Elementary Education, MAT
Why Pursue an Elementary Education MAT degree?
Teaching the youngest minds in our state’s education system is a hugely important task. It’s also extremely rewarding to see children grow and develop in both their lives and academic curiosities. If you feel the call to shape young lives, there’s no better career than teaching elementary school. And there’s no better place to learn how to do that than Piedmont University. Even if you have never taught or held a teaching certification, Piedmont’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) can give you the knowledge and understanding of how to empower and shape young minds.
The minimum requirement for entry into our MAT program, is a BA or BS degree. Once accepted, Piedmont’s MAT in elementary education provides a flexible and convenient pathway to statewide certification. Our graduate students may choose fall, spring, or summer semesters, complete courses online, and design course schedules that fit their needs. Through coursework and internships, candidates develop a deep understanding of and empathy for the diverse social, emotional, and instructional needs of young people in PK-5th grade. Our MAT program will make you a determined, ethical, and compassionate classroom teacher, ready to meet the challenges and promises modern education. Graduates also join an accomplished coalition of Piedmont alumni who year after year pursue excellence in Georgia schools.
How a Piedmont Elementary Education MAT Degree Helps You
- Helps gain teaching certification in the state of Georgia.
- Gives you both the knowledge and confidence to teach all types of students in a wide range of elementary subjects.
- Obtain a master’s degree in a setting and on a schedule that best suits your busy life.
- Opens employment opportunities across the state, in both public and private systems.
Career Opportunities
An Elementary Education MAT degree from Piedmont opens doors and a wide range of professional pursuits. For instance, our graduates have gone on to build successful careers in:
Earning an Elementary Education MAT degree enhances your subject knowledge and teaching skills, preparing you for greater impact in the classroom and opening doors to advanced roles within the public school system.
A Elementary Education MAT degree deepens your expertise and instructional abilities, positioning you for meaningful impact and advancement within the private school setting.
More About Elementary Education MAT Degrees
Learn more about Elementary Education and the variety of options available to you as a Piedmont student.
Piedmont University’s MAT elementary education degree requires coursework in assessment, research, and critical skills for 21st century classrooms, as well as content methods needed to implement best classroom practices. Coursework begins with candidates learning how to develop effective lesson plans. Candidates also learn how to apply content knowledge to instructional planning through methods course work and how to expand planning to include data management and inclusive practices for a thriving classroom environment. Piedmont also provides a dynamic, three-internship model, which results in more than 1,000 clinical hours in Georgia classrooms and connects candidates with supervising faculty and mentoring practitioners in schools around Georgia. The result is that candidates develop or further their abilities to work with learners from all backgrounds and abilities in private or public schools situated in urban, rural, and suburban areas. During internships, students monitor and sharpen their professional dispositions to build lasting relationships with colleagues, students, and families.
At Piedmont, we are committed to producing quality educators. And we do so in an environment dedicated to that purpose. The Charles and Catherine Sewell Center for Teacher Education was dedicated in 2020 following the extensive renovation of Nielsen Hall, originally built in 1972. Here, we train the state’s next generation of teachers. In fact, Piedmont offers the largest graduate program for teacher education in the state and is the second-highest producer of new teachers annually among all colleges and universities in Georgia.
Eligibility for application requires a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 cumulative GPA from an accredited college or university.
Applicants must also submit:
- Graduate Admissions Application
- All official, final transcripts from every college attended
- Two (2) professional references. One reference is required from a supervising administrator, and the other can be a choice of the following: a former professor, or instructor (college instructor, staff development instructor or mentor), or professional colleague
- Testing requirements are currently waived
- Personal Affirmation Form
All Piedmont MAT elementary education candidates must maintain certain standards once accepted to the degree program, including:
- Successful admission to teacher education (ATE) and attainment of a preservice certificate (even if candidates have a provisional certificate, they must still successfully complete ATE requirements)
- Earn passing GACE content exam scores the semester before final internship
- Earn an overall 3.0 or higher in all graduate courses attempted (inability to meet this GPA requirement may result in students being excluded from the graduate program at Piedmont. This policy can reviewed at https://piedmont.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2022-2023/graduate-catalog/student-academic-records-undergraduate-and-graduate/)
- Submission and approval of a graduation application the semester before graduation
Related Programs
Intrigued by an elementary education MAT degree? You might also be interested in one of these programs:
Meet our Faculty
Meet our talented faculty with both academic and professional experience in Elementary Education.
Where do I start?
To begin your journey toward earning an Elementary Education MAT degree at Piedmont University, you can start by applying today! Or, schedule a campus visit and meet with admissions and financial aid advisors, as well as faculty members in Elementary Education.