This program was established by the College of Education at the University of Central Arkansas in response to the shortage of teachers in Arkansas. The purpose of the MAT program is to prepare highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent graduates of higher education as teachers. The graduate degree program is designed for individuals without teaching credentials but who have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree and wish to become a teacher in an expeditious fashion. As a non-traditional teacher licensure program, the MAT is not intended to supplant traditional teacher preparation programs in Arkansas. Rather, the MAT is intended to assist potential teachers, those having a baccalaureate degree in a content area, to become practicing educators.
The degree requires a 30-hour core plus 6-9 hours of required courses in the selected track. The program is designed to be completed in five semesters, including fall, spring, and summer sessions.
Accreditations/Achievements:
The Master of Arts in Teaching Program received the Association of Teacher Educator’s 2010 Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award at the annual national convention in Chicago. The program is built upon state and national standards and is designed to “Enhance Educator Efficacy.”
Notable strengths of the MAT program include the efficiency with which the program is implemented and the high quality of the program in such a short period of time. The MAT program has over 300 graduate students enrolled in the program at this time with 180 of these students currently teaching in the schools of Arkansas, many in high need geographic areas.
CAEP Accreditation
Program Requirements:
For admission to the UCA MAT program, candidates must:
1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (Original transcripts for undergraduate and graduate coursework must be submitted from all institutions attended.)
2. Submit a minimum undergraduate GPA of a 2.7 overall or a 2.50 overall with a 3.0 in the last 60 hours.
3. Complete the UCA graduate school application and all other requirements to qualify for graduate admission.
**Other requirements for the program and graduate application include a Statement of Purpose and proof of a cleared background check through the Arkansas Educator Licensure System
*For more program details and additional admission requirements please request information below.
Program Contact:
Steve Ward
Program & Field Coordinator
wards@uca.edu
Mashburn 104D
(501) 450-5848
CONTACT UCA ONLINE
ucaonline@uca.edu
(501) 852-UCAO (8226)