Valdosta State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) initial certification program in Elementary, 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.

The Employed Teacher track is for those who are currently teaching on a non-renewable (provisional) certificate. It is designed as a four semester program. The Full-Time Student track of the M.A.T. is a full-time online program in which candidates may earn a master's degree (M.A.T.) and renewable teaching certification in four semesters. Cohort groups begin in June.

For information about Admissions and Graduation requirements, please visit this program's page on the Graduate School website.

Visit the Elementary Ed, Middles Grades, or Secondary Ed page in Majors & Degrees for general info about the field and degree.

For Course Descriptions, please refer to the program's page on the VSU catalog.

MAT in Elementary Education- Full-time Student Track

June cohort (Program begins in June only)

Offered only in:

Course ID/Name

Hours

Su

ELED 6050 Developmentally Appropriate Practice

3

Su

EDUC 6051 Planning, Assessment, and DI

3

Su

EDUC 6053 Classroom Management

3

Fa

ELED 6060: Literacy I

3

Fa

ELED 6070: Math I

3

Fa

ELED 6080: Social Studies Methods

2

Fa

ELED 6090: Field Experience

1

Sp

ELED 6061: Literacy II

3

Sp

ELED 6071: Math II

3

Sp

ELED 6081: Science Methods

2

Sp

ELED 6091: Clinical Practice in Elementary Education

1

Su

ELED 6062: Advanced Literacy for P-5

3

Su

EDUC 6300 Capstone

3

Su

SPEC 7000 Serving Students w/Diverse Need

3

Total Required Hours for the Degree

36

Other Program Requirements/GACE Assessments: 

  • GACE Educator Ethics Assessment – Exit (Must pass for admission)
  • GACE Content Assessment (Must attempt during Clinical Practice for program completion, must pass for certification)
  • GACE Fundamentals of the Science of Reading Literacy Assessment *(Must attempt during Clinical Practice for program completion, must pass for certification)
  • *MGE Reading concentration admits take the GACE Application of the Science of Reading Literacy Assessment

 

MAT Full-Time Student Track

June cohort (as of  Summer, 2020, program begins in June only)

Offered only in:

Course ID/Name

Hours

Su

EDUC 2999  Entry to Education

0

Su

MSED 6000  Written and Verbal Communication for Teachers

3

Su

MSED 6001  Planning for Middle or Secondary Teaching

3

Su

MSED 6004  Content Area Literacy for Middle and Secondary Teachers

3

Fa

MSED 5000  Content Methods (pick one). Mathematics Methods (5100), Science Methods (5200), Social Science Methods (5300), English Language Arts Methods (5400), Methods for Teaching Reading (5500), and Content Teaching Methods for Middle Grades or Secondary Education (5600).

3

Fa

MSED 6003  Differentiation and Multiculturalism

3

Fa

MSED 6100  Apprenticeship in Teaching

3

Sp

MSED 6002  Assessment

3

Sp

MSED 6201  Clinical Seminar

1

Sp

MSED 6200  Student Teaching

5

Su or Sp

MSED 6300  Capstone.

3

Su or Sp

MSED 6005  Educational Philosophy, Law, and Ethics

3

Fa, Sp, Su

RSCH 7100  Research Methodology in Education

3
Course Required for Certification

Fa, Sp, Su

SPEC 2000 or 7000  Serving Students with Diverse Needs

3

Total Required Hours for the Degree

36

MAT Employed Teachers Track 

(Program of study form)

June cohort (as of Summer, 2020, program begins in June only)

Offered only in:

Course ID / Name

Hours

Su

EDUC 2999  Entry to Education

0

Su

MSED 6000  Written and Verbal Communication for Teachers

3

Su

MSED 6001  Plan for Teaching*

3

Su

MSED 6004  Content Area Literacy for Middle and Secondary Teachers*

3

Fa

MSED 5600  Content Teaching Methods of Middle Grades or Secondary Education*

3

Fa

MSED 6003  Differentiation and Multicultural Education in Middle or Secondary Education

3

Fa

MSED 6010  Employed Teacher Track Internship 1*

3

Sp

MSED 6002  Assessment in Middle or Secondary Education*

3

Sp

MSED 6020  Employed Teacher Track Internship 2*

5

Sp

MSED 6021  Clinical Seminar Employed Teacher Track*

1

Su

MSED 6005  Educational Philosophy, Law and Ethics

3

Su

MSED 6300  MAT Capstone

3

Fa or Sp 

RSCH 7100  Research Methodology in Education

3
Course Required for Certification

SPEC 2000 or 7000 Serving Students with Diverse Needs*
OR
RESA*

Employed teachers in the MAT program are recommended for certification once they have completed the 21 credit hours of certification coursework (see courses marked with an *).  Completion of these courses means that the candidate has completed all program assessments and met the standards for certification.  Candidates may opt to exit the program once their clear renewable certificate is awarded and not complete the MAT degree.  

Total Required Hours for the Degree

36

Department of Teacher Education Homepage