Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Arts in Teaching

Offered through a Partnership Between
Missouri State University
Missouri Southern State University
About the Program

The Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is the product of a partnership between Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University. The MAT program is an "Alternative Certification Program" as defined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) which allows students to obtain their teaching certificate AND a Master's Degree in the same program.  This program was originally designed to enable people considering a mid-life career change to pursue certification in an area of Secondary Education similar to their undergraduate degree program and/or work experience. This program provides career professionals, who may not have chosen teaching as their original career path, the opportunity to enter the classroom as teachers.

All candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a field closely related to the area pursued in certification.  The program involves an intensive eight-week summer course that focuses on the fundamental knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teaching, followed by course-work in content and methodology.  Participating candidates will enroll in classes from both institutions.

Since the MAT program is an "Accelerated" or "Alternative" route to certification, as defined by DESE, it is strictly sequenced and cannot be completed one course at a time while working full-time outside the field of education.  However, this program WAS designed for those who desire to teach full-time in the high school setting on a Provisional Certificate while pursuing certification.

Since the MAT program has a competitive admissions policy and can only admit a certain number of students each summer, the following criteria are considered when selecting students for this program:

• Those pursuing Secondary Education or K-12 certification.
• Those with a Bachelor's Degree in an area closely related to the area they wish to teach and/or have significant work experience in their field.
• Those with an overall and content area GPA of at least 2.75.
• Those who are interested in teaching in high need areas(preference is given to candidates pursuing math,science and foreign languages,but candidates in all certification areas are considered).

Those students who are accepted into the MAT will take a 39 hour core of education courses, and will have to complete content area coursework in the subject area they will be teaching. (For recent graduates and those without significant work experience in their field, additional content and teaching methodology coursework may be required.)

All general education requirements are waived for MAT students per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) rule for Alternative Certification Programs.

Curriculum/Degree Requirements:
The professional education courses must all be taken at the graduate level, and are strictly sequenced. Everyone who enrolls in the MAT program must start during a summer semester.

Master of Arts in Teaching 

Content Area Coursework:

MAT students are also required to complete content area coursework.

Financial Aid:  Students who wish to apply for financial aid for the MAT graduate programs will contact Missouri State University. 

Advising procedures/information:  All admitted students are advised by the Teacher Education Graduate Coordinator.

Admissions Qualifications and Requirements and Application Process:

Information regarding admissions requirements and the details of the program may be found on the Missouri State University web site.  We have provided the link to this site for further information. 

The link for this information is:  http://www.missouristate.edu/certification/

Contact Us

Dr. William L. Edwards Jr
Assoc. Professor - Teacher Education
TAYLOR Rm 229A
Phone: 417-625-9626
Email: tegradprgm@mssu.edu

3950 Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
(417) 625-9300
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