Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades or Secondary Education

This is a 36 credit hour master's degree program requiring extensive field experiences and college course work.  This program is designed for the preparation of teachers for core academic areas of Sciences, Math, English, Social Studies , and Reading for middle-level schools and high school (as well as grades P-12 certification for computer science). Two options are available: 

Candidates who are currently teaching with a non-renewable certificate (provisional) are able to earn level 4 Georgia certification their first year and complete requirements to earn an M.A.T in the second year of their enrollment.

The second track is a full-time master's/certification program which offers the option of either online or face-to-face apprenticeship and internships in the schools.  This curriculum can be completed in four semesters of work, which includes two full semesters of internship/student teaching experience in the schools.  Graduates of this track earn an M.A.T. and clear-renewable teaching certification (T-5) in four semesters of coursework upon passing the aligned GACE Content Assessment.

The MAT program, either Employed Teachers Track or Full-Time Student Track, is designed to meet the needs of highly-qualified college graduates who wish to enter the teaching profession.



Program Coordinator: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu,  phone: 229-333-5925

Department of Teacher Education Website

General inforamtion about this program (Majors & Degrees)

For more information on MAT in Middle Grades or Secondary ED click this link

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Admission: No Admission
• Spring Admission: No Admission 
• Summer Admission: April 15

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

• Application Fee 
• Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor’s degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

• • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School.
  • Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale.
  • Applicants not meeting the required GPA requirement (Pathway #1) may be eligible for admission by an alternative pathway (see below).
•  
• DEMONSTRATED CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
  • This program provides initial Georgia teacher certification and a master's degree in 36 semester hours in one of the following 22 certification fields:
  • Middle Grades (grades 4-8): math, science, language arts, reading, or social studies
  • Secondary (grades 6-12): agricultural education, biology, business education, chemistry, Earth/space science, economics, engineering and technology, English, family and consumer sciences education, geography, history, marketing education, math, physics, political science, science
  • Grades P-12: computer science
•  
•  Applicants must demonstrate evidence of content knowledge in the certification field   sought through one of three options:
  1. Earned bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education in the field of certification sought;
  2. A passing score on the Georgia state-approved content assessment in the field of certification sought; or
  3. Evidence of successful completion of a minimum number of semester hours of content area coursework in the field of certification sought.  The number of semester hours of content area coursework required for certification is 21 semester hours.  The semester hours must have been upper-division (typically 3000-or-4000 level) undergraduate coursework or graduate coursework. The VSU Graduate School in conjunction with the program coordinator will determine which coursework satisfy this option

 Passing SCORE ON GEORGIA EDUCATION ETHICS ASSESSMENT

• Passing scores on the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (Test 360) (to register: https://gace.ets.org/ethics/register/)

VSU Medical Form

The VSU Medical Form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.

• This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
• Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence

 (For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)

• This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
• This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
• Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
• Check out a complete list of accepted documents and residency information here.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Applicants must meet at least one of following three GPA pathways for program admission:

• Pathway 1 (traditional): Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Pathway 2: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND must be employed full-time at a Georgia public school and hold a Georgia provisional certificate in the field of certification sought.  Applicants with a cumulative Undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student and must earn a 3.0 GPA in his/her first semester in the program.
• Pathway 3: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following sub-pathways:
• Alternative Pathway 3A: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or 
• Alternative Pathway 3B: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
• Alternative Pathway 3C: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. This 36-credit hour master's degree program requires extensive field experiences and college course work.  Although this program is online, face-to-face field experiences in diverse settings are required for successful progression in the program.  The final semester of the program required full-time experience in a classroom aligned to the candidates' selected area of certification.
2. Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying.  It is the applicant's responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS 

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), English Language Centers Level 109, or completion of level 6 at VSU's English Language Institute – Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit one of the above. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
• Certificate of Finances- The Certificate of Finance is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
• Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

• Regular Status
• Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

• Call Us: 229-333-5694 
• Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
• Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Coordinator: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu,  phone: 229-333-5925.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
2. Candidates must submit an application for graduation at least one semester prior to their expected graduation date.

 Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. Candidates must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check.
2. Candidates must acquire professional liability insurance.
3. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 
4. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a Dewar College of Education graduate program. Transfer credit will be evaluation after admission by the academic department.
5. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. 
6. If dismissed from the program a student must not be enrolled for two semesters. Application for readmission may be initiated during the second semester. Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page