College of Education and Professional Development

Huntington Campus
Education Building Room 220
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755
Phone: 304-696-3131

South Charleston Campus
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone: 304-746-1992

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Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Post Baccalaureate Certification Program (PBC)

Overview

The MAT and PBC programs offer a 100% online route to teacher certification for individuals that have an undergraduate degree in an area other than education. Content coursework such as math, science, history, English, foreign language, fine arts, or a professional field provide the content foundation, and the program provides the required professional education courses and clinical experiences at the graduate level. Because applicants for certification must have completed all classes required by the state of West Virginia for the content area, applicants must have a transcript analysis to determine which content requirements have already been met. Even though applicants have a degree in a specific field, they may not have taken the courses prescribed for teachers in their field of study, and therefore additional content classes may be required prior to application and enrollment. The transcript analysis will provide a list of courses needed to complete the content area. Upon successful completion of the program coursework, all content courses, and testing requirements, the candidate receives a recommendation to the West Virginia Department of Education for a teaching certificate.

Plans of Study

Certification Options

The table below lists the available teaching certifications that can be obtained through the program. Links provide the content requirements for licensure by the West Virginia Department of Education.

Grades PreK-Adult

Note: Certification in Elementary Education or Special Education is not offered through the MAT or PBC programs.

Admission Requirements

Master of Arts in Teaching

Candidates must request a transcript analysis through a certification officer either in Huntington or South Charleston. An unofficial copy of the transcript may be used for the analysis. The analysis will identify the courses that can be used to meet content licensure requirements and the list of additional courses needed. Candidates must have at least 50% of the required content courses.

  1. Candidates deciding to apply to the program after reviewing the transcript analysis should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission. Please note that all admissions documents must be submitted to Graduate Admissions before an applicant will be considered for admission.
  2. In addition to university admission requirements, applicants must have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.80 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed coursework, a GPA of 2.80 in the content area, and must meet the Praxis Core requirement (see below for exceptions). Applicants who have an overall GPA of 2.5 or above, but below 2.80, may be granted provisional admission. Provisionally admitted applications will be granted full admission upon successful completion of 12 hours toward the approved plan of study with a GPA of 3.25 or higher, assuming that all other admission requirements are met.
  3. Applicants must take and pass all three subtests (reading, writing and math) of the Praxis Core prior to being admitted to the MAT program. The required Praxis Core scores are Reading = 156, Writing = 162, and Math = 150.
  4. Individuals may be exempt from the WVBE‐required tests for pre‐professional skills (Reading, Writing, Mathematics), provided they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Holds a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education with an overall cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0; or

  • ACT:​

    • ​Has attained a composite score from a single administration of 25 on the American College Test (ACT) (prior to 1989); or

    • Has attained a composite score of 26 from a single administration on the American College Test (ACT) (after 1989); or

  • SAT
    • Has a 1035 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) (prior to 1995); or
    • Has a 1125 on the re‐centered SAT (effective April 1995); or
    • Has a 1170 on the revised SAT using the combined Critical Reading and Math score (effective March 2005); or
    • has attained from a single administration a New SAT score of 480 using the combined Evidence‐ Based Reading and Writing and a score of 530 in Math (effective May 2016); or

  • ​​GRE

    • Has attained from a single administration a combined score of 800 verbal and quantitative (tested prior to November 2011) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); or

    • Has attained from a single administration at least a 286 (November 2011 or after) on the GRE; or

    • Holds or has held a West Virginia Professional Certificate;

For exemption from the Reading and Writing Pre‐Professional Skills Test only:

  • Has attained a minimum combined score of 34 on the ACT enhanced exam (effective November 1989) in both English and Reading with a minimum individual score of 17 for each individual subject (English and Reading). Eligible scores for English and Reading on the ACT enhanced exam may be combined from multiple administrations of the exam; or
  • Has attained from a single administration a New SAT score of 480 using the combined Evidence‐ Based Reading and Writing (effective May 2016)

For exemption from the Mathematics Pre‐Professional Skills Test only:

  • Has attained a minimum individual score of 21 on the ACT enhanced exam (effective November 1989) in mathematics during any administration of the test; or
  • Has attained from a single administration an SAT score of 530 In Math effective (May 2016).

Students may enroll in graduate courses only after they have been admitted to the university and the MAT program. All students must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0.

A Plan of Study approved by the student’s advisor must be submitted for approval to the academic dean before the student registers for his or her 12th semester hour. The Plan of Study is a student’s “blueprint” for completing graduation requirements.

In the last semester of the program, students will be enrolled in EDF 677 MAT Level III Clinical Exper, a 15- week, full-time student teaching experience under the direct supervision of a certified teacher(s). Prerequisites for student teaching include the following:

  • 3.0 GPA in all graduate MAT courses;
  • completion of at least 90% of content courses (100% recommended);
  • completion of EDF 537 MAT Level I Clinical Exper and EDF 637 MAT Level II Clinical Exper Level I and II Clinical Experiences; and
  • completion of all MAT coursework and the Praxis content test(s).

Before a candidate may apply for certification/licensure, he or she must take and pass the Praxis, Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Grades 7-12. The PLT may be taken during or following the final semester in the MAT program.

Upon completion of the MAT program and all testing requirements, the student should apply for licensure. The teaching license is awarded by the West Virginia Department of Education; however, the candidate must be recommended for licensure by the institution.

Content exam required in order to be eligible for student teaching

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Art Art: Content Knowledge 5134 158
Biology Biology: Content Knowledge 5235 152
Chemistry Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 157
English (5–Adult) English Language Arts: Content Knowledge 5038 167
General Science (5–Adult) General Science: Content Knowledge 5435 153
Mathematics (5–Adult) Mathematics: Content Knowledge 5165 159
Music Music: Content Knowledge 5113 155
Physics Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 126
Social Studies (5–Adult) Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 148
Wellness (PreK–12) Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge

OR

 5857 160
Health Education

AND

Physical Education: Content Knowledge

 5551

5091

 156

150

Note: Must have a passing score on the content knowledge exam PRIOR to student teaching (June 1 deadline for Fall student teaching; October 1 deadline for Spring student teaching)

In order to be eligible for certification, MAT/PBC students must also receive a passing score on:

You Need to Take* Test Code Qualifying Score
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 157

Note: PLT is not required before student teaching, but must have passing score before applying for certification

Application for Admission and Information

Steps for Applying

  1. Request a transcript analysis through Thomas Cooper, Certification Specialist. The analysis will identify the courses that can be used to meet content specialization requirements and any additional courses you will need to take.

For a transcript analysis, please send copies of your transcripts (may be unofficial) to:

Thomas Cooper
Marshall University
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303-1600
304-746-1909 ext. 61909
FAX: 304-746-8974
thomas.cooper@marshall.edu

  1. If you decide to apply to the program after reviewing the transcript analysis, follow the admissions process described in the Graduate Catalog, or at the Graduate Admissions website at How to Apply for Admission.
    1. PBC students apply for admission to Marshall University as a Certificate/Professional Development student and select the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate on the application form.
    2. MAT students apply for admission to Marshall University as a degree-seeking student and select the Master of Arts in Teaching, M.A.T. on the application form.

For complete admission information and an application visit Marshall University Graduate College

Clinical Requirements

Both the MAT and PBC programs require three clinical experiences which must be completed in public school classrooms. Clinical I is taken early in the program (first semester recommended) and requires 35 hours of classroom observation. Clinical II is taken near the end of the program and requires 75 hours of classroom observation and teaching. Clinical III is student teaching and is taken the final semester.

Eligibility for Student Teaching

In the last semester of the program candidates will be enrolled in EDF 677, MAT Level III Clinical Experience, a 15 week, full-time student teaching experience under the direct supervision of a certified teacher(s). Prerequisites for student teaching include the following:

  • 3.0 GPA in all graduate (professional education) courses
  • 2.8 GPA overall and in the content courses
  • Passing score(s) on the Praxis II content test(s)
  • Completion of 100% of content courses
  • Completion of EDF 537 and EDF 637, Level I and II Clinical Experiences
  • Completion of all other program coursework as outlined on the Plan of Study

Eligibility for Licensure

In addition to course work, all candidates for teacher certification must take and pass three standardized tests required by the West Virginia Department of Education. These tests are (1) the Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators (CASE), a test with subtests in reading, mathematics, and writing (required for admission to the program); (2) the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test (required prior to student teaching); and (3) the Principles of Learning and Teaching Test (PLT), Grades 7-12. The PLT should be taken just prior to or during your final semester. Students who apply for licensure from the West Virginia Department of Education are required to submit to the department a fingerprint card for federal and state background checks.