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Elementary Education, M.A.T. (Online) / Mississippi Teacher Residency

Get certified. Get confident. Get in the classroom with a Master of Arts in Teaching and the Mississippi Teacher Residency program!

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Master of Arts in Teaching-teacher engaging with students.

About the Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) online program is a 33 hour alternate-route teacher certification program. Program participants are eligible to obtain a three-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (which certifies them to teach grades 4–6 in Mississippi) after completing the nine semester hours of pre-teaching coursework and passing the Foundations of Reading exam, provided they meet all program admission requirements.

Participants may then pursue a five-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (K–6) after obtaining a full-time teaching position in a Mississippi public school as the teacher of record and completing all remaining coursework in the MAT Elementary Education Program.

  • Coursework focuses on providing the pedagogical knowledge and skills needed for elementary instruction (K–6) to individuals with sufficient content knowledge, including lesson planning, classroom management, literacy instruction, special education, and STEM methods.

 

Mississippi Teacher Residency Program 

Pre-Applications are now open for individuals interested in partial program funding through the Mississippi Teacher Residency Program. Individuals selected for this program will receive

  • Tuition for the first 12 hours of coursework
  • Vouchers for the Foundations of Reading Test
  • Stipend to assist with textbooks and technology
  • An assigned mentor for support during the first year of classroom placement
Contact the Graduate Studies Office Pre-Application Form

On this Page…

    Program Information

    Degree

    M.A.T. in Teaching

    Emphases

    Elementary Education

    Required Credit Hours

    33

    Program Type

    Master's Program

    Program Location

    Online

    School

    School of Education

    Duration

    1.5 - 2 years

    Mississippi Teacher Residency Pre-Application Now Open

    Fill out the Pre-application form for the Mississippi Teacher Residency program
    Pre-Apply Now!

    Explore Everything the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) has to Offer

    The Master of Arts in Teaching is more than just a master's degree; it prepares students to design effective lessons, manage classrooms, and create inclusive learning environments.

    Students applying to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education must meet the following requirements. Students must have:

    • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher learning.

    • 3.0 GPA overall or on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, OR a minimum ACT composite score of 21, OR a minimum SAT equivalent, OR passing scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examination.

    • Passing score on the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis 5018). The Praxis II test must be passed before beginning coursework. 

    Participants must have a valid Social Security number and provide the Mississippi Department of Education with proof of lawful presence in the US.

     

    The Praxis required for admissions is a content-area exam. For the Elementary MAT program, applicants should register for the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis 5018)

    Find Courses in Teaching

    Check out some of the key classes you’ll encounter as a Teaching major. Curious about what else is offered? Browse the full catalog of courses.
    View the course catalog

    EDCI 613: Lesson Planning & Assessing Student Learning

    The purpose of this course is to prepare future teachers to design and implement effective instruction that meets the diverse needs of students. Through an emphasis on lesson planning, teaching methodologies, and differentiated instruction, candidates learn how to intentionally connect learning objectives with appropriate instructional strategies and assessments. The course also develops teachers’ ability to align classroom assessments with state and national standards, ensuring that instruction supports both student growth and accountability measures. By the end of the course, candidates will be able to create lesson plans that are purposeful, inclusive, and assessment-driven to maximize student learning.

    EDCI 615: Classroom Facilitation and Management

    The purpose of this course is to involve candidates in a variety of situations that will introduce them to the various ways in which they must manage a classroom. Candidates will explore various techniques to manage student behavior as well as to plan lessons for effective teaching. Candidates will explore effective routines/procedures to assist with organizing their classrooms as well as how to create effective rules, positive recognition, and consequences to guide student behavior. Additionally, they will explore ways to become partners with parents and to set high expectations for "all" of their students.

    EDSP 601: Exceptional Students in the K-12 Classroom

    This course explores individual differences and characteristics of exceptional, diverse, and at-risk students in the general education classroom. Topics include accommodations and modifications of content areas as well as the legal requirements, collaboration models and tools, Response to Intervention, federal mandates, and a guide to special education processes.

    Kristi Livingston

    We are here for you!

    If you have any questions about the Master of Arts in Teaching, don't hesitate to get in touch!

    Kristi Livingston

    Assistant Professor of Elementary Education

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Find the answers to your frequently asked questions below!

    The MAT Elementary Education program is a master’s degree program for individuals possessing an undergraduate degree in a field other than education. 

    Through the program, students will be eligible to receive a:

    • 3-year Class A non-renewable license after completion of the first three required courses (3) and the passing of the Foundations of Reading Test. 
    • 5-year Class AA renewable license after completion of all requirements in the program.

    There are many benefits to being part of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program.

    Here are just a few:

    • Have the flexibility to complete the program online 
    • Receive a 3-year provisional license to teach in a 4th-6th grade classroom after completing just the first three courses, along with passing the Foundations of Reading Test
    • Convert your 3-year license to a 5-year AA Mississippi Educator License, which entitles you to a pay raise upon completion of the program
    • Receive ongoing program and licensure assessment support throughout the 1.5 – 2 year long program
    • Gain valuable hands-on experience by serving as a teacher of record in a Mississippi elementary classroom while completing coursework
    • Begin a worthwhile and fulfilling career helping children build strong foundations for lifelong learning

    1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally/nationally accredited institution of higher learning
    2. Twenty-one (21) ACT (or SAT equivalent) OR achieve a qualifying passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examination OR verification of 3.0 overall GPA on a baccalaureate transcript or on last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
    3. Passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment for Elementary (4-6) (Praxis II 5018)

    To provide certification and support to participants as they teach and earn a master’s degree, and to create the next generation of teachers for the state of Mississippi.

    Yes. You must pass the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis 5018)

    No. The GRE is not required for admission into this program

    We admit students for the program each semester (fall and spring)

    We are currently accepting applications through the Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program. These funds cover the first 12 hours of coursework, provide a voucher for the Foundations of Reading Test, as well as a stipend to assist with textbooks and technology. 

    Fill out the pre-application form to apply.

    The initial license is a three-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (grades 4–6). You have three years to complete the MAT Elementary Education program, after which the license converts to a five-year alternate route Mississippi Educator License (K–6). If you do not complete the program within that timeframe, the license expires, and you would need to enroll in a licensure program again to become licensed.

    Please reach out to Dr. Kristi Livingston

    Next Steps

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