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M.A.T. Early Childhood Education
Initial teacher certification master's program
in Atlanta
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Early Childhood is intended for those who hold a bachelor's degree and are seeking initial certification at the master's level. This program prepares candidates to teach grades pre-K through 5. The M.A.T. provides a path for people entering the world of teaching from other vocations or fields of study, and is also an option for those who are already in the classroom yet have not obtained initial certification. The program is designed for:
- Recent college graduates with degrees in fields other than education
- Re-careering professionals
- Paraprofessionals who have bachelor's degrees
- Teachers who hold non-renewable certificates and who want to earn Clear Renewable master's level certificate
- Teacher candidates from a wide variety of academic majors who are interested in earning both initial certification and a master's level teaching certificate
Successful completion of the M.A.T. and passing scores on the appropriate GACE Content Assessments lead to eligibility for T-5 level certification. The M.A.T. curriculum is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC).
PROGRAM DELIVERY MODELS
The M.A.T. in Early Childhood program is offered at Mercer's Atlanta campus. Classes are presented one evening a week on a sixteen-week semester schedule. This format allows candidates to continue working throughout the program.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education program includes 49 semester hours of graduate level education classes and field experiences designed to prepare candidates with the specialized skills and knowledge to teach and support young children in grades Pre-K through 5. Teacher candidates will come to understand the social, behavioral, emotional and cognitive needs of their students and how they differ in their approaches to learning.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students may be admitted to the M.A.T. program for the Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. To be eligible for the M.A.T. Secondary Education program, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. To apply, submit the following:
- A completed application - click here for online application
- $25 non-refundable application
- Official transcripts of all college work attempted (2 copies)
- Submit passing scores on the GACE test of basic skills (or meet exemption criteria per www.gapsc.com)
- Official test scores on one of the following tests: GRE [target scores: 146 Verbal + 141 Quantitative, 3.5 Analytical Writing] (Target score for tests taken prior to August 2011 is 800 for Verbal and Quantitative sections combined) or Miller Analogies Test [target score: 397]
Test scores are not the sole criteria; applicants with scores lower than the target may apply but will need to provide compelling evidence of potential to complete graduate level coursework. International applicants should consult the university catalog for additional requirements.
Application materials may be mailed to:
Mercer University
Tift College of Education Graduate Teacher Education Admissions
3001 Mercer University Drive
Atlanta, GA 30341-4155
TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE, OR CONTACT:
Phone: 678-547-6330Email: MercerEducation@mercer.edu
To attend an upcoming information session >