Education (MAT)

Program of Study   

Area 1 Foundations
EDCI 6227Foundations of Education - Human Development, Motivation, and Learning2
EDCI 6228Foundations of Education - Special Education (Students must earn a grade of B or better in order to be certified to teach in the state of Georgia.)3
EDCI 6796Introduction to Teaching and Inquiry-Based Instruction3
EDSE 6165Literacy in the Content Areas2
or EDMS 6474 Technology as a Teaching and Learning Tool
Area 1 Total10
Area 2 Teaching Field Studies
EDCI 6411Clinical Experience3
Complete one of the following based on your intended field of certification:3
Methods in Teaching Middle and Secondary Mathematics
Methods of Teaching Middle and Secondary Science
Methods of Teaching Computer Science without Lab
Teaching English Language Arts in Grades 4-12
Teaching Social Studies in Grades 4-12
Area 2 Total6
Area 3 Professional Practice
EDUF 6125Classroom Management2
EDCI 6412Student Teaching3
EDSE 6755Middle Grades and Secondary Education Seminar1
Area 3 Total6
Area 4 Advanced Studies
EDUF 6116Educational Research Methods3
or EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research: Assessing and Monitoring Student Achievement
EDCI 6158Trends and Issues in Middle Grades and Secondary Education2
Select one advisor approved elective.3
ENGL or EDSE English 5000G level or above
HIST or EDSE history 5000G or above
BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, ASTR, ATSC, GEOL 5000G level or above
MATH, MAED, EDMT, STAT 5000G level or above
CPSC, CSMT, CYBR 5000G level or above
Area 4 Total8
Total Credit Hours30

Note: A degree in the intended certification field and a minimum of 21 semester hours of content coursework or a passing score on the GACE content exam is required for admission to the MAT program.  Prospective students who do not have a bachelor's degree in their field must request a transcript evaluation and meet with the program coordinator to determine content courses needed for certification.

 Program Admission Requirements

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in a closely related field or a minimum of 21 semester hours of upper level coursework in the concentration area.
  • Transcript evaluation to determine content courses needed for certification
  • Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (regular admission) or 2.50 (provisional admission) on all undergraduate work at an accredited institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree

Passing GACE Content Assessment scores in the certification field

Candidates who recently graduated from a bachelor’s degree program (within a year) can be provisionally admitted in the absence of a GACE assessment score; however, this requirement must be completed during the first semester enrolled. Required GACE content exams by concentration area:

Certification Field Required GACE Content Tests

  • Biology- Test I (026); Test II (027)
  • Chemistry- Test I (028); Test II (029)
  • Earth/Space Science- Test I (024); Test II (025)
  • Mathematics- Test I (022); Test II (023)
  • Physics- Test I (030); Test II (031)
  • Computer- Science Test (555)
  • History- Test I (034); Test II (035)
  • English- Test I (20), Test II (21)

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://www.columbusstate.edu/education-and-health-professions/cqtl/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" or below in more than two (2) graduate courses
  • 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.