Make a difference with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education
Whether you dream of leading your own classroom, or you desire to shape the minds of today’s youth, you can become a teacher or solidify your standing as an educator when you earn a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree. Mercer University equips aspiring and current educators to meet their career goals and become eligible for initial teacher certification in Georgia. Gain the knowledge and specialized skills you need to prepare for initial teacher certification specific to grades P through 5. Successful completion of the program and passing scores on the appropriate Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-approved Content Pedagogy Assessment and Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Content Assessments lead to eligibility for Level 5 certification.
Mercer’s M.A.T. in Elementary Education is designed for:
- Individuals who wish to enter the teaching profession
- Paraprofessionals or waiver teachers with bachelor’s degrees
- Teachers with non-renewable certificates who seek to earn a Clear Renewable master’s level certificate
- Teacher candidates from various academic majors who want to earn both initial certification and a master’s level teaching certificate
You will study theoretical and pedagogical issues and then apply your learning in various field experiences. This curriculum will prepare you to support young children through research, assessment, and technology integration in your P–5 classroom.
Format: Blended (combination of online and on-campus) • Start Terms: Atlanta | January, August, March, May, October; Henry County | May, August, and October; Macon | January, May, and August • Application Deadlines: Atlanta | December 1, March 1, May 1, August 1, and October 1; Henry County | May 1, August 1, and October 1; Macon | January 1, May 1, and August 1 • Course Length: 8 weeks • Field Experience: 13 hours • Completion Time: 18-24 months |
An M.A.T. in Elementary Education that meets you where you are
Designed for busy and working professionals, Mercer’s Master of Arts in Teaching programs offer you flexibility.
Enjoy a combination of online and on-campus classes. Choose which location to complete Mercer’s M.A.T. programs in Georgia—Atlanta, Henry County, or Macon. Your in-person and online classes are scheduled in eight-week terms, allowing you to complete your Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education in as few as 18–24 months.
Apply your knowledge in the classroom
The diverse field experiences of the Master of Arts in Teaching curriculum will hone your skills and cultivate your abilities to lead your own elementary education classroom.
Through coordination with Mercer’s Office of Field Placement, you will complete a sequentially planned series of field experiences in diverse settings and meet grade-band cluster requirements of the M.A.T. programs in Georgia. If you are currently on a provisional teaching license, you may complete this portion of your Master of Arts in Teaching in your own P–5 classroom. View program requirements to learn more.
Build your professional network of educators
Mercer’s Master of Arts in Teaching provides many opportunities for you to connect with other current or aspiring elementary educators. Whether on one of Mercer’s campuses or out in the field, you will have a chance to build a strong network of both personal and professional connections. These relationships may offer support in your academic career or in your professional career—after graduation or even well into the future.
Explore M.A.T. in Elementary Education courses
Courses for Mercer’s Master of Arts in Teaching programs provide foundational knowledge for education, methods classes on planning, assessment, curriculum and instruction, and content area curriculum studies.
Master of Arts in Teaching elementary education courses include:
- Assessment of Teaching and Learning in Elementary Education
- Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
- Creating an Elementary Literate Environment Across Content Areas
View course descriptions and program requirements for the M.A.T. in Elementary Education to learn more.
Become a teacher with an M.A.T. in Elementary Education
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, you will have the foundation and tools to be a dynamic elementary educator. Be confident in your ability to create and maintain an effective elementary learning environment through your understanding of the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physical characteristics of young children and through your new or enhanced skills to:
- Adapt the learning environment to meet the diverse learning approaches and needs of young children
- Design and implement an integrated, developmentally appropriate curriculum
- Develop and implement a wide variety of assessment strategies
- Integrate research-based strategies and instructional technology into all components of the elementary education curriculum
Students who successfully complete M.A.T. programs in Georgia will be required to pass the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)–approved Content Pedagogy Assessment and Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Content Assessments to be eligible for Level 5 certification.
Learn more about our M.A.T. in Elementary Education
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule your personalized admissions appointment or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6062 or MercerEducation@mercer.edu for more information.
Mercer's professors truly love education and want to inspire others to become the best teachers they possibly can be. I feel more than confident to have my own classroom and have a successful year.
Learn from experienced faculty
Faculty for the Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education are former P–5 educators and leaders. They are familiar with the challenges you will face as a new teacher and understand how to help your young learners succeed. As highly credentialed researchers and practitioners, they are committed to preparing you to become a dynamic educator within your classroom—and in your community.
Become a P–5 teacher and make a difference with Mercer
Your path to becoming an elementary educator begins at Mercer. Take the first step toward earning your Master of Arts in Teaching in grades P–5 and schedule your personalized admissions appointment, or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6084 or MercerEducation@mercer.edu to learn more.
Professional licensure
All of Mercer’s programs that lead to licensure are designed to meet the educational requirements of regulatory authorities in the State of Georgia. If you intend to seek licensure or certification outside of Georgia, please review Mercer’s professional licensure disclosure for more information.