Previous ChapterEarning Your MAT Degree at Southern
Ready to make that career change and become a teacher?
Here at Southern Adventist University, our MAT program is designed to bring passion, faith, and a mission-minded focus to the classroom. Our graduates enter an in-demand field with the confidence and experience needed to begin their teaching careers.
One thing you’re probably looking for in a program is flexibility, right? Maybe you have a career, a family to support, personal interests, or all of the above. Some schools with MAT programs require full-time, in-person attendance, which isn’t a realistic option for many people who are balancing school with their personal and professional responsibilities.
That’s why we’ve created a flexible MAT program with an online component to help you earn your degree without putting the rest of your life on hold. And, unlike most programs that offer flexible schedules, we don’t require weekend classes.
For those who do prefer face-to-face interaction and a more in-person learning experience, you still have the option to meet in realtime with your instructor every week. It’s really the best of both worlds: flexible learning options without sacrificing the personal touch and your unique learning needs.
Here are a few more key benefits of Southern’s MAT program:
- Small class sizes
- Competitive tuition rates
- Faith-based curriculum
- Virtual office hours with instructors
- And, perhaps our favorite statistic:
Licensure and Teaching Requirements
The MAT program allows students to choose the type of licensure they would like to pursue: state licensure only, Adventist licensure only, or both.
If you want to focus on state only, we’ll work with you to make sure that your education and field experience align with the specific requirements for your intended state of employment. Each state varies in required hours of experience, courses taken, licensure obtained, and GPA. Southern graduates will get a Tennessee teaching license, and we will provide support for helping you meet alternate licensure requirements if you are planning to work in another state.
If you want to pursue the Adventist-only track, we’ll help prepare you from both a practical perspective (requirements, experience, and licensure) and a faith-based perspective, so that you'll graduate prepared to bring Christian principles such as acceptance, compassion, humility, and servant leadership into your classrooms.
We have partnerships with schools in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Kentucky to help you get classroom experience in these states while earning your MAT. If you reside in another state, we will work to create partnerships to help you be placed wherever you choose.
“I’m so excited to share our new MAT program to help people answer their calling to become a teacher. As an educator for many years, I’ve seen firsthand how fulfilling this career can be and how much of an impact we can make in the lives of our students, and I’m so thrilled to help others enjoy those experiences.”
Tammy Overstreet, Dean, School of Education & Psychology
Courses & Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to help you learn the principles of teaching in a real-world, practical way. Here are a few courses you may get to take:
- Foundations of Education
This course includes an examination of teaching as a profession, foundations in the history of education, as well as current issues and trends. Students participate in a variety of field experiences to enhance their understanding of the field. Students will be required to show evidence of passing a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background check prior to participating in field experiences. - Classroom Management
This course includes an overview of educational theories pertaining to the teaching-learning process and classroom management. Principles of effective classroom management and strategies to promote positive relationships, cooperation, and conflict resolution are examined with an emphasis on culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice. - General Methods for Secondary Education
This course explores pedagogical knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to effective curriculum planning, differentiated instruction, and assessment in secondary classrooms. Topics also include culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed practices, and teacher self-assessment and reflection. A required field experience provides an opportunity for the application of knowledge skills and dispositions.
Term
U.S. Residents
International
Fall
August 1
May 1
Winter
November 15
September 1
Summer
April 15
N/A
Next Steps
Explore the MAT Program some more.
Ready to start your application? Apply now.
Learn more about Financial Aid options.
If you’ve got questions, schedule a meeting with our advisor and we’ll be able to help you!
