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Master of Arts in Teaching

The School of Education offers an alternate route initial licensure for students who are interested in teaching, but did not start a Teacher Certification program early in their college career or who become interested in teaching following graduation. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a graduate education degree and an alternative initial licensure program which provides those who complete this program an opportunity to teach in Mississippi schools. Some students may qualify to be admitted to the Accelerated MAT program while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students who meet the Teacher Education requirements and have earned a bachelor's degree in their discipline area may apply to the MAT program as a graduate student.

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5-10%

Mississippi Teachers with a Class AA (master's level) teaching license earn 5-10% more each year than their colleagues with a Class A over the course of their career.

About the Master of Arts in Teaching Program

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree provides college students with the following:

  • an alternative opportunity to teach in accredited schools;
  • mentoring and support for those who wish to teach in an accredited school; and
  • the coursework, knowledge, and field experiences necessary to become a licensed and successful teacher.

Thirty (30) hours are required for a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. MAT students must have been employed by a Mississippi school district for one year prior to completion of the degree program. Upon successful completion of the 30 hours in the program, candidates will be eligible for a renewable Class AA Mississippi Educator license.

MAT Program MAT FAQs

MAT Initial Certification Areas

These are the subject areas approved by the Mississippi Department of Education for initial licensure in the MAT program, which is received by passing an approved Praxis II subject-area assessment. Any endorsement can be added after the license is issued by completing the requirements of MDE for that subject area.

  • Art Education
  • Biology
  • Business Education
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese
  • Economics
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Health Education
  • Home Economics
  • Library Media Specialist
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Music Education
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Social Studies
  • Spanish
  • Speech Communications
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How the Mississippi Alternate Route License Works

  • Students who meet the minimum qualifications apply to the School of Education's MAT Program.
  • The student passes the Praxis II Subject Area Assessment for their discipline (see list below)
  • The student must take three graduate-level courses:
    • ED 538: Understanding Individual Learning Differences
    • ED 549: Instructional Assessment Practices and Procedures
    • ED 551: Managing the Instructional Environments
  • After completing the three courses, the student then qualifies to apply for a 3-year, non-renewable Mississippi Educator license.
  • The student-teacher is hired by an accredited school to teach grades 7-12 in their discipline.
  • While employed as a full-time teacher, the student enrolls in ED 697 for 6 credit hours as their Student-Teacher Internship.
  • Upon completing the 6 credit hour internship, the student-teacher is eligible to apply for the 5-year, renewable, Class A Mississippi Educator License.
  • The student is encouraged to complete the remaining 15 credit hours to earn their Master of Arts in Teaching and become eligible for the Class AA Mississippi Educator License.
https://www.muw.edu/education/Alternate%20Route%20to%20Initial%20Licensure%20for%20MUW%20Students
Alternate Route to Initial Licensure for MUW Students

Eligible MUW seniors (90+ credit hours, 2.75 GPA) can apply to the Alternate Route Initial Licensure Program. Upon admission, they can take 6 graduate Education hours in their senior year. After obtaining their bachelor's degree, one additional course earns them a special 3-year, non-renewable Mississippi Educator license. While teaching at an accredited school, they'll finish their internship to get a 5-year, renewable, Class A Mississippi Educator License. Completing 15 more graduate hours subsequently leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching and the Class AA Mississippi Educator license eligibility.

Alternate Route Initial Licensure
https://www.muw.edu/education/Master%20of%20Arts%20in%20Teaching%20Graduate%20Program
Master of Arts in Teaching Graduate Program

Graduates with a bachelor's degree from any accredited institution in an approved program can apply for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) through the Office of Graduate Studies. The MAT is a 30-hour program. At the onset, students must complete three required courses to earn a 3-year, non-renewable Mississippi Educator license. Following this, they must be hired as teachers at an accredited school, where their teaching tenure counts as the required student-teacher internship. This experience makes the eligible for the 5-year, renewable, Class A Mississippi Educator License. Importantly, MAT students need a year's employment in a Mississippi school district before concluding their degree. Upon completing the program, they qualify for the Class AA standard Alternate Route Mississippi License.

MAT Graduate Program
https://www.muw.edu/education/Accelerated%20Bachelors/MAT%20Program%20for%20MUW%20Students
Accelerated Bachelors/MAT Program for MUW Students

Eligible MUW juniors with 75+ credit hours (including 24 at The W) and a 3.25 GPA can apply to the Accelerated Bachelors/MAT Degree Program. Admitted students can take up to 12 graduate Education hours in their senior year, counting towards both their bachelor's and a Master of Arts in Teaching. After graduation, they qualify for a 3-year, non-renewable Mississippi Educator license. While teaching at an accredited school and completing a 6-credit hour internship, they become eligible for a 5-year, renewable, Class A Mississippi Educator License. Students then have 12 MAT graduate hours left to complete their Master's degree and become eligible for the Class AA Mississippi Educator license.

Accelerated Bachelors/MAT Program

Praxis II Exams

These are the MUW approved Praxis II Subject Area exams that can be passed for admittance into the MUW MAT program.

Subject Area Praxis II Test Code
(click the code to register)		 Mississippi Endorsement Code
Art, K-12 5134 124
Biology, 7-12 5236 125
Business Ed, 7-12 5101 126
Chemistry, 7-12 5246 129
Economics, 7-12 5911 138
English, 7-12 5038 145
Foreign Languages, K-12 Chinese 5665
French 5174
German 5183
Spanish 5195		 Chinese 130
French 148
German 150
Spanish 178
Health Ed, K-12 5551 152
Home Economics, 7-12 5122 153
Library Media Specialist, K-12 5312 155
Marketing, 7-12 5561 159
Mathematics, 7-12 5165 157
Music, K-12 5113 163
Physical Education, K-12 5091 168
Physics, 7-12 5266 169
Social Studies, 7-12 5081 184
Speech Communication, 7-12 5221 180