Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Track

Kevin Thomas, Ph.D., Chair
Nolen C. Allen Hall 317, Phone 502.272.8409, kthomas@bellarmine.edu

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is open to applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and are seeking initial teaching credentials at the graduate level. The MAT is an accelerated, outcome-based, cohort program. The program delivery is hybrid with in-person classes meeting one evening a week. In keeping with state regulations, 200 field hours in approved classroom settings and arranged by our Field Placement Coordinator will be required across the first four semesters of the MAT program.

MAT degrees are available in the following areas:

• Elementary Education, Grades P-5

• Middle School Education, Grades 5-9

• Secondary Education, Grades 8-12

• Dual Certification in Secondary and Middle School Education in the same content area

• Special Education Certification can be added to any content area

Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) or a grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale) on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework.

3. Recommendations from employers, supervisors, or professors attesting to the applicant’s potential as a graduate student.

4. A statement of intent to pursue the graduate degree that includes the applicant’s professional goals and application rationale (two pages).

5. Official transcripts of all previous higher education course work from regionally accredited institutions sent directly to Bellarmine.

6. No more than three outstanding content courses.

7. If the undergraduate degree is from an international institution, the candidate was born outside the United States, or English is the second language, the candidate will be required to submit an official TOEFLiBT (internet-based test) score and receive a total score of 80 or higher. We will also consider an equivalent score on the IELTS or MELAB tests. The School of Education Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee reserves the right to require TOEFL scores from any applicant.

8. Additional information is required from international applicants; see the MAT admission application form for more information.

Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education Program (Transition Point 1)

MAT applicants are admitted to the Teacher Education programs leading to initial certification upon admission to Graduate Studies.

Application for the Professional Semester (Transition Point 2)

Applications for the professional semester must be filed with the School of Education during the semester prior to the term in which the student plans to enroll. Candidates must have been accepted into the Teacher Education program (Transition Point 1). General criteria for acceptance into the professional semester are as follows:

1. Evidence of specified competency in oral and written communication, reading, writing, and computation.

2. Taking Praxis Subject exam (Official results must be sent to Bellarmine).

3. Successful completion of all coursework.

4. Proficient Benchmark Assignments.

5. Admission interview that assesses Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication.

6. Completion of the required number of field hours with successful evaluations.

7. Successful completion of all outstanding coursework in the specific content area.

8. Approval of the Teacher Education faculty. This decision is based upon evidence that the student demonstrates maturity, interpersonal and communication skills, and the attitudes, dispositions, knowledge, competence and judgment necessary to be an effective teacher.

9. Code of Ethics.

Exit from the Program (Transition Point 3)

Successful completion of the professional semester.

1. Successful completion of all program requirements, including: a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

2. Successful completion of all benchmark requirements.

3. Successful completion of all field requirements.

4. Appropriate teacher dispositions and resolution of any disposition intervention plans.

Teacher Certification Criteria

Teacher certifications are issued by the State of Kentucky upon recommendation from the School of Education. In order to be granted certification in Kentucky the following criteria must be met:

1. Bellarmine’s Teacher Education faculty must officially recommend that a student be issued the appropriate certification. Such a recommendation must validate that:

a. the student has been admitted to teacher education,

b. the student has passed his/her supervised Professional Semester experience, and

c. the student has completed the approved program of studies for the certificate to be issued.

2. The Teacher Education program graduate must pass the appropriate PRAXIS Assessments. Upon receipt of a completed certification application, the KDE Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness issues the teaching credential.