M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education Grades P-12

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Earn your Master’s degree and teaching certification as part of the same, flexible online program.

Locations

  • Online

Why Get an M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education?

  • Pursue your degree online while working as a salaried teacher.
  • Upon completion of the degree and a successful GACE exam obtain your Georgia T-5 Health and Physical Education Certification.
  • Earn both a Master’s degree and a fully accredited teaching certification.
  • Take advantage of the best of both worlds—fully online coursework combined with live classroom teaching experience.
  • Enter the program in any semester via our flexible online schedule.

Our M.A.T. program in Health and Physical Education is designed for applicants who already have an accredited Bachelor’s degree and want to obtain both a Master’s degree and an accredited teaching certification. The flexible, online format allows students to pursue their degree while holding down a job, and the required student teaching or internship means candidates will be fully equipped with real-world experience.

Graduates will be prepared with not only the scientific knowledge underpinning physical education, but the fundamentals of teaching, and will receive their teaching certification—a key component in securing competitive positions with higher salaries.

Note: all field experience requirements for the program must be completed in the state of Georgia.

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What Can You Do With an M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education?

An M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education prepares you for a crucial role in elementary, middle and secondary education—as a teacher or coach who will shape the next generation’s understanding of health and fitness.

$

Median pay for high school teachers in 2023.

%+

Employment rate for 2018-2021 bachelor’s and M.A.T. graduates in Georgia public schools.

Number of jobs for high school teachers nationwide in 2023.

Where our graduates work:

  • Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
  • Gwinnett County Public Schools
  • Cobb County School District
  • Fulton County Schools
  • Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
  • Atlanta Public Schools
  • Effingham County School District
  • DeKalb County School District
  • Houston County Board of Education
  • Forsyth County Schools (Georgia)
  • Cherokee County School District
  • Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School
  • Glynn County Schools
  • Fayette County Public Schools, Fayetteville GA

What our graduates do:

  • Teacher
  • Principal
  • Educator
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Middle School Teacher
  • Instructional Coach
  • Consultant

What You’ll Learn

Our online M.A.T. in Health and Physical Education prepares students for initial teaching certification in Health and Physical Education (P-12) and a master’s degree for those who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Courses include:

  • Educational Research
  • Student teaching in P-12 education or a supervised Internship
  • School Health Education Methods
  • Elementary Physical Education Methods
  • Physical Education Scientific Topics
  • Physical Activities in P-12 Physical Education
  • Adapted Physical Education Methods
  • Secondary Physical Education Methods
  • Fitness and Wellness Education
  • Assessment and Technology in Physical Education
  • Physical Education Field Experience
See the Curriculum

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Admission Requirements:

  • Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
  • Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment.
  • Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service certificate or Provisional certificate.
  • Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
  • Acknowledge “Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance.
  • International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. Applicants must take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The official TOEFL score may not be more than two years old. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard may be recommended for enrollment in University English courses or for English courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) on campus prior to admission to the program.
  • If an applicant was previously enrolled in an initial teacher preparation program, an interview must be completed with the Program Coordinator prior to admission to the program.

Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application: 

  • Create an application account.
  • Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
  • Pay the $50 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver once complete. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual-enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.

Check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.

Apply as a First-Year Student Transfer to Georgia Southern

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program is a professional degree approved andaccredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Georgia Southern offers resources on assistive technology (AT)—equipment or product systems used to help children with disabilities.

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Find out more about our graduate student requirements.

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What background do I need?

The program of study is designed to meet all content and methods requirements for initial certification in 36 credit hours. There are no undergraduate prerequisite courses for the program since that content knowledge is embedded in the current courses. To see what you will learn while in our program, read the program standards.

What certification will I be eligible for upon completion of this concentration?

Upon successful completion of all program requirements and passing the appropriate GACE exam, you will be eligible for Georgia T-5 Health and Physical Education Certification (P-12). The program is a CAEP accredited, Georgia Professional Standards Commission approved program that is recognized through reciprocity in many other states in the U.S.

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Take the Next Step

Make a lasting impact on the next generation’s health and happiness with a Master’s in health and physical education.

Contact Us

Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education
College of Education
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8134
Statesboro, GA  30460

Program Director
Dr. Tony Pritchard
Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8076
Statesboro, GA  30460
Phone: 912-478-1323
Email: tpritchard@georgiasouthern.edu

Departmental Office: Education 4127
Mrs. Lori Wiggins
Phone: 912-478-5203
Fax: 912-478-0026

Department Chair
Dr. Amee Adkins
Armstrong Campus
University Hall 201
Phone: 912-344-2562
Email: adadkins@georgiasouthern.edu