Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Middle Grades 5-9

The Master of Arts in Teaching will lead to certification in the Middle Grades with an area of specialization in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies.

Admission Requirements:

  1. Submit an application for Graduate Study, official transcripts, and test scores ACT 21 or GRE 750 or pass content area required PRAXIS exam(s) to Enrollment Services and Undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or an earned graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (minimum of nine credit hours), or an admission index (GRE verbal + GRE Qualitative) x Undergraduate GPA of at least 2050.
  2. Complete and submit an MAT Application (including copy of transcripts and test scores) to the MAT Office.
  3. Complete an entrance interview with an MAT advisor.
  4. Baccalaureate degree must be from an accredited institution and may be a major in the content area or a related content area; or when there is a concentration of coursework in the major, the content area faculty or chair may review and approve.
  5. Documentation of work experience in the field, when appropriate.

Eligibility to Enroll in MAT Middle Grades Program Coursework

Candidates are eligible to enroll in courses required for the MAT Middle Grades Program when they fulfill all of the admission requirements.

Eligibility to Continue in the Program

The following conditions must be met to determine eligibility to continue taking courses for credit toward the MAT Middle Grades Program. The student must have:

  1. Successfully completed all required Praxis content area exams
  2. Achieved and maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Each candidate's transcript will be reviewed when

Track A candidates (under contract in public school) complete two semesters of coursework and

Track B candidates (not under contract in a public school) complete 12 credit hours of coursework.

Exit Requirements

Candidates must:

  1. Have maintained a GPA of 3.0; no credit is awarded when the grade earned is below a "C."
  2. Successfully complete the Supervised Teaching Experience courses (EDUC 650 and 651).
  3. Pass the Praxis Specialty Exam(s) in the content major prior to the KTIP experience. Students must pass the Principles of Teaching and Learning exam (PLT) and the Praxis Specialty Exams to be eligible for degree completion.
  4. Successfully complete program-required portfolio (EDUC 650 and EDUC 651).
  5. Students must file an application for degree completion in the Graduate Office, no later than the beginning of the semester during which they plan to complete all degree requirements.

Other Program Procedures and Requirements

  1. Once accepted into the MAT program candidates seeking employment in a public/private school may secure, along with the school district and the MSU Master of Arts in Teaching Program, a Temporary Provisional Certificate. Candidates may accomplish this through the completion of a TC-TP form available at the school system where employment is desired. The candidate completes pages 1 and 3 and then must obtain signatures of the school district superintendent and the MST MAT coordinator. Finally the form must be submitted to the Education Professional Standards Board.
  2. Candidates who are not employed as full-time teachers must be available for supervised student teaching in a public school for a minimum of two semesters.
  3. No credit will be given toward completion of required coursework for any MAT Program for correspondence courses.
  4. Candidates who fall below a cumulative 3.0 GPA will be placed on probation. Candidates on probation will be allowed to repeat MAT required courses or to take graduate courses that do not count for credit in the MAT Program to raise their GPA to a 3.0. If after that semester candidates fail to achieve a 3.0 GPA, they will be dropped from the MAT Program.
  5. Candidates employed via Temporary Provisional Certification whose employment is terminated by the employing district for unethical practices will be suspended from the MAT Program until the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) rules on the district's allegation. When a decision is rendered, the candidate will either be expelled from or reinstated in the program, based on EPSB's decision.

Professional Core

17-18

EDF 611 - Adolescent Development

3

EDMG 636 - Middle School Curriculum (required)

3

EDEL 640 - Contemporary Inst. Practices P-9 or

 

EDSE 633 - Effective Classroom Instruction

3

EDEL 677 - Reading in the Content Area or

 

EDEL 628 - Materials and Methods in Reading Instruction or

 

EDEL 626 - Investigations in Reading

3

EDUC 652 - Applied Classroom Practice Modules I (required)

2

EDUC 653 - Applied Classroom Practice Modules II (required when recommended by MSU supervisor)

1

*EDSP 601 - Survey of Exceptional Children or

 

EDF 680 - History and Philosophy of Education

3

Total Hours

17-18

* This course is required when student has not successfully completed at least one course in the area of Special Education. The need to take this course will be determined at the Program Entrance and Design Interview.

Supervised Clinical Practice

12

EDUC 650 - Supervised Practice in Student Teaching I

6

EDUC 651 - Supervised Practice in Student Teaching II

6

Total Hours

12

Content Area

6

Total Hours Required

35-36

Extending Certification

Students who complete the MAT in Middle Grades and wish to obtain certification in the same secondary content area must complete the following:

  1. Submit graduate application for admission.
  2. Must meet admission criteria.
  3. Submit substitution forms if applicable.
  4. Successfully complete EDSE 634.
  5. Must successfully complete Praxis tests (PLT & Area).
  6. Must apply for completion of the program.

Up one level:

College of Education