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Program Admission Requirements Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education with Initial Teacher Certification (MAT)

Admission into the MAT Program is competitive and granted on a space available basis.

Students must:

  1. Be admitted to Middle Georgia State University (MGA) in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all courses to include transfer, transient, or taken as a part of a prior degree. Students who have not met all requirements for admission but have a cumulative GPA between 2.75-2.99 may submit a letter of appeal as part of their application. Disciplinary action at MGA and/or any other institution that the student has attended or while in the military may prevent admission.
  2. Submit an official transcript indicating the awarding of a Bachelor’s degree in biology, English, history or mathematics from a GaPSC accredited institution.
  3. Submit a graduate program admission packet to the Office of Graduate Studies. Admission packets are found on the Office of Graduate Studies website. Prospective students may also contact the Office of Graduate Studies for an admission packet. Deadline for submission of packets is January 15th for summer semester. Packets submitted after the deadline will be considered after all applicants meeting the deadline are processed. Admission packets must be complete in order for the Pre-Service Certificate to be requested. Rolling admission is utilized with a priority deadline of May 1st. Seating is on a space available basis.
  4. Present a passing score on the GACE Program Admissions Assessment or show evidence of exemption from any of the following national exam scores: minimum 525 composite score on Praxis I (if taken prior to August 2006); SAT – minimum combined score of 1000 on SAT verbal/math; ACT minimum combined score of 43 on English/Math; or GRE minimum combined score of 1030 on verbal/quantitative prior to August 1, 2011 or minimum combined score of 297 on verbal/quantitative if taken after August 1, 2011. For SAT score reports dated 7/1/19 or after, 1080 is required on Evidence based Reading/Writing and Math.
  5. Provide a clear criminal background check and proof of completion of the Georgia Educator Ethics Entry Assessment (350G). Information regarding both will be provided in the admission packet.
  6. Provide passing scores at the Professional Level on the GACE content area assessments for your degree.
  7. Provide biographical statement including professional goals and two professional recommendations.
  8. Complete GaPSC GCIC background check and Verification of Lawful Presence paperwork.
  9. The Teacher Education Program will request a Pre-Service Certificate from the GaPSC for the prospective candidate. The decision to issue the Pre-Service Certificate resides solely with the GaPSC.
  10. Upon receipt of a copy of the Pre-Service Certificate by the Teacher Education Program, the prospective candidate will be notified in writing by the Teacher Education Program of their acceptance as a graduate intern.
  11. Upon acceptance, students are referred to as “graduate interns”.
  12. Be available during regular public school day hours for practicums.
  13. Upon acceptance, graduate interns must present proof of having liability insurance and a LiveText account.
  14. Graduate interns must sign their program of study. Graduate interns are required to follow the program of study as prepared by the Teacher Education Program. Deviations from that program without prior consent from the Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences will result in dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.


MAT Academic Progress and Completion

Graduate interns must meet the following requirements to remain in the MAT program:

  1. Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in all courses in the major.
  2. Earn a grade no lower than a “B” in all MGA graduate level education program courses.
  3. Retake only one graduate level course where a grade of “C”, “D” or “F” was earned. Students will not be allowed to progress into subsequent courses.
  4. Pass all program key assessments with an 80% mastery.
  5. Interns must meet end of semester Program Checkpoints to progress to the next semester.
  6. Maintain professional liability insurance, a LiveText account and hold a valid Pre-Service Certificate for the duration of the program.
  7. Provide evidence of attempting the Georgia Educator Ethics Exit Assessment (360G) prior to progression into Practicum II (EDUC 5006).
  8. Provide evidence of submitting the edTPA portfolio prior to the end of the semester while enrolled in EDUC 5006 - Practicum II and Seminar.
  9. Complete residency requirements for MGA.

  10. Adhere to all policies and codes of personal and professional conduct, which originate with the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, MGA, the GaPSC and associated schools/school districts.

  11. Graduate interns cannot transfer between cohorts and must complete the program course sequence to which they were initially admitted.  In case of extenuating circumstances, graduate interns may petition the Department Chair of Teacher Education and Social Work for consideration of transfer to a different cohort. Transfer requests will be considered on a case by case basis.

NOTE: Should a graduate intern complete all program requirements and the EPP determines that a candidate needs to increase competence in any area – knowledge, pedagogy, or dispositions – the EPP can request the completion of additional work before the graduate intern will be declared a program completer.

 

Certification Requirements (MAT)

Graduate interns are recommended for certification by the Teacher Education Program after successful completion of the degree program and earning passing scores on the following:

1. Provide evidence of receiving a minimum passing score of 38 on the edTPA portfolio

AND

2. Provide evidence of receiving a passing grade on the Georgia Educator Ethics Exit Assessment - 360G.

 

Upon receipt of passing scores on the above assessments and the MGA Official Transcript with the degree awarded, the Department of Teacher Education and Social Work will recommend the graduate intern to the GaPSC for certification. The decision to issue the Certificate of Eligibility resides solely with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

 

MAT Dismissal Policy

Failure to meet progression requirements will result in dismissal from the Teacher Education Graduate Program. A graduate intern may also be dismissed from the Teacher Education Graduate Program for disciplinary reasons. Behavioral concerns can/would be addressed through the Office of Student Affairs at MGA. In addition, students may be dismissed from the Teacher Education Graduate Program for inappropriate behaviors as outlined in the Teacher Education Program Graduate Student Handbook. Behaviors that are grounds for removal from clinical experiences include, but are not limited to: confidentiality breeches, harassment, absenteeism or tardiness, malpractice/negligence, failure to follow Teacher Education Program or clinical site policies and procedures, failure to fulfill responsibilities, or other activities that the supervisor deems unsafe or inappropriate. Ongoing patterns of unsafe/unprofessional behavior may be grounds for dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.

Code of Ethics Violations (MAT)

Pre-Service Certificate holders are GaPSC certified individuals, and they are expected to uphold the Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators. Both Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) and schools/school districts are equally responsible for reporting suspected violations of the Code of Ethics to GaPSC. All educators are mandated reporters and are required to report alleged misconduct. For the educator, failure to report could result in a sanction of the educator’s certificate, and for an EPP, failure to report could adversely impact the EPP’s approval status. (See: https://www.gapsc.com/Rules/Current/Ethics/505-6-.01.pdf)

MAT Re-Entry Policy

Students who meet all present criteria for readmission to the Teacher Education Graduate Program must submit a completed readmission application, a criminal background check, and must submit a letter of intent by the application deadline. Prior to readmission, a student must hold a valid Pre-Service Certificate. Readmission occurs on a space available basis.

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