Teaching
New
SAU Master of Arts in Teaching Academy
Interested in receiving a full tuition and fees scholarship through the Arkansas Teacher Academy Scholarship Fund?
- Obtain your Arkansas teaching license
- Complete your master’s degree in as little as one-year
- high-quality preparation and support
- little to no cost
The Master of Arts in Teaching program at Southern Arkansas University offers multiple tracks – elementary, middle, secondary, or K-12 licensure. New tracks include MAT SPED and the certificate to the Initial School Counseling degree. All of the MAT tracks, including the new K-6 emphasis, are online.
The MAT is designed for students with non-education bachelor degrees who wish to gain teacher licensure. Students apply for admission to the MAT programs at several points throughout the year and not just once before the fall semester.
- Scholarships designated specifically for educators
- Made available as part of Arkansas LEARNS Act 237
- You may be eligible for funding covering full tuition and fees
- Deadline to apply for 2024-2025 academic year scholarships: January 1, 2025
- Commit to teaching in an Arkansas public school for each year you receive scholarship funds
- To apply: visit ADHE Scholarship Management System
- If you already have an existing ADHE scholarship account from a previous application such as the Arkansas Lottery Scholarship, you will use the same login
- For more information on scholarship qualifications or information on joining the MAT Teacher Academy at SAU, contact either MAT Program Director
- Dr. Neelie Dobbins – cndobbins@saumag.edu
- Dr. Lynze Greathouse – ldgreathouse@saumag.edu
Average Graduate Tuition and Fees Per Year | ||
In-State | Out-of-State | |
SAU | $6,894 | $9,810 |
Arkansas | $7,702* | $13,663* |
Texas | $7,502* | $16,686* |
Louisiana | $9,748* | $19,310* |
*Tuition and fees are calculated as an average of public four-year universities’ published tuition and fees. Source: Department of Education
Our programs are routinely recognized as the best value programs nationally. SAU offers out-of-state tuition waivers to students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas who chose to live in university housing or reside in a bordering Texas county or Louisiana parish.
Every candidate in the Master of Arts in Teaching degree must complete the required hours on their degree path. All candidates regardless of licensure level will complete the core courses. Regardless of licensure level, all candidates will complete the core courses and then follow the degree track.
MAT Initial course (Required to be taken during first term by all MAT Candidates)
| MAT 6003 | Teaching and Learning for Diverse Learners |
MAT Core Courses (Required)
| MAT 5023 | Survey of Exceptional Individuals |
| MAT 5083 | Class and Group Management |
| MAT 5013 | Classroom Assessment |
| MAT 6013 | Methods in Education |
| MAT 6073 | Learning Theory (spring, summer II) |
Licensure area K-6 Elementary Education
| MAT 5173 | Teaching Literacy I |
| MAT 5273 | Teaching Literacy II |
| MAT 5343 | STEM Methods for Science and Math |
Licensure areas 4-8 and K-12/4-12, 7-12
| MAT 5003 | Strategies for Content Area Reading |
| MAT 6083 | Reading Diagnostics |
Supervised Experience (choose 6 credit hours)
| MAT 6033 | Internship I (first year of teaching) |
| MAT 6043 | Internship II (first year of teaching) |
OR
| MAT 6053 | Student Teaching I |
| MAT 6063 | Student Teaching II |
Any candidate that has completed the initial hours of coursework and has not found a teaching position is eligible to student teach and will take Student Teaching I MAT 6053 and Student Teaching II MAT 6063.
Candidates enrolled in the K-6, middle school, and secondary social studies licensure tracks require a course in Arkansas History for graduation.
MAT Graduate Certificate Program
Candidates for the MAT Graduate Certificate must complete 12 hours. This program does not lead to teacher licensure. These courses are required for initial school counseling candidates to move into the School Counseling program.
Initial Course:
MAT 6003 Teaching and Learning for Diverse Learners
CORE Courses:
MAT 5013 Classroom Assessment
MAT 5083 Class and Group Management
MAT 6073 Learning Theory
MAT Certificate in Elementary Education
The Certificate Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education program at Southern Arkansas University is designed to enable candidates who graduated from SAU in the BSE Elementary Education (non-licensure) program to continue their career in education and be prepared to earn a license in K-6 education. Each candidate for the Certificate Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education must complete 12 semester hours of coursework.
MAT Initial Course (Required to be taken during first term)
6003 Teaching and Learning for Diverse Learners (fall, spring, summer I)
Supervised Experience (choose 6 credit hours):
MAT 6033 Internship I and MAT 6043 Internship II
or
MAT 6053 Student Teaching I and MAT 6063 Student Teaching II
Education Elective
3-hour education elective from another advanced program (see advisor for more information)
CAEP Accredited Programs
The College of Education and Human Performance at Southern Arkansas University earned national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in October 2018. This accreditation includes all undergraduate licensure programs (Agriculture, Elementary Education, English Education, Foreign Language, Math Education, Middle School, Music Education, PE/Health Education, Social Studies Education) and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
The SAU Accreditation Status Report is linked here.
For the most current program admission requirements, please view this document.
| Department: | Teacher Education / College of Education and Human Performance |
| Hours Required: | 30 |
| Categories: | Graduate |
| Completion Time: | 1-2 years * |
| Delivery: | Online |
* Based on 2 classes per semester including summer
Statement of Purpose
The Master of Arts in Teaching program at Southern Arkansas University is designed to enable career changes for those people who hold a baccalaureate degree in subject areas commonly taught at the elementary, middle, and secondary level, grades k-12. Candidates will be required to choose a track (elementary, middle, secondary, or K-12 licensure) prior to program start and must continue on that track throughout the program. SAU MAT program allows for candidates to be initially licensed in any content area the Arkansas Department of Education recognizes as an initial licensure area (except Special Education). It is incumbent upon students from other states to determine the licensing requirements in their state.
The program is comprised of 24 hours of online graduate coursework, and six hours of internship. During the internship the individual may be hired as a fully-employed teacher of record in a public school. K-6, Middle School, and Secondary Social Studies require a course in Arkansas History for graduation.
Initial Course
- MAT 6003 Teaching and Learning for Diverse Learners
CORE Courses
- MAT 5023 Survey of Exceptional Individuals
- MAT 5013 Classroom Assessment
- MAT 6073 Learning Theory
- MAT 6013 Methods in Education
Licensure area K-6 Elementary Education:
- MAT 5173 Teaching Literacy I
- MAT 5273 Teaching Literacy II
- MAT 5343 STEM Methods for Science and Math
Licensure areas 4-8 and K-12/4-12, 7-12:
- MAT 5003 Strategies for Content Area Reading (fall, summer I)
- MAT 6083 Reading Diagnostics (spring, summer II)
Supervised Experience (choose 6 credit hours):
- MAT 6033 Internship I (first year of teaching)* (fall, spring)
- MAT 6043 Internship II (first year of teaching)* (fall, spring)
or
- MAT 6053 Student Teaching I ** (fall, spring)
- MAT 6063 Student Teaching II ** (fall, spring
Learning Goals
- Candidates engage in scholarly research activities such as action research or program evaluation to solve authentic problems. Teachers seek advice of others and draw on education research and scholarship to improve their practice.
- Candidates model leadership and communication strategies that promote valuing diversity throughout the community. Teachers recognize individual differences in their students and adjust their practice accordingly.
- Candidates design and modify instruction and the learning environment based on assessment of student learning and behavior. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
- Candidates employ technologies including communications, productivity and presentation applications to enhance their collaborations. Teachers regularly assess student progress.
- Candidates design and modify instruction and the learning environment based on assessment of student learning and behavior. Teachers command specialized knowledge of how to convey a subject to students.
Program Contact
Associate Professor of Education
College of Education and Human Performance
Office: Education 112
Phone: 870-235-5218
Email: ldgreathouse@saumag.edu
Endowed Professor of Education
College of Education and Human Performance
Office: Education 110
Phone: 501-773-0887
Email: cndobbins@saumag.edu
"*" indicates required fields
