M.A.T - Concentration in Health and Physical Education (P-12)

If you do not currently hold teacher certification or if you hold a nonrenewable (NR) teacher certification, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) was designed for you.

The MAT degree leads to initial teaching certification and a master’s degree for aspiring teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program offers initial teacher preparation at the graduate level in middle grades education, health and physical education, and Spanish education, as well as secondary education in areas of biology, broad field science, chemistry, economics, English, history, geography, mathematics, physics, and political science.

The programs are devoted to preparing P-12 teachers to:

• address the diverse academic needs of all students
• implement high academic standards for all students
• develop school and community partnerships as part of school instructional programs
• affect student learning among special school populations
• incorporate technological resources to enhance student learning
• apply best practices in P-12 schools

During the program, you will be required to complete field experiences, including practicums and student teaching/internship. All field experience requirements for any M.A.T. program must be completed in the state of Georgia. Field experiences, including students teaching, for students in the online M.A.T. Concentrations in Elementary Education, Health and Physical Education, Spanish Education, and Special Education will be considered in the Georgia region in which you are located.

The Health and Physical Education certification concentration (P-12) is for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The program of study is designed to meet all content and methods requirements for initial certification in 36 credit hours. There are no undergraduate prerequisite courses for the program since that content knowledge is embedded in the current courses. Read about the program standards to see what you will learn while in our program.

Upon successful completion of all program requirements and passing the appropriate GACE exam, you will be eligible for Georgia T-5 Health and Physical Education Certification (P-12). The program is a CAEP-accredited, Georgia Professional Standards Commission-approved program.

Admissions Information

• Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
• Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment.
• Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service certificate or Provisional certificate.
• Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
• Acknowledge ”Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance.
• International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. Applicants must take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The official TOEFL score may not be more than two years old. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard may be recommended for enrollment in University English courses or for English courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) on campus prior to admission to the program.
• If an applicant was previously enrolled in an initial teacher preparation program, an interview must be completed with the Program Coordinator prior to admission to the program.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service and must be a course-by-course evaluation and include a GPA. (naces.org)

MyPSC Account Requirements: As part of program requirements, once admitted, all applicants must claim Georgia Southern University as their Educator Preparation Program Provider before starting classes. Guidance will be given on how to claim Georgia Southern after admission. To obtain a MyPSC account, please go to the GaPSC website to register: www.gapsc.com.

Georgia Pre-Service certificate: Prior to participating in a field experience in the MAT program (which occurs within the first semester), all candidates must have a Georgia Pre-Service Certificate or Provisional/Waiver Teaching Certificate in a field that matches the Program. 

The M.A.T - Concentration in Health and Physical Education (P-12) program leads to Professional Licensure.

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state. Georgia Southern University's Professional License Disclosure

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Georgia Professional Standards Commission