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    Oct 15, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalogue 
    
2023-2024 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

MAT Admission Requirements


Application for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Alternate Route to Licensure

Mississippi Alternate Route to Teacher Certification - (MAT-ALT/CERT) 

• Submit completed application for admission with fee.

• Applicants must have an earned a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree from a regionally accredited College or University.

• Prior to admission, candidates must submit one of the following:

  • Transcript reflecting GPA of 2.75+
  • GPA of 3.0+ on last 60 hours of coursework
  • ACT composite score of 21 or qualifying SAT score
  • Praxis Core Test

• Prior to admission, candidates must present a qualifying Praxis II content area score.

Transfer Credits: Belhaven University will accept up to 9 credit hours for transfer candidates applying to the MAT/AltCert program. These transfer credits will be considered for courses aligned and equivalent to the Belhaven University School of Education’s courses required to meet the Mississippi Department of Education’s requirements for the first three courses as part of the Mississippi Alternate Route Teacher Licensure Program.

  1. Accepted Courses: The following three equivalent courses have been identified as eligible for transfer credit consideration:
    • EDU 506 - Classroom Management
    • EDU 501 - Measurement & Evaluation Strategies
    • EDU 602 - Psychology of the Exceptional Child
  2. Program Specific: This policy applies only and exclusively to the Master of Arts in Teaching MS Alternate Route to Teacher License (MAT/AltCert) program.
  3. Effective Date: This policy will take effect only for new applicant transfer candidates applying to begin the Graduate School of Education Second Fall Term - October 9, 2023.

Test Requirements Prior to Program Admission and Required for Initial Licensure

• Submit Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CORE) or ACT or SAT scores (passing and cut scores are based on Mississippi State Department of Education’s current requirements).

• Praxis CORE scores: Reading (156), Writing (162), Math (130)

• ACT scores: Composite score of 21

• Qualifying SAT scores

• Submit Praxis II Specialty Area Test score (score in content area must meet Mississippi licensure requirements).

Foundations of Reading Test

• All candidates seeking teaching licensure for Elementary Education grades 4-6 or Elementary Education K-6must take and pass the Foundations of Reading Test (minimum passing score = 233) prior to admittance to Belhaven submitting a recommendation for licensure.

 

Application for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Non- Licensure

Applicants are expected to meet the same requirements as those seeking a MAT degree with licensure with the EXCEPTION of the test scores. A degree can be earned without meeting the testing requirements. This does NOT meet Mississippi Department of Education guidelines for licensure. Candidates can change to the licensure program when test requirements are met. Test requirements include: qualifying Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) test scores OR qualifying ACT/SAT scores PLUS a qualifying Praxis II score in the candidate’s desired teaching area prior to admission to the MAT -Alternate Route to Teacher Certification program.

 

Should candidates in the MAT - Non-License program take and pass the required MDE tests for admissions into the MATAlternate Route degree program and submit qualifying tests scores to the School of Education, candidates may request a degree plan change to the MAT-Alt/Cert degree if they desire to attain a MS Alternate Route Teacher License.