Master of Arts in Teaching

The online Master of Arts in Teaching is designed for members of the community who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and desire an initial West Virginia teaching license (see content specializations on the next page). Students entering the Master of Arts in Teaching program are seeking opportunities to receive an initial teaching license and to advance their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in instruction, curriculum design, and evaluation. Coursework and clinical experiences in educational settings will focus on innovations in teaching, student learning, curriculum development, pedagogy, assessment, mentoring, and community involvement. In addition to meeting the initial admission requirements for the MAT program, students must make academic progress towards Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program objectives are as follows:

1. Successfully meet the requirements to receive a Professional Teaching License in West Virginia
2. Apply advanced educational theory to practice
3. Acquire advanced knowledge and skills in curriculum planning and implementation
4. Able to recognize, advocate and apply the principles of critical pedagogy and social justice
5. Able to utilize assessment and research strategies/methods for the benefit of the school district
6. Enhance the application of and encourage the development of new strategies of pedagogy that support needs of a diverse student population

Admission Requirements Master of Arts in Teaching

Submit all official undergraduate transcripts Submit 500-word essay describing your personal and professional background (including any teacher experiences) and describing your current and long-range professional goals utilizing APA formatting Have completed successfully or be exempt from the Praxis Core Exam (see Admission to Teacher Education section below) Transcript Analysis Completed:

• Have completed 50% of content area requirements
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.80 in undergraduate content licensure area coursework (OR)
• Be exempt from transcript analysis per West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5100: have an undergraduate degree in the content area in which licensure is being sought, with an overall grade point average of 3.00 and successful completion of the Praxis II Content Test for licensure

Students pursuing an MAT may select from the following teaching specializations

Elementary Specializations:

Elementary Education (K-6) AND Early Education (PreK-K) OR Elementary Education (K-6) AND Multi-Categorical (K-6) OR Elementary Education (K-6) AND a Middle School Specialization (select from the following):

 

Comprehensive

Music (PreK-Adult)

OR

Secondary Education

A student must select one secondary specialization:

Biology (9-Adult) Chemistry (9-Adult) English (5-Adult) General Science (5-Adult) Mathematics (5-Adult) Social Studies (5-Adult)

Middle School Specializations:

A student must combine a middle school specialization with either Elementary Education or a Secondary Specialization:

English (5-9) General Math – Algebra I (5-9) General Science (5-9) Social Studies (5-9)

Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education

MAT students must meet the following requirements for admission to the teacher education program. Full admission is required for successful completion of the degree.

1. Achieve a passing score on the Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Passing scores are posted through the ETS website (https://www.ets.org/praxis/wv/requirements/). The Praxis Core Exam is a state requirement for certification.
   
   Allowable exam exemptions per the West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5202 include the following:
   
   For exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE):
   • Holds a conferred Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited Institution of Higher Education with an overall cumulative minimum GPA of 3.00;
   • Holds a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
   • Has attained a composite score of 26 on the ACT;
   • Has attained, from a single administration, a New SAT score of 470 using the combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and a score of 520 in Math (effective May 2016);
   • Has attained from a single administration at least a 286 (November 2011 or after) on the GRE
   
   For exemption from the Reading and Writing Sections of the CORE Only:
   • Has attained a minimum combined score of 34 on the ACT enhanced exam (effective November 1989) in both English and Reading with a minimum individual score of 17 for each individual subject (English and Reading). Eligible scores for English and Reading on the ACT enhanced exam may be combined from multiple administrations of the exam.
   • Has attained from a single administration a New SAT score of 480 using the combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
   
   For exemption from the Mathematics Section of the CORE Only:
   • Has attained a minimum individual score of 19 on the ACT enhanced exam (effective November 1989) in mathematics during any administration of the test.
   • Has attained from a single administration an SAT score of 530 in Math.
   
   If you wish to take all three computer-delivered CORE exams (5713, 5723, 5733) at the same time, select CORE Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test (5752) when registering. Scores will be reported by individual test (5713, 5723, 5733). All test codes should be verified on the ETS website.
    
2. Meet the West Virginia required computer skills through having passed EDUC 540 – Technology and Learning.
3. Have completed at least 75% of the required undergraduate content area(s) with a minimum grade point average of 2.80 for which the candidate seeks licensure or be exempt per West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5100.

Procedures for Admission to Teacher Education

During the semester in which students enroll in the MAT program, they should initiate procedures for admission to Teacher Education.

1. To initiate the procedure, the candidate obtains an Application Packet and completes the Intent to Apply for Admission to Teacher Education Form. The packet is available from the Department of Education or the Director of Graduate Studies. Completed forms must be submitted by the following deadlines:
   • Admission to Teacher Education in Summer and Fall - Submission of Materials by March 1
   • Admission to Teacher Education in Spring - Submission of Materials by December 1
      
2. Candidates must complete the Admission to Teacher Education Assessment Form as well as the Admission to Teacher Education Evaluation Form. This form assesses the candidate in the areas of performance and dispositions. The completed assessment form, along with an additional blank second copy of the form is given to the faculty academic advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies. The academic faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies completes the second form
    
3. The faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies ascertains the candidate’s eligibility for admission, completes the blank assessment form received from the candidate, and returns it to the teacher candidate to be placed in the portfolio, which must be prepared as outlined in the application packet, following the guidelines set forth in the rubric for assessment.
    
4. The Admission to Teacher Education Assessment Form from the advisor and the candidate’s self-assessment are added to the file created for that candidate.
    
5. When all the paperwork has been completed and filed and the Portfolio Interview process has been successfully completed, the candidate who is applying for admission to teacher education is reviewed by the Teacher Education Review Panel (TERP). The panel membership consists of a representative of all departments offering specializations in teacher education, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, a representative from the Academic Success Center, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of Education, who chairs the panel. Non-voting members of TERP include the University certification analyst and the Director of Teacher Education Field Placement.
    
6. The panel meets each semester prior to registration. An applicant may request to meet with the panel and the applicant’s advisor may accompany him/her. Such a request is submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies in writing at least 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting.
    
7. Panel members are sent a list of the names of the candidates requesting admission in advance of the scheduled meeting. If a panel member has reasons justifying the denial of any applicants, but cannot attend the meeting, such reasons should be stated in a letter and submitted to the chair of the panel prior to the meeting. All letters expressing concerns will then be read to the panel members in attendance. These letters will become part of the candidate’s permanent file maintained in the Department of Graduate Studies.
    
8. The panel reviews each application. The panel makes a recommendation to the Dean of Education. Based upon the panel’s recommendation, the Dean may make one of two decisions:
   
   Admission: This status is given to candidates who meet all admission requirements. Candidates may then enroll in MA courses that require the admission to teacher education prerequisite.
   
   Denied Admission: This status is given to candidates who have two or more deficiencies and have not met all requirements for admission to teacher education. This decision prohibits enrollment in any additional graduate courses until the deficiencies are resolved. The Dean of Education specifies the reason(s) for the denial. A teacher candidate who has been granted full admission and consequently falls below a 2.80 grade point average in undergraduate content specific coursework will go to denied status. Any candidate receiving denied status must reapply for admission to teacher education after deficiencies are resolved.
    
9. The Dean of Education notifies each candidate, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the candidate’s faculty advisor of the decision regarding application.
    
10. Candidates wishing to appeal the Dean of Education’s decision may do so through the student academic grievance policy as outlined in the GSU Graduate Catalog.

Retention in Teacher Education

To remain in any teacher education program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Maintain a grade point average of 3.00 in graduate course work and 2.80 in undergraduate content specific coursework if required.
2. Maintain a current degree plan with the faculty advisor.
3. Demonstrate professional competency in field experiences as required.
4. Maintain a clear criminal background check.

The Director of Graduate Studies, as well as the Dean of Education, monitors candidates’ progress from admission to teacher education through the completion of the internship. When concerns arise throughout their program of study, candidates work with their faculty advisors to resolve those concerns expeditiously

Admission to Student Teaching

Candidates must apply for admission to student teaching during the semester prior to enrolling in the student internship.

Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching

To be eligible for admission to student teaching, the following requirements must be met:

1. Hold full admission status in a teacher education program.
    
2. Must have completed, or be exempt from, content area requirements per West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5100 at least one semester prior to planned student teaching.
    
3. Maintain a minimum 2.80 grade point average in all undergraduate content area(s) for which the candidate seeks licensure. Completion of all required hours in specialization area(s) with grades of C or higher.
    
4. Pass all state-required components of Praxis Core and Praxis II and meet all education department requirements. No teacher candidate will be admitted to the Internship until ALL components of Praxis II are passed. Candidates for the fall semester must pass the Praxis II tests by the June test date. Candidates for the spring semester must pass the Praxis II tests by the November test date.
    
5. Adhere to the current West Virginia State Department of Education requirements for licensure.

Procedures for Admission to Student Teaching

Students must submit the Application for Admission to Student Teaching Form to the Director of Teacher Education Field Placement by March 1 to enroll in the following fall semester and October 1 to enroll in the following spring semester. Application forms are available in the Department of Education. Specific meetings for application for admission to student teaching will be held prior to each semester’s application due date. All teacher education candidates applying for admission to student teaching must attend these meetings in which necessary documents are reviewed and completed.

Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their paperwork is submitted by the deadlines for Admission.

The Teacher Education Review Panel (TERP) screens the list of Student Teaching applicants each semester to determine their individual status. An applicant may request to meet with the panel. Such a request is submitted in writing at least 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting. Typically, panel meetings are scheduled during the week prior to the beginning of each semester.

If admission to student teaching is denied, the TERP must provide notification and the reason for denial to the candidate within five days of the decision. If denied admission the candidate may not begin student teaching during that respective semester. Once all deficiencies are met, the candidate may reapply for student teaching (by the stated deadline) to be considered for admission for the next semester.

Organization of the Internship Semester

Candidates meet with the Director of Teacher Education Field Placement and supervising professors at the beginning of the semester in which they are enrolled in the internship. Primarily, the remainder of the semester is spent in the public schools; however, candidates may be required to attend meetings, workshops and/or other professional development activities.

Grading of Student Teaching

Students enrolled in Student Teaching will receive either credit or no credit. Credit indicates successful performance of competencies; no credit indicates inadequate performance of competencies. EDUC 680 – Student Internship is six hours of course credit.

Student teaching will include the Capstone Assessment. Using portfolio artifacts and oral defense, candidates must validate that they have met the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards as well as the standards designated for their particular content area. Candidates must successfully complete the capstone assessment based on rubric evaluation to receive full credit.

Retention in Student Teaching

The Department of Education is dedicated to preparing teachers who are skilled, reflective, and responsive with a commitment to their profession and to the students they serve. This requires that all candidates be monitored as they progress through the teacher preparation program, as well as all candidates as they progress through student teaching. If candidates encounter difficulties, remediation plans are developed and implemented through the Teacher Candidate Assistance Program (TCAP).

Candidates may only attempt student teaching twice. After the second unsuccessful attempt at student teaching, the candidate will not be allowed to continue in the teacher education program.

Licensure Requirements

Upon completion of the program requirements, student teaching and the capstone assessment, successful residents will be eligible for the Master of Arts in teaching degree. At that time, they are recommended to the West Virginia Department of Education for licensure to teach in West Virginia. Successful residents will need to meet the following:

1. Complete all required graduate course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
2. Complete all required undergraduate content specialization(s) with a minimum grade point average of 2.80 in which the student intern is seeking graduation and licensure or be exempt as per West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5100.
3. Pass state-required Praxis Core (or be exempt as per West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5100) and Praxis II assessments for all fields in which licensure is pursued.
4. Have and maintain a clear legal history including the following:
   1. Never having had a teaching license refused, suspended, or revoked.
   2. Never having willingly surrendered a teaching license.
   3. Never having had a criminal conviction or currently pending charge (felony or misdemeanor).
5. Complete all Student Teaching requirements and competencies as documented by the Professional Semester Evaluation (PSE) performance assessment and the Special Subjects Supervisor Evaluation Form.

Course Requirements