
• Is the GRE required?
  • No, the GRE is not required for admission into this program.