Master of Arts in Teacher Education with Initial Teacher Certification (6-12)
Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences: Dr. David Biek
Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Social Work: Dr. Rhonda Amerson
Graduate Program Coordinator, Teacher Education: Dr. Sumitra Himangshu-Pennybacker
(478) 757-2544, office
(478) 471-2501, FAX
(800) 272-7619, toll-free
sumitra.himangshu@mga.edu
School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Middle Georgia State University
100 University Parkway
Macon, Georgia 31206
Teacher Education Program Mission Statement
We are committed to preparing adaptive professionals who are competent, accountable, reflective, and engaged in a diverse and changing world. Our highly experienced faculty is dedicated to the development of each student through a vibrant curriculum that integrates superior academic training and supervised clinical experiences. Completion of the program ensures that candidates emerge as well-rounded professionals who understand the complexities of educating all students in Central Georgia as part of a rapidly changing global environment.
Conceptual Framework (MAT)
The Department of Teacher Education and Social Work’s philosophy consists of four essential elements that constitute a highly qualified, adaptive professional who will contribute to the field of education and affect the lives of children and communities in positive and meaningful ways. Pre-service teachers will exemplify the following four essential elements: (C)ompetent, (A)ccountable, (R)eflective, and (E)ngaged adaptive professionals in the field, otherwise known as CARE.
Accreditation (MAT)
Teacher Education Programs in the Department of Teacher Education and Social Work are accredited under the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Master of Arts in Teacher Education with Initial Teacher Certification Program Mission
The mission of Middle Georgia State University’s Master of Arts in Teacher Education with Initial Teacher Certification Program is to prepare adaptive professionals who are competent, accountable, reflective, and engaged. Aligned with the mission statement of the University and the Office of Graduate Studies, this program builds on successful baccalaureate degrees in a wide variety of content areas, as indicated on the Office of Graduate Studies and Teacher Education websites. The MAT program is designed to address a continuing teacher shortage in Georgia and to provide initial teacher certification for graduate program candidates. This degree program produces pedagogically well prepared and competent candidates to meet the critical need for highly qualified and effective school teachers for specific secondary content areas, P-12 education fields, and career and technical education fields in the state of Georgia; hence, these well trained MGA graduates will strengthen the faculty of area school systems.
The MAT program prepares the candidate who holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Candidates may choose to pursue specialization in one of 25 different content areas aligned with P-12, middle grades or high school certification. Agriculture Education (6-12), Art (P-12), Business Education (6-12), Biology (6-12), Chemistry (6-12), Computer Science (P-12), Economics (6-12), English (6-12), ESOL (P-12), Family and Consumer Sciences (6-12), Geography (6-12), Health & Physical Education (P-12), History (6-12), Marketing Education (6-12), Math (6-12), Music (P-12), Political Science (6-12), Physics (6-12), or Spanish (P-12.).
The MAT program is a year-long, full-time online program with off-site placement of its graduate interns at partner school districts in the Middle Georgia area, and across the state of Georgia. This pedagogy-focused MAT degree program is designed to address a critical need for highly qualified and effective school teachers in the Middle Georgia area, and across the state of Georgia. The MAT curriculum is designed to provide a pathway to initial teacher certification and foster applied research in the areas of teacher practice, student achievement, professional development, assessment, and innovation for graduates who already have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Program Format and Degree Requirements (MAT)
The Master of Arts in Teacher Education with Initial Teacher Certification (MAT) program prepares the student who holds a bachelor’s degree from a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) recognized institution the opportunity to provide educational services for all students in grades 6-12 / P-12. The program is offered as a full-time program of 30 credit hours. There are two field-based experiences, EDUC 5005 and EDUC 5006. The first field-based experience consists of a school setting appropriate to their content area and meeting specific GaPSC grade-band requirements for middle grades, secondary and P-12 certification. The second field-based experience consists of teaching a full semester in a school setting appropriate to their content area, and meeting specific GaPSC grade-band requirements for either middle grades, secondary or P-12 certification. Graduate interns will be placed in classrooms appropriate to their middle grades / secondary / P-12 content area for 900 hours; it is important to note that the Georgia Professional Standards Commission requires a minimum of 700 hours.
During Practicum (EDUC 5005), the graduate interns will co-teach all-day three days per week in a school setting. During Clinical (EDUC 5006), the graduate interns will teach all-day, every day in a school setting. The MAT program is an online program administered by the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences from the Macon Campus with off-site housing of its graduate students in individual schools within the state of Georgia.
The MAT program directs graduate interns to complete the program in three consecutive semesters. The program is currently 30 credit hours.