CIP Code: 13.1299
Mission Statement
The School of Education at Missouri Baptist University seeks to develop reflective, problem-solving, professional educators of excellence from a Christian perspective; to enhance the lives of students in the classroom intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially; and to significantly influence students through the demonstrated integration of Christian faith and learning in the classroom, so that they may become positive change agents in a globally and culturally diverse society.
Overview
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a 36-hour degree program designed for certified teachers who are interested in adding an additional area of certification, as well as for individuals who would like to complete initial certification in conjunction with a master’s degree, including students on a Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC). While the MAT degree itself requires only 36 hours, the number of hours in each program will depend on the teaching certificate being sought. (See the Post-Baccalaureate Certification section of this bulletin for areas and levels of certification offered at Missouri Baptist University.) All students in the MAT, including those seeking initial certification, must complete GRED 543 Methods of Inquiry I to satisfy the graduate research requirement.
Students who have previously earned a Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Students who have previously earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree. Students who have earned a Masters Degree in Education from another college or university will have their transcript evaluated on a course by course basis to determine eligibility for a subsequent degree at Missouri Baptist University.
Summary of the Master’s Degree Process
To earn the MAT degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must complete an action research project in conjunction with GRED 543 Methods of Inquiry I .
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President for Graduate Studies, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office. Students must pay the required graduation fee. All graduate candidates for graduation during an academic year – Summer (previous year) Fall/Winterim, and Spring – are encouraged to attend the commencement exercises which are held at the close of the Spring Semester. Graduate students must have all work completed and a degree conferred in order to participate in the ceremony. Students must notify the Vice President for Graduate Studies and the Director of Records if they choose not to participate. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
Transfer Students/Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within the seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Transfer credits must be approved by Graduate Admissions or Advising and the Dean or Program Director and must have grades of A, B, S, CR, or P.
Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students entering the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits into the Missouri Baptist University Graduate Studies Program from another regionally accredited college or university. The total hours transferred to Missouri Baptist, including courses from other programs while enrolled, may not exceed nine (9) hours.
The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies
Qualified students are permitted to engage in directed studies under graduate faculty supervision. Under this arrangement, students are enabled to explore subjects in depth, or examine new areas of study, beyond the opportunity afforded by the University’s curriculum. In some cases, catalog courses may be offered as directed studies. Graduate students may not earn more than six (6) credit hours of directed study in their master’s program unless special permission is received in writing from the Vice President for Graduate Studies. Certain courses may not be taken by directed study, as specified in the course description.
Directed study forms are available in the Records Office and approval must be obtained from the student’s Graduate Advisor,the instructor of the course, Dean, and Vice President for Graduate Studies before the beginning of each term. The student and graduate faculty are expected to present the following items as part of the directed study: objectives, detailed description of the study, procedures for student-instructor interaction, method of evaluation, and anticipated resources needed for the study, or a course syllabus may be attached to the directed study form.
Exit Exam
There is no exit exam required for the Master of Arts in Teaching, however, to be considered a program completer and be eligible for certification, students seeking initial certification must pass the Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA), which replaced Praxis as the content area exit exam in September 2014. Visit the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments (MEGA) website at http://www.mo.nesinc.com/ for more information or to register for the MoCA. Candidates must also achieve a passing composite score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation during their culminating internship in order to meet the performance assessment requirement for certification. For information on the Missouri Performance Assessments go to https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/educator-preparation/mo-performance-assessments.
