M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education Grades 4-8

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.
• Preference will be given to applicants who are employed by a school system and seeking certification OR, if not employed, living within a 70-mile radius of Georgia Southern University which allows for placements in local school systems. College of Education faculty will facilitate classroom observations, etc.
• Per Georgia Professional Standards Commission Rule, candidates must earn a minimum grade of “B” in SPED 6130.
• Candidates are required to complete supervised field experiences in Georgia schools to meet certification requirements.
• Must successfully complete assessments identified at each program transition point.

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.
• Once complete, pay the $50 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual-enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.
• You can 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.

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).

What background do I need?

The online Middle Grades program is for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet content requirements (located here) for one concentration: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies or Mathematics. Learn more about the program outcomes to see if you are READY to become an Eagle Educator!

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 Middle Grades Certification (grades 4-8). 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.