Middle Grades 5-9 — Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Admission Requirements

1. Official transcript from an accredited institution verifying a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or a GPA of 3.0 on a four point scale on the last 30-hours of coursework taken at either the graduate or undergraduate level.
2. Completion of and successful evaluation by program faculty of an admission interview demonstrating 1) effective communication, 2) creativity, 3) critical thinking, 4) ability to effectively collaborate with others, and 5) an understanding of the professional dispositions required of teachers.
3. A signed statement that the applicant has read and understands the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Certified Personnel and Kentucky's fitness and character requirements for teachers.
4. Submission of a graduate application form and general admission to graduate study (for criteria, refer to "Admissions to Graduate Study").

Eligibility to Enroll in MAT Middle Grades Program Coursework

Candidates are eligible to enroll in courses required for the MAT Middle Grades Program when they fulfill all of the admission requirements.

Eligibility to Continue in the Program

The following condition must be met to determine eligibility to continue taking courses for credit toward the MAT Middle Grades Program. 

The student must have:

1. Achieved and maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Option Six Program

A student is admitted to the option 6 program when he/she obtains a full-time teaching position within a Kentucky accredited school. At that time a Temporary Provisional Certificate can be issued, which is valid for one year and must be renewed each additional year through the MAT program for a total of three years

Traditional Program

A student will be admitted to the Traditional Program if he/she wishes to complete the student teaching requirement as per KY EPSB regulations.

Background Check

Students must complete a background check as required by the district in which the student will  be teaching (full-time) or student teaching.

Exit Requirements

Candidates must:

1. Have maintained a GPA of 3.0; no credit is awarded when the grade earned is below a "C."
2. Successfully complete the supervised teaching experience courses (EDUC 650 and EDUC 651).
3. Pass the PRAXIS Specialty Exam(s) in the content major prior to the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP) experience. Students must pass the Principles of Teaching and Learning exam (PLT) and the PRAXIS Specialty Exams to be eligible for degree completion.
4. Successfully complete program-required portfolio (EDUC 650 and EDUC 651).
5. Apply for completion at the beginning of the term in which all requirements will be completed. 

Other Program Procedures and Requirements

1. Once accepted into the MAT program candidates seeking employment in a public/private school may secure, along with the school district and the MSU Master of Arts in Teaching program, a Temporary Provisional Certificate. Candidates may accomplish this through the completion of a CA-TP form available at the school system where employment is desired. The candidate completes pages one and three and then must obtain signatures of the school district superintendent and then mailed to the MSU certification officer. Finally the form must be submitted to the Education Professional Standards Board by the MSU certification officer.
2. Candidates who are not employed as full-time teachers must be available for supervised student teaching in a public school for a minimum of two semesters. During the fall term, the candidate will complete 200 hours of observations/teaching and during the spring term, he/she must complete 70 full days of student teaching.
3. No credit will be given toward completion of required coursework for any MAT program for correspondence courses.
4. Candidates who fall below a cumulative 3.0 GPA will be placed on probation. Candidates on probation will be allowed to repeat MAT required courses or to take graduate courses that do not count for credit in the MAT Program to raise their GPA to a 3.0. If after that semester candidates fail to achieve a 3.0 GPA, they will be dropped from the MAT program.
5. Candidates employed via Temporary Provisional Certification whose employment is terminated by the student or the employing district for unethical practices will be suspended from the MAT program until the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) rules on the district's allegation. When a decision is rendered, the candidate will either be expelled from or reinstated in the program, based on EPSB's decision. In all cases where employment has ended, the candidate must alert the MSU certification officer.

Program Requirements

Professional Core

Supervised Clinical Practice

Content Area

Choose six hours from content area

Extending Certification

Students who complete the MAT in Middle Grades and wish to obtain certification in the same secondary content area must complete the following:

1. Complete another graduate application listing the additional certification only and not another MAT program.
2. Must meet admission criteria.
3. Submit substitution forms if applicable.
4. Successfully complete EDSE 634.
5. Must successfully complete PRAXIS tests (PLT and Area).
6. Must apply for completion of the program.