Program Overview 

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program in elementary education is designed for individuals holding a bachelor's degree who wish to obtain a teaching certificate and master's degree in elementary education. Certification in this field is for grades Pre-K through 5. The M.A.T. provides professional and pedagogical studies that develop proficiency in the knowledge, skills, and habits of beginning teachers.

All educator preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. In addition to the degree requirements, there are further requirements for teaching certification. Visit the Certification page on the CSU Center for Quality Teaching and Learning (CQTL) website for detailed information about certification requirements and the certification process.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of the M.A.T. program and passing scores on the appropriate Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Ethics and content tests allow the candidate to be recommended to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for teacher certification at the T-5 level (i.e., the letter "T" indicates that the certificate is in a teaching field and the number "5" indicates that the candidate's highest degree is a master's degree recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission).

Program of Study 

Admission Requirements

• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (regular admission) or 2.50 (provisional admission) on all undergraduate work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
• A passing score on the Elementary Education GACE Content

*Students enrolled in this MAT program must complete a minimum of supervised residency (student teaching) and/or practical experiences (totaling at least 300 clock hours) in at least two different settings, serving children of three different age groups (PK-K, 1-3, and 4-5) and with varying abilities. Students must contact our Center for Quality Teaching and Learning (CQTL) if they need help to secure a placement: https://www.columbusstate.edu/education-and-health-professions/cqtl/ 

*This program is offered entirely online

Teacher Education Admission Requirements

• Candidates must apply for Teacher Education during their first semester, after being admitted and starting classes.
• Admission to Teacher Education is completed through TK20. Candidates must have been admitted into the university and registered for courses at least two weeks before purchasing TK20. Information on Tk20 is located at: https://www.columbusstate.edu/education-and-health-professions/tk20.php
• Candidates must meet all requirements for admission to Teacher Education during their first semester of enrollment in the MAT program. For a list of requirements visit https://cqtl.columbusstate.edu/teacher-education.php

Additional Program Requirements

• Students must earn a 3.0 GPA calculated on all graduate work attempted. "Academic Forgiveness" policy does not apply to graduate studies
• Students cannot graduate with a grade of "C" in more than one (1) course.
• Courses earned with grades of "D" may not be used toward a graduate degree or certificate, but will be calculated in the overall grade point average.
• A minimum of 20 hours of the hours required for the degree must be earned in residence (⅔ of the required hours). Asynchronous (online) and distance learning courses administered through Columbus State University constitute courses taken in residence
• Transfer courses must be approved by the students’ advisor and program coordinator. Courses with earned grades of "C" or below cannot be transferred.
• All degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of first enrollment.