Teaching, M.A.T.

Contact: Alisha Bello
Office: KH 3024
Phone: (770) 423-6043
Fax: (770) 499-3659
Email: abello1@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/#MAT

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree leads to initial certification of well-qualified candidates and prepares them to be teacher-leaders. The MAT is standards-based and meets the requirements of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission requirements, and the Georgia Board of Regents. Our innovative teacher preparation programs respond to state needs and contribute to the learning and achievement of Georgia’s increasingly diverse public school population. The responsibility for teacher education is shared by faculty in the College of the Arts, Bagwell College of Education, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the Graduate College, in collaboration with master teachers and administrators in local schools.

Course work emphasizes scholarly rigor through research and engagement in a variety of field-based action research projects and supervised practicum and internships. Technology and multicultural considerations are infused throughout the programs. These master’s degrees lead to initial certification and are not appropriate for teachers who hold clear, renewable certificates.

Currently, there are seven Master of Arts in Teaching programs, including Secondary English (6-12), Secondary Mathematics (6-12), and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (P-12), Secondary Biology (P-12), Secondary Chemistry (6-12), Secondary Physics (6-12), and Art Education (P-12).

General Requirements for Admission to Master of Arts in Teaching

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; prerequisite courses and/or a specific bachelor’s degree may be required depending on the concentration area of interest;
2. An adjusted undergraduate GPA of 2.75;
3. Passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills Assessment Exam (Three sections: Reading, Writing, Mathematics) (http://www.gace.nesinc.com) required in Georgia. You may be exempted from this test by SAT scores of at least 1000 (verbal and math), ACT scores of at  least 43 (English and math), or GRE scores of at least 1030 (verbal and quantitative). Check with the certification officer at 770-423-6043 for exemption scores if you took the SAT prior to 1995 or ACT prior to 1989. Please see the Professional Standards Commission (www.gapsc.com) Website for alternative exemption tests;
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) or Miller Analogies Test (this requirement is waived for students with a prior graduate degree);
5. Letters of recommendation from two sources capable of assessing interpersonal skills applicable to teaching and/or potential for graduate work. These recommendations should be on school or business  letterhead;
6. A one-to-two page, typed personal statement in support of the application explaining what led to your decision to become an educator;
7. A clear criminal background. For details visit the KSU Office of Field Experiences’ website at www.kennesaw.edu/education/ofe;
8. A resume detailing educational background and work experience;
9. An interview with program faculty may be required.

*Individual programs have additional admission requirements. See “Additional Admission Requirements” in each of the following programs section which follow.

*International applicants have additional requirements; see Graduate Admission  section of this catalog.

Full Standing

All application materials will be reviewed by the program admission committee in assessing the applicant’s potential for success in the program. Admissions will be competitive.

Accelerated Bachelors to Masters (ABM) Degree Option for the Master of Arts in Teaching

Qualified KSU undergraduate students may qualify for the ABM Degree option. Contact the program coordinator listed in specific degree areas below for more information and refer to the section of the graduate catalog that describes the requirements for consideration.

Degree Requirements

The requirements for completion of the Masters of Arts in Teaching include:

1. completion of a minimum of 48 hours of approved graduate course work with no grades below “C” (See Academic Policies of Graduate Catalog for more information about grades of “C” and below.);
2. completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours of the minimum 48 hours in full standing at Kennesaw State University;
3. an earned cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate coursework at Kennesaw State University;
4. successful completion of all field experiences; and
5. successful completion of a professional portfolio.

Portfolio and Capstone Project

The portfolio is designed to document the candidate’s development of expertise as a teacher-leader and the candidate’s impact on student achievement. The portfolio provides a detailed picture of the candidate’s growth as a professional and reflective analysis of the integration of courses taken supported by theory and research literature. The Capstone Project is an opportunity for candidates to develop expertise in an area related to the teaching of their discipline.

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or better) may be applied toward a degree program. No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation. Transfer credit includes all course work accepted into the MAT program prior to admission in full standing (maximum nine semester hours), whether earned at another institution or at Kennesaw State University.

Petition to Graduate

Each MAT candidate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The Petition to Graduate form can be found online at www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/.

 

Programs of Study

The Bagwell College of Education offers several options for the Master of Arts in Teaching. Please select from the following:

 

Foreign Languages M.A.T