Master of Arts

Teaching

The University has an interest for providing additional opportunities for individuals to become highly qualified teachers in Arkansas. The Master of Arts in Teaching is a program of study to prepare candidates for teacher licensure in Arkansas.

Candidates who complete the program of study may be recommended to Arkansas Department of Education for licensure as teachers in the grade ranges and content areas listed below:

Middle Childhood, grades 4 - 8
Secondary Education, grades 7 - 12

Business, Life/Earth Science
English, Physical/Earth Science
Mathematics, Physical Education, Wellness and Leisure
Social Studies, Music (Instrumental & Vocal)

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Arts degree program in Teaching if they meet the following requirements:

  1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College.
  2. Applicants must meet a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or a 3.0 GPA in the last 30 hours.
  3. Praxis I Scores.
  4. Approval from the Program Director.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet all of the departmental requirements may be accepted conditionally provided certain deficiencies are met prior to the completion of twelve (12) semester hours of graduate work.

Academic Advisors

The academic advising process for degree students begins at the time that the student is admitted to the Graduate College. When the student is admitted, they need to meet with the Program Director for an advising and orientation session at the student's earliest convenience.

When the student meets with the program director, he/she is given an orientation, a master's degree program check-off list which outlines all major steps in completing the degree and a degree plan outline, a list of courses to be completed. This initial advising session ensures that the student is informed of all degree requirements, policies, and procedures; is familiar with the department and program director; and is assigned to an advisor (usually the program director). Subsequently, the academic advisor and the Graduate College monitor the student's progress as they progress through the program. It remains, however, the student's responsibility to understand and satisfy all degree requirements.

The graduate academic advisor is responsible for:
  1. Helping the student plan a balanced program of graduate work adapted to the student's particular interests, needs and abilities.
  2. Advising and assisting the student during the completion of the requirements for the degree.
  3. Assisting the student in preparing for the internship.
  4. Ensuring that the student is aware of assistance and services provided for graduate students by various university offices.

Degree Requirements

  1. Thirty-six semester hours must be completed.

    Core Courses (18 hours)

    MAT 5703 Technology for Teaching and Learning
    MAT 6503 Classroom and Behavioral Management
    MAT 6043 Principles and Theories of Learning
    MAT 6003 Educational Research
    MAT 6053 The At-Risk Child in the School Environment
    MAT 6403 Social, Historical, and Legal Factors in Education

    Middle/Secondary (18 hours)

    MAMS 5333 Teaching Literacy in the Content Areas
    MAMS 6303 Models of Teaching
    MAMS 6063 Educational Assessment
    MAMS 5303 Middle School Philosophy and Organization
    MAMS 6806 Internship - all coursework in program must be completed to enroll in MAMS 6806

    Extra courses required by Arkansas State Department for licensure purposes:

    Arkansas History (Middle Level and Secondary social studies majors)
    Two courses in Language and Literacy; ECED 3183 and ECED 3283 (Middle Level)
    A Human Development Course based on the major (Middle Level or Secondary Level)
    An internship in the public school must be successfully completed.

  2. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
  3. Twenty-Seven hours of graduate work must be taken while in residence at Arkansas Tech University*. Full-time residence is not required.
  4. The master's degree program must be completed within six (6) years from the time of admission to the graduate program.
  5. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the program director or department head.

Candidacy

Graduate students admitted unconditionally must apply for candidacy to the selected degree program upon completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours. Students admitted conditionally cannot apply for candidacy until all conditions assigned at the time of admission to graduate study have been removed.

Upon the completion of twelve (12) graduate hours, a hold will be placed on the students' record until a candidacy form has been approved by the Graduate Dean. Failure to apply for candidacy will result in the hold remaining on the students' record, and an inability to register for subsequent coursework. 

Students who have filed a candidacy form but do not enroll or receive graduate credit for one (1) academic year must submit a new candidacy form upon being readmitted into the same graduate program.  If admitted into a different academic program, students are not required to submit a new candidacy form until twelve (12) graduate credits have been accumulated within the new program.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an Application for Graduation online or at the Registrar's Office.  Students must apply for graduation upon completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must, in advance of enrollment, obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.