MAT in Elementary Education

To be eligible to apply to the MAT program, you need to:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Have a cumulative 2.50 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) or higher for all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework combined and a GPA of 2.75 or higher in content courses for your desired area of certification.
• Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service Certificate or Provisional/Waiver Certificate. (See requirements.)

The following are required to apply for admission to all MAT programs: 

• Complete the online application. 
• Pay the $50 application fee.
• Submit transcripts for all prior college- and graduate-level work.
• Create a MyPSC account and an ETS GACE account. These are required to take GACE Assessments and obtain pre-service certification. 
• Complete the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (test code 360). 
• Submit a personal statement of purpose/letter of intent that identifies your reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to your professional aspirations. 
• Acknowledge “Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance. These acknowledgments are represented by a section in the online application that you will initial.
• 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) and post a score of at least 80 (internet-based test, iBT), 213 (computer-based test) or 550 (paper-based test) on the 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.
• International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-accredited evaluation service and must be a course-by-course evaluation and include a GPA. www.naces.org.

Please see our Program Admission Checklist for complete instructions. 

Application Deadline

Students are admitted to begin the program only in the summer term. The application deadline is March 15.

Your application and all required documents must be received by the deadline.

Additional Information

MyPSC Account Requirements: As part of program requirements, once admitted, all applicants must claim Georgia Southern University as their Educator Preparation Program Provider before starting classes. Guidance will be given on how to claim Georgia Southern after admission. To obtain a MyPSC account, please go to the GaPSC website to register: www.gapsc.com.

Georgia Pre-Service certificate: Prior to participating in a field experience in the MAT program (which occurs within the first semester), all candidates must have a Georgia Pre-Service Certificate or Provisional/Waiver Teaching Certificate in a field that matches the program. After you receive your admission acceptance, if you are NOT employed as a teacher of record in a matching content area classroom in Georgia, you will receive an email from the College of Education with the documents required to receive the Pre-Service Certificate from the GaPSC. Once you provide the information requested in the documents, it will be sent to the GaPSC by the College of Education Officer. 

Program Contact Information:

Graduate Academic Services Center

gasc@georgiasouthern.edu

912-478-1447

Prepare for where you’re going. Start from wherever you are. At Georgia Southern, enjoy the flexibility of fully online courses that fit within your busy schedule. Online instructors weave interactive experiences into each course, ensuring you engage at a deeper level.

For All Online Programs

Federal law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions and refunds.

For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.

The MAT in Elementary Education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. It is recognized through reciprocity in many other states in the U.S.

The College of Education anticipates that graduates of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program with one of the following concentrations (Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle Grades Education, Secondary Education, Health and Physical Education or Spanish Education) will be eligible to seek professional certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a certified teacher in their respective field.

The College of Education has determined the required classes and educational activities of this academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the GACE exam for teacher certification in Georgia. The Department of Elementary and Special Education has not determined whether this program satisfies the requirements of all states and territories for teacher certification in the concentration listed above.

Professional Certification Disclosure

The College of Education anticipates that graduates of the Master of Arts in Teaching programs will seek state licenses or certifications.

The programs listed above lead to a Georgia Certificate Upgrade. Visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for more information. The College of Education has not determined where its programs will qualify a graduate to take the required exams in other states or territories. Check the requirements of your state or territory using the link provided.