MAT in Elementary Education

1. Regularly ranked as a top 5 program by U.S. News & World Report
2. Stimulating teaching opportunities combining theory and practice
3. Supervised practicum experience in local classrooms

We admit students once each year to begin as part of a cohort, going through classes at roughly the same pace. the introductory class is always taught during Maymester, a short session in the middle of May, and meets two evenings a week from 5-10 p.m. to accommodate your schedule. While some students are more part-time than others, you will have at least a portion of your classes with your cohort, and you will end up student teaching with at least part of your group.

The classes are almost all taught on the Athens campus, and our students are expected also to spend a significant amount of time in local classrooms doing practicum/field placements before the 13-week student-teaching semester, when you are placed in a full-time class. Our students tend to come from all different fields and backgrounds, so the curriculum essentially addresses the full range of subjects (mathematics, science, reading, writing, social studies) as well as special education and second-language learners. You also take a number of pedagogy classes specifically geared toward elementary education—your degree prepares you for certification to teach Pre-K through fifth grade—as well as a research class.

Note that our program is subject to change possibly after matriculation, as we must keep up with any required changes made by the Georgia Performance Standards Commission (which issues certifications). But the heart of the degree—the classes mentioned above—are consistent. Our students are currently required to take 12-13 classes (three hours each) and spend a 15-hour semester as a full-time student teacher.

You will have both face-to-face educational theory and practicum experiences with a full-time student teaching period at the end. You will actively involve yourself in elementary classrooms where you observe, assist teachers, tutor individual children, work with small groups of children, and lead whole-classroom activities.

Our faculty closely supervises you and supports you in both your academic work and future professional career. With their strong ties to local schools, our faculty fosters supportive and collaborative learning environments.

• Download a Program of Study
• Download the Degree Checklist
• Download the Departmental Application

Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal.

Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia

The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia, including those in the College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, orientation, and many other useful links to guide you through the process of attending UGA at the graduate level.

Start A Graduate School Application

Part 2: Apply to the MAT in Elementary Education

Eligibility

Cumulative GPA for all undergraduate courses should be 2.8 or above on a four-point scale

Application materials

Applicants must submit to the Department of Educational Theory and Practice:

• A completed elementary education application form
• An essay as described in the online application form
• Resume
• Students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or above are exempt from the entrance exam requirement.

For the section of the Graduate School application requesting three letters of recommendation, simply enter "Not Applicable" for all three in the application.

Mail or email the program application and essay to the Department of Educational Theory and Practice:

US Mail:

Email:

Linda Dunbar

On the basis of the essay, department faculty will select applicants to be interviewed. After the interviews are conducted, the faculty will select from the pool of interviewed applicants those who will be admitted.

New Requirements

The state of Georgia also now requires that all teacher prep candidates either pass the GACE Program Admission Assessment or exempt it (1000 Verbal + Math SAT, 43 English + Math ACT, or 297 Verbal + Quantitative GRE) before they can be accepted into programs. The state also requires that all candidates have a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate or previous graduate work. Go to the GAPSC website for details.

For those interested in the MAT program, the Elementary Education program suggests the following application date:

• March 1

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and program faculty strongly encourage candidates to submit applications before the deadline.

Note: Deadline is one month earlier than the Graduate School's summer deadline.

Applications received after the target date may be considered.

Login to existing application

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