Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Middle Grades Education
The Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree (generally in a field other than education) and who wish to pursue teacher certification and simultaneously earn a master’s degree.
Prerequisite Degree – Bachelor’s Degree
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) degree program is designed to meet the needs of candidates who do not hold a teacher certification. Prior to Admission to Teacher Education the candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a PSC-accepted accredited institution and pass or exempt the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Program Admissions Assessment as well as passing EDUC 5599 Graduate Orientation. Before taking the Internship II semester, the candidate must pass the appropriate GACE content area tests to be recommended for initial certification. Completion of all program requirements and passing scores on the GACE content area tests will lead to recommendation for Georgia certification in Middle Grades Education.
The M.A.T. program consists of a minimum of 55 semester hours, 240 hours of field experience, and one semester of Internship II (or 10 hours of Advanced Internship for candidates already teaching in their own classrooms). The last 12 academic hours in the candidate’s program, exclusive of student teaching, must be taken at Piedmont College. Full-time M.A.T. candidates can complete the program within six to seven semesters if the candidate is approved for the minimum program. Students may take up to six years to complete the program. No course older than six calendar years may apply toward graduation.
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
Content Courses:
15 Hours of Content courses (9 in primary content, 6 in secondary concentration)
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15
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| 2 Methods courses in chosen contents |
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6
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Total Minimum Hours: 58 unless candidate needs EDUC 6111 or does Advanced Internship II rather than Internship II.
Program Completion Requirements:
- Minimum field experience hours: 120
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses attempted, with not more than one grade of “C”;
- Submit and have approved an application for graduation two semesters before graduation;
- Successful completion of Capstone;
- Successful completion of one semester or full year Advanced Internship;
- Pass GACE Program Admission Assessment and content area tests.
NOTE: In order to register for Internship II or Advanced Internship or take the capstone course in any program (whichever occurs last), M.A.T. candidates must successfully pass the appropriate Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) tests(s).
NOTE: Candidates wishing to fulfill the teaching experience sequence in a private school are advised that private schools must be pre-approved for internship in order for that experience to satisfy the program requirement.
NOTE: The College assures candidates in our middle grades education programs that we can provide supervision of student teaching and internships at public schools and approved private schools located within 50 miles of either the Demorest or Athens campus. Consideration for supervision in placements beyond 50 miles is on a case-by-case basis and requires approval by the Chair of Middle Grades Education prior to registering for an internship or student teaching. A candidate should not consider a position on the assumption that Piedmont College is obliged to provide that service.
NOTE: Content Area Courses:
As has been noted, candidates must have a minimum of 15 semester hours at the graduate level (5000 courses or higher) is required; 9 hours and 6 hours, respectively, at the graduate level in the fields of intended certification.
Candidates with undergraduate majors in fields not related to the chosen content areas will be required to add to their programs additional 3000-, 4000-, or graduate level courses in order to provide a substantial content knowledge base for teaching and for passing the GACE content area tests. Courses at the 3000- or 4000-level will not count toward the requirement for graduate level content courses. A transcript analysis of undergraduate coursework will be completed with the Department Chair to determine the additional number of courses that must be taken to meet the 15 hours per content area requirement.
See course descriptions