Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Special Education - Online

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Semester: July 20
• Spring Semester: December 10
• Summer Semester: April 15

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Online Graduate Application
  • Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
  • Apply Online
• Official transcript from your bachelor’s degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.
  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale.  Applicants not meeting the required GPA may be eligible for admission by an alternative GPA pathway (see below).
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• PASSING SCORE ON GEORGIA EDUCATOR ETHICS ASSESSMENT
  
  • Passing score on the Georgia educator Ethics Assessment (Test 360) ( to Register: https://gace.ets.org/ethics/register/)

 

• DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) FOR DEAF EDUCATION CERTIFICATION

  • In order to be admitted into the Special Education Deaf Education certification track, applicants must have a Level 2 on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) or an intermediate on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI). This requirement is not applicable to applicants pursuing the Special Education General Curriculum certification track. Contact Dr. Levy Hiers-Perez for information on the test (lchiers@valdosta.edu).

• ADMISSION BY ALTERNATIVE GPA PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
  1. Must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND hold provisional certification in the field aligned to the candidates' selected area of certification.  Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student and must earn a 3.0 GPA in his/her first semester in the program.
  2. Must have a minimum-cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following alternative pathways: 
     • Alternative Pathway 1: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or

• 1. • Alternative Pathway 2: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
     • Alternative Pathway 3: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission
• Distance Learning Exemption of the VSU Medical Form
  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form
• Verification of Lawful Presence (For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)
  • This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
  • This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
  • Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
  • Check out a complete list of accepted documents and residency information here.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to ensure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

 IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Special Requirements: 

1. Candidates will be required to complete coursework each enrolled semester that will require a minimum amount of time in a classroom setting with students who have special needs appropriate to the candidates' selected area of certification.  Please contact the program advisor, Mrs. Renee Whitmer, about any concerns of meeting this requirement.
2. Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm this program complies with the requirements of thier respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying.  It is the applicant's responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.  

HAVE QUESTIONS?

• For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.
  • Call Us: 229-333-5694 
  • Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu  
  • Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Cumulative institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. Attempt both aligned GACE Content Assessments (passing both aligned tests is required for certification)

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the candidate’s  advisor, Dean of the College of Education & Human Services, and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
2. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into the M.A.T. program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic advisor.
3. To graduate from this program, a student must have a cumulative institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
4. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in:
   • Student dismissal from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points.
5. If dismissed from the program, a student must not be enrolled for two semesters. Application for readmission may be initiated during the first semester after dismissal. Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page