Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

Admissions

An application packet may be obtained by contacting the MAT office or downloading a packet from www.mat.covenant.edu.

Master of Arts in Teaching
Graduate School of Education
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
800.677.3626
mat@covenant.edu
www.mat.covenant.edu

Application for admission and accompanying documentation must be submitted on or before April 1.

Admissions Calendar

Individuals choosing to drop a course after May 26 will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy .

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission - Required For Degree Completion

To be admitted as a regular student in the MAT, the following is required:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
   1. Applicants having completed a major in any of the following content fields will be eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility (grades 6-12) from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission upon completion of the MAT degree: biology, chemistry, economics, English, history, mathematics, political science, physics. A major in biblical studies will lead to secondary certification by the Association of Christian Schools International.
   2. Applicants having completed a major with concentrations of at least 15 semester hours in two of the following content fields will be eligible for middle grades Certificate of Eligibility (grades 4-8) upon completion of the MAT degree: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies.
   3. Applicants having completed a major in any of the following content fields will be eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility (grades P-12) upon completion of the MAT degree: art, drama, French, German, music, Spanish
2. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 on relevant courses in the content field.
3. Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 required.
4. Passing scores on GACE Program Admissions Assessment (Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators) or exemption through SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. Official score reports are required.
5. Passing scores on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment (Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators).
6. Transcript analysis by GSE admissions. 
7. Content Standards Diagnostic.
8. Academic paper-minimum of five pages in length with appropriate citations and academic form. Paper will be examined for coherence of thought, organization, spelling, and punctuation.
9. Written statement of faith in Jesus Christ.
10. Two references.
11. Completion of a course in special education from a regionally accredited college or university.
12. Completion of a course in educational psychology from a regionally accredited college or university.
13. Completion of a course in introduction to teaching from a regionally accredited college or university. The course must include a minimum of 30 hours of fieldwork/observation in K-12 classrooms.
14. Letter of cooperation from the head of school if the applicant is employed as a teacher and wishes to use employment towards clinical practice requirements.
15. Completion of International Certification of Finances form by all international applicants

Admission Procedures

The following is to be submitted to be considered for admission to the MAT:

1. A completed application form.
2. Payment of the application fee: $50.00, non-refundable.
3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
4. Official score report of GACE Program Admissions Assessment. If exempt, submit official score report verifying qualifying exemption scores on SAT, ACT, or GRE. GACE website: www.gace.ets.org. Exemption scores are as follows: SAT 1000 combined on verbal and math; ACT 43 combined on English and math; GRE 297 combined on verbal and quantitative. Additional information is provided in the application packet.
5. Official score report of GACE Content Assessment. GACE website: www.gace.ets.org. Additional information is provided in the application packet.
6. Content Standards Diagnostic. Diagnostic form provided in application packet.
7. Sample academic paper by the applicant which demonstrates academic capability. The sample may be an academic paper previously written, or an academic essay focusing on a problem of special concern in education, or an academic paper in which an idea related to a problem is developed. The academic paper must be a minimum of five pages, in academic form including appropriate citations. The paper will be examined for coherence of thought, organization, spelling and punctuation.
8. A written profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; one page in length, typed.
9. Two completed reference forms from educators.
10. Official transcript showing completion of a course in special education from a regionally accredited college or university.
11. Official transcript showing completion of a course in educational psychology from a regionally accredited college or university.
12. Letter of cooperation from the head of school if applicant is employed as a teacher and wishes to use employment towards clinical practice requirements.

International applicants must submit the following in addition:

1. The International Student Certification of Finances form prior to, or along with, submitting the application for admission to the MAT. The form is provided in the application packet and available at www.mat.covenant.edu. In addition, a copy of the student’s passport biographical page must be submitted before an I-20 can be issued, or before the student would be considered for any institutional financial aid. The certification form must be supported with a copy of a bank statement or letter from a bank confirming the availability of financial resources to pay for educational expenses. If a third party sponsor or organization will be providing resources for the student, a similar confirmation of resources from an individual or a letter from an organization should be included. One to two months should be allowed for processing certification of finances and two months minimum should be allowed to obtain a student visa.
2. International transcripts submitted for admission to the MAT must be evaluated and authenticated. The following organizations are reputable such that Covenant College will accept a course evaluation (to award college credit on a course-by-course basis) and a degree confirmation. All are well established and have different fee structures and time lines of services so the applicant may select the organization they prefer to utilize.

International Education Services

http://ies.aacrao.org/about/

Washington, DC

202.296.3359

Josef Silny & Associates

http://www.jsilny.com/

Miami, FL

305.273.1616

International Education Evaluations, Inc.

http://www.foreigntranscripts.com

Charlotte, NC

704.772.0109

World Education Services

http://www.wes.org/

New York, NY

212.966.6311

Educational Credential Evaluators

https://www.ece.org/

Milwaukee WI

414.289.3400

Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.

http://gceus.com/

Offices in Texas, Mississippi and Virginia

800.707.0979 TX

3. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based exam) or 215 (computer-based exam) or 80 (Internet-based exam) is required. An official score report should be submitted to Covenant College (Code 6124). Information about the TOEFL may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA or www.ets.org/toefl.

Admission Status

Regular Student Status

An applicant who meets all admission requirements to the MAT is accepted as a regular student. Regular student status is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program and to complete the MAT degree.

To maintain regular student status a minimum 3.0 grade point average must be earned throughout enrollment in the MAT.

Provisional Student Status

An applicant not having fully met admissions criteria may be considered for provisional admission. The student will be informed of unmet criteria to be satisfied to obtain regular student status. The status of a provisional student is reviewed after six hours of coursework; no more than six hours taken while in this category may be applied toward the degree. A student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on courses taken as a provisional student. Regular student status is required for the MAT degree to be granted.

Financial Information

Fees and Expenses:

Tuition

Fees

No student may register for additional courses until all previous financial commitments have been satisfied. Financial aid grants may not be used to fund the Enrollment deposit required at registration. Enrollment deposit is not refundable.

Summary of Fees and Expenses per Term–2015-2016 Academic Year

Payment Schedule and Information

1. Submitted with application for admission: $50 application fee.
2. Submitted with pre-registration for summer term only:
   1. $400 non-refundable enrollment deposit towards tuition
   2. Application for financial aid, if applicable
3. An enrollment deposit is not required for fall and spring preregistration.
4. Covenant College accepts payment by cash, check, or credit card in the Accounting Office; on-line by e-check, MasterCard, or Discover. For on-line payment, go to scots.covenant.edu. A processing fee is assessed for on-line payment based on payment method and amount of payment.
5. Details regarding payment are included in the registration packet.
6. Students are responsible to verify their account balance through their Banner account. Students receive a monthly electronic statement to their Covenant email. College office will also communicate with students via their Covenant College e-mail account.
7. Students are responsible for purchase of textbooks and supplies. Included with the registration packet is a list of textbooks and materials required for each course in the MAT.

Registration

Summer Term–May 26-August 1

Individuals choosing to drop a course after May 26 will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy  .

Fall Term–August 6-December 14

Spring Term–January 4-May 6

Returning students may not register if carrying more than one incomplete course grade, have outstanding tuition/fees/fines, or have any other unmet obligation to the college. Students may not register for Clinical Practice II without approval to the Teacher Education Program.

Individuals choosing to drop a course after registration for the fall or spring term will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy .

General Academic Information

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to be in attendance at all sessions.

During the summer term, one day of excused absence is permitted for an emergency. More than one day of absence will result in the student being required to retake the course. Appeals may be submitted in writing to the Dean of Education for consideration by the graduate faculty.

During the fall and spring terms, the attendance policy is determined for each course by the course professor of record and by the Handbook for Clinical Practice.

Calendar for 2015-2016

MAT Summer Term, 2015

MAT Fall Term, 2015

MAT Spring Term, 2016

Candidacy

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree are students who have completed 18 semester hours, have regular student status, are in good standing in the Teacher Education Program, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Certification

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

Graduates of the MAT are eligible for an ACSI certificate upon completion of the degree. Certificate level is determined by content field: elementary (K-8), secondary (7-12), or all level (K-12), valid for five years.

Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)

The MAT was approved by the GaPSC in May, 2011.

The MAT is a state approved program by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOS). State approved status and accreditation are necessary for obtaining certification in any state. Graduates of the MAT are considered program completers of a state approved program and are eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility from the GaPSC upon completion of the degree.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission is in the process of instituting a tiered system of certification effective July 1, 2014. Graduates of the MAT not hired in a school in the state of Georgia will receive a Certificate of Eligibility verifying that all requirements for certification have been met. Graduates of the MAT hired by a Georgia school will receive an Induction Certificate requested by the hiring school. The next level of certification will be determined by the processes and standards in place in the state of employment upon completion of the MAT. Tiered certification applies to all Georgia colleges offering a state approved teacher education program.  Additionally, many other states currently adhere to a similar system.

During the course of the MAT, students are informed about certification procedures including establishing a MyPSC account.  For questions related to certification, please contact the Certification Official, Rebecca Dodson: Rebecca.dodson@covenant.edu; 706.419.1406. Additional information regarding certification may be found at www.gapsc.com. 

Course Deadlines and Incompletes

Coursework is to be turned in by the date specified in the syllabus or course calendar for each course. Students failing to meet deadlines can expect to be penalized as much as one letter grade. If a student believes that a deadline will not be met, communication with the professor prior to the deadline is essential. An Incomplete Grade Request form must be discussed and agreed to by student and instructor prior to the conclusion of the term in order for an incomplete course grade to be granted. Any incomplete (I) granted for a course not completed by the date specified will be replaced with an F. All work for a course with an incomplete grade must be submitted to the instructor by the specified date or on the Monday morning following if the specified date falls on a weekend. Financial aid eligibility for the next term would be determined based on the resulting grade point average.

Specified dates:

• Incomplete received in summer term must be completed by August 15
• Incomplete received in fall term must be completed by January 3
• Incomplete received in spring term must be completed by May 18

Students may not register for additional coursework with more than one incomplete course grade. An Incomplete Grade Request form must be discussed and agreed to by student and instructor prior to the conclusion of the term in order for an incomplete course grade to be granted. Forms are available from the office of the Graduate School of Education.

Graduation

Graduation is held in May each year. All degree requirements and fiscal responsibilities must be completed and met in order to graduate in May of any given year. Degrees are awarded in May and December only.

Purpose and Standards of Teacher Education Program

Adopted May 27, 2014 by the faculty of the Education Department.

Covenant College Teacher Education Program

Purpose Statement

Learning, Serving, Transforming

The purpose of the teacher education program at Covenant College is to prepare competent and compassionate teachers who practice their profession according to biblical guidelines in diverse educational settings. Candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become teachers who model life-long learning and faithful service to God as change-agents in society.

Teacher Standards

Domain A: Foundational Knowledge

1. Theological Framework.  The teacher applies a biblical worldview to the nature and needs of learners, content and professional knowledge, and instruction.
2. Learner Development. The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
3. Content Knowledge. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to ensure mastery of the content.

Domain B: Planning

1. Planning for Instruction. The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
2. Learning Differences. The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.

Domain C: Instruction

1. Instructional Strategies. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
2. Application of Content Knowledge. The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

Domain D: Assessment

1. Assessment. The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.

Domain E: Classroom Environment

1.  Learning Environments. The teacher works with others to create environments that support individuals and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
2. Communication. The teacher communicates verbally and nonverbally in ways that demonstrate respect for all learners, includes interactive technologies, and develops learner interpersonal communication skills.

Domain F: Professional Practice

1. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
2. Leadership and Collaboration. The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth and to advance the profession.                                                                                                                           

Programs and Courses

Programs

• •  Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Courses

• •  EDU 510 Foundations for Curriculum Development
• •  EDU 520 Introduction to Research
• •  EDU 530 Content Area Literacy for Adolescents
• •  EDU 540 Nature and Needs of Adolescent Learners
• •  EDU 550 History and Philosophy of American Education
• •  EDU 560 Middle/Secondary Content and Methods
• •  EDU 570 Educational Assessment and Research
• •  EDU 580 Clinical Practice I
• •  EDU 585 Diversity Field Experience
• •  EDU 590 Research Seminar
• •  EDU 595 Clinical Practice II