Reach Your Full Potential as an Educator

Whether you're working toward your first license, an advanced certification, or seeking professional development, we provide the tools and flexible pathways to help you succeed. Use the menu below to explore the opportunities VSU's College of Education can provide to educators, schools, and districts. 

Ready to get started?

Reach out to Dean David Slykhuis for personalized guidance on the best path for your career.

Email | dslykhuis@valdosta.edu; Phone | (229) 219-1324

  • For Paraprofessionals
    • Online Elementary Ed
      • Provides a flexible pathway into teaching for aspiring educators and a powerful bridge for paraprofessionals to move into full-time teaching—building on their classroom experience while earning certification.
  • For Provisionally Certified Teachers
    • M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education 
      • The MAT in Health and Physical Education is a 36-credit program that prepares graduates to become certified HPE teachers in Georgia through intensive coursework and hands-on field experience.
    • M.A.T. in Special Education
      • An in-person degree with 24 credit hours. Score of “2” or higher or ASLPI or equivalent evaluation score is required for program admittance for Deaf Education Track.
    • M.A.T. in Middle Grades or Secondary Education
      • With two curriculum tracks, this program is designed for those who obtained an undergraduate degree in majors other than education through intensive coursework and classroom experience.
    • M.A.T. in Elementary Education
      • The MAT in Elementary Education is a 36-credit-hour program that combines rigorous coursework and hands-on field experience to prepare educators for certification in a variety of core academic subjects and grade levels.
  • CTE
    • M.Ed. - Career - Technical Education
      • Delivered 100% online, this program is 39 hours and designed to provide advanced knowledge, skills and dispositions for all middle grades and secondary Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) areas leading to an Advanced Teacher Certificate

  • M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
    • Online degree with two concentrations, Educational Leadership and Higher Education Leadership, for 30 and 36 credit hours respectively. Candidates will be able to develop the necessary competencies to become an entry-level leader.
  • M.Ed. in Instructional Technology
    • Online degree with 30 credit hours. A master’s degree in this field prepares future instructional technology leaders and practitioners in diverse contexts: classrooms, school libraries, industry, and government.
  • M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education
    • The fully online M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education prepares educators to advance their teaching and earn T-5 certification while applying modern, standards-based practices.
  • M.Ed. in Elementary Education
    • Candidates will gain a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, research, and dominant theories of early childhood education to support effective teaching of young children through a 36 hour program. 
  • Ed.S in Teacher Leadership
    • Online degree with 30 credit hours-prepares educators to meet the GaPSC Teacher Leadership standards.
  • Ed.S. in Coaching Pedagogy in Physical Education
    • The Ed.S. in Coaching Pedagogy is a fully online program that develops advanced coaching expertise and may qualify graduates for T-6 certification in Georgia or reciprocal states.
  • Ed.S. in Special Education
    • A 30 hour program designed for practicing special educators who hold a master's degree in special education (or related field such as speech language pathology, deaf education, vocational rehabilitation, or adapted physical education) who wish to advance their professional skills in special education.

  • Ed.S in Teacher Leadership
    • Online degree with 30 credit hours-prepares educators to meet the GaPSC Teacher Leadership standards.
  • M.Ed. in Educational Leadership 
    • Online degree with two concentrations, Educational Leadership and Higher Education Leadership, for 30 and 36 credit hours respectively. Candidates will be able to develop the necessary competencies to become an entry-level leader.
  • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership
    •  An online, 30 hour program which incorporates clinical practice linking theoretical and philosophical frameworks of educational leadership to actual practice. Through the combination of course work and performance-based activities, candidates will be able to develop the necessary competencies to become an educational leader.
  • Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction
    •  A 55 hour, hybrid program designed to provide practical opportunities for students to relate theoretical foundations to curricular and instructional issues facing schools and other educational systems.

Opportunities for Service in Mentorship 

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