Purpose of the Degree

The purpose of this program is to provide an additional quality pathway to Arkansas teacher licensure for our region and state. Individuals seeking to enter public school teaching with bachelor’s degrees are eligible to earn initial licensure through the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. The MAT includes Teacher Education core courses along with specialized courses to create a Master’s Program for initial licensure in Art Education (Grades K-12), Business Technology (Grades 4-12), Elementary (grades K-6) and Middle Level Education (grades 4-8) with a specialty in one content area.

Admission Requirements

Graduate Admissions Criteria:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (transcripts for undergraduate and graduate coursework must be submitted from all institutions attended.)
• Pass required admission tests and required subject-specific content examinations (Praxis Subject examinations)
• Complete the A-State Graduate Admissions application and qualify for graduate admission.
• The acceptance of previous graduate work including transfer work is at the discretion of the MAT Program Director.

Unconditional Admission: In addition to Graduate Admissions criteria, academic proficiency must be established through satisfaction of the following admissions selection criteria:

1.      Meet admission requirements for Admission to the Teacher Education program as identified in the current Teacher Education Handbook (Chapter Three) or meet any additional criteria as may be allowed by the Arkansas Department of Education.

2.      Pass the Praxis content exams listed for the MAT track chosen; passing scores are determined and posted by the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  Other approved DESE content licensure exam options, as regulated by DESE, will be considered for admission for individuals serving as a teacher of record in an Arkansas public school.

• ELED: Pass Praxis Mathematics, Reading and Language Arts. Science, and Social Studies Elementary Education Multiple Subjects exams
• MLED: Pass at least one Praxis Middle School content exams (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and/or Social Studies
• Business Tech: Pass Business Education: Content Knowledge
• Art Education: Pass Praxis Art: Content Knowledge

Students must be admitted into the Arkansas State University Teacher Education Program after completing at least six and before completing thirty MAT Graduate coursework hours.  Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education program no later than the semester prior to the internship semester (TE 6299, MAT Internship in Teacher Education).    

Students should consult the Arkansas State University Teacher Education Handbook (Chapter Three) for information about licensure and additional requirements of the Teacher Education program.

The department strongly advises consulting with the Teacher Education MAT program advisor to verify appropriate start dates for the program. The MAT Internship semester is a full 15 weeks and offered only in Fall and Spring. All MAT coursework and specific licensure requirements must be completed prior to the Internship semester.  This is regardless of the employment status of the student.  

Specialized Requirements and Licensure Requirements

Licensure Requirements are subject to change by the Arkansas Department of Education.

• Complete a course at the graduate or undergraduate level focused on student exceptionalities
• Complete current Arkansas Department of Education requirements for specialized content area knowledge in the MAT track chosen. The MAT Program will meet all minimal requirements of the Arkansas Department of Education. Arkansas Department of Education requirements are subject to change.

Requirements for Continued Program Participation

• Submit all scheduled Teacher Education Program Application and Gateway Check forms.
• Complete all Professional education course work.
• Maintain a 3.00 average on professional education course work.
• Make no grade lower than a C in all professional area course work. Candidates may not apply more than two classes with a grade of C toward graduate professional course work.

Residency Internship

The Governor’s Executive Order EO 23-08 to prioritize L.E.A.R.N.S. (Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking, and School Safety) states, “Ensuring that all graduates receiving a degree or alternate teacher training certificate from a state-approved educator preparation program in Spring 2027 and beyond have completed a one-year supervised residency alongside an experienced mentor teacher in a school setting.”  The LEARNS Executive Order stipulates that the Arkansas Department of Education must develop a plan to ensure that all teacher candidates completing an Arkansas-approved teacher preparation program must participate in a one-year residency by 2027. Currently, the A-State Educator Preparation Programs are updating their coursework and clinical experiences in order to meet this expectation.