M.A. in Teaching - Secondary Teaching Education (Alternate Route)

The MAT-S program is designed for a candidate with a bachelor's degree in a content/discipline area or with significant upper level coursework in a single discipline area who wishes to prepare for a career as a professional educator.

This targeted program of study consists of 36 semester hours of graduate level coursework and qualifies individuals for certification in a secondary teaching field for:

• art
• music
• biology
• business
• chemistry
• English
• foreign language (French and Spanish)
• home economics
• mathematics
• physics
• social studies
• physical education

The curriculum organization of the MAT-S degree will include courses in classroom management, assessment, Technology, research, curriculum organization, instructional methodology, reading/writing across the curriculum, teaching exceptionalities, advanced content area, and a teaching internship with seminar. The program is field intensive and grounded in clinical practice carried out in an actual high school setting.

The MAT-S degree is a high quality response to Mississippi’s need for strong teachers because within three (3) years candidates will earn a Class A teaching license, hold a teaching position, and finally earn a Class AA teaching license upon completion of the MAT-S program.

Admission Requirements:

• Submit application to the Meridian campus admissions office with official transcripts
• Hold Bachelor’s degree from a regionally/nationally accredited institution of higher learning
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 (based on 4.0 scale) for a minimum 15 hours of coursework in the content area of certification
• Minimum GOA of 2.75 (based on 4.0 scale) on the last half of baccalaureate work
• Provide GRE scores
• Provide acceptable letters of recommendation from supervisors/employers, professors, or both
• Meet minimum score requirements on the Praxis II-Specialty Area Test. See passing area scores attached
• Hold a teaching job in grades 7-12 classroom or provide documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of work (volunteer or salary supported) with children.
• Satisfactory completion of an interview
• Procure a teaching job during the degree program in order to completed EDS 8883 and EDS 8893

MATS/TMI requires candidates to procure a teaching job in a public school in the State of Mississippi in order to complete the clinical practice/internship portion of the TMI program.

Want more information about the Teaching major? Contact Michele Ricker by e-mail at mricker@meridian.msstate.edu or by telephone at 601-484-0174 ext. 4-0174.

Last Updated: 11/21/08