Admission and Program Requirements

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Master of Arts in Teaching

Annice McLean, Program Director
Hill Hall, Room 419
417-836-6883
AMcLean@MissouriState.edu​​​​​​​

Program description

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is a combined graduate degree and initial teacher certification program intended for individuals who hold at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university. The MAT is a teacher certification program approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and is intended for secondary-level and middle-level future educators. The MAT program provides the opportunity for multiple content area certifications and includes extensive site-based clinical experiences in area schools building upon the candidates' previous coursework and experiences.

Entrance requirements

  1. Applicants must meet minimum Graduate College requirements for admission.
  2. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from a regionally accreditated institution.
  3. Admission to the MAT will include a departmental review, and a transcript analysis completed by the Professional Education Services office.

Degree requirements (minimum of 36-37 hrs)

  1. All students must attempt the Missouri Content Assessment(s) (MoCA) before the end of their first semester of coursework.
  2. All students must pass the MoCA(s) prior to their student teaching semester.
  3. A “B” or better is required in all coursework.
  4. Completion of Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (MOVECHS) waiver and FBI Fingerprinting Background Check prior to starting the second semester of MAT graduate courses. For more information, refer to Compliance Documents Required for Practicum, Internship or Student Teaching, found on the Professional Education Services website.
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
SFR 750
OR
MID 810		 Philosophies of Education
Foundations of Middle Level Education		 3 hrs
SFR 751 
OR
MID 725		 Introduction to Teaching and Learning
OR
Advanced Theory & Practice in Teaching Early Adolescents		 3 hrs
SFR 781 Applied Educational Research 3 hrs
EDT 662
OR
EDT 665
OR
SCI 662		 Educational Applications of Computers in the Classroom
OR
Selection and Utilization of Educational Technology
OR
Teaching Science Using Technology in the Classroom and Laboratory		 3 hrs
PSY 710 Psychology of Education 3 hrs
SPE 715 Foundations in Special Education 3 hrs
LTC 710 Content Area Literacy 3 hrs
LTC 624
OR
LTC 640		 Analysis and Correction of Difficulties in Adolescent Literacy
OR
Analysis and Correction of Difficulties in Literacy		 3 hrs
SEC 783
OR
SCI 783		 Internship in Teaching I: Teaching Practicum
OR
Internship in Teaching Secondary Science I		 3 hrs
SEC 784
OR
SCI 784		 Internship in Teaching II: Student Teaching
OR
Internship in Teaching Secondary Science II		 10 hrs
OR
9 hrs

*Candidates seeking secondary science (9-12) content certification may choose an alternative science research course in consultation with their academic advisor.

Advisement

Advisement will be facilitated by the MAT Academic Advisor in cooperation with the MAT Program Director. The Office of Professional Education Services will monitor the certification process. Content area requirements are determined by the Professional Education Services office as part of the transcript analysis process.

Research and Comprehensive Examination requirements

Candidates will enroll in SFR 781 (Applied Educational Research), which will provide instruction on how to utilize and implement educational research to enhance their classroom practice. This course will introduce candidates to action research and will culminate in a research project presented to the Program Director during their student teaching semester. This project will satisfy their comprehensive examination requirement.

Graduation requirements

In addition to requirements established by the Graduate College, MAT candidates are required to:

    1. Complete all MAT-required coursework with a "B" grade or higher.
    2. Meet GPA requirements established by Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for educators.
    3. Complete all research and comprehensive examination requirements (both satisfied through successful completion of SFR 781)..

Certification requirements

To be recommended for teacher certification, MAT candidates are required to:

  1. Meet all Missouri teacher certification requirements, which are in effect at the time of certification.
  2. Complete all Professional Education and content courses with a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or higher.
  3. Pass the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA).
  4. Pass the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) during student teaching.

Recommended: Pass the MoCA exam and background check

Although the following are not admission requirements, it is strongly advised to complete these steps as soon as possible.

Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) exam

The Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) are content area exams taken by all candidates who pursue a teaching certificate in Missouri.

You must pass the MoCA(s) for certification. Passing the MoCA shows your competency in the content area.

  • When you pass the MoCA(s), you no longer need to complete any remaining course work deficiencies in your content area unless required by the department. Passing the MoCA classifies you as “alternative” as defined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
  • As an alternative student, your applications for teaching positions in the secondary education (9-12 or K-12) grade levels can be submitted to school(s). To meet certification requirements, the teaching position must be in the content area and grade level for which you’re seeking certification.

You can teach while pursuing certification by applying to DESE for a provisional certificate. You can submit this application after you sign your teaching job contract.

FBI background checks

You must also pass two FBI background checks – one for Missouri State University and one for DESE.

  1. Missouri State University requires a current MOVECHS FBI fingerprinting national background check before you complete your first Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) course.
    1. You must complete the MOVECHS waiver agreement before you register for MOVECHS FBI fingerprinting.
  2. At the time of certification, DESE requires a DESE FBI fingerprinting background check.

Register for background checks