Master of Arts in Teaching - Community College Education

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The Master of Arts in Teaching in Community College Education is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to prepare professionals for working in higher education. The degree prepares educators for staff and leadership roles, as well as well as preparing them to be credentialed as collegiate faculty members. The program includes a 12-hour core in higher education coursework that prepares the student work in a college environment. It also contains a minimum of 18 hours in the student's credentialing field.

Fields regularly available to online students include:

Data Science
Communication
Geosciences
TESOL

Public Administration
History
Industrial engineering

Cyber Security
Biology
Athlete Engineering

The degree can be completed with additional fields, such as English, Mathematics, and Psychology, completed with on-campus attendance.

Program highlights:

Working Professional friendly.
High engagement with faculty and fellow students.
Can be completed from anywhere.
30 hours are required to complete the program.
Prepares you to work in higher education as a faculty or a staff member.
Start courses in the spring, summer, or fall semester.
All distance students pay in-state tuition.

**This program is available through Mississippi State Online and the majority of its tracks can be fully completed without any on campus visits or attendance. Additional credentialing fields are primarily offered on-campus, but these may not be practical for distance students.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Who should pursue this degree?

The Community College Education degree program welcomes applicants who desire faculty or staff roles on the college level.

What are some potential careers?

The program prepares graduates to pursue and advance careers at colleges and universities. It provides specific preparation for working at community colleges and universities, including the support of non-traditional and first-generation students. Graduates are prepared to pursue faculty, academic affairs, financial aid, business affairs, counseling, and recruitment roles.

Note: If you are a K-12 teacher who holds a standard renewable Mississippi Educator license and are interested in the MAT in Community College Education program, this degree program will lead to an upgrade to your license but will not lead to any additional endorsements. Additionally, this degree program does not lead to initial licensure. Students are recommended to consult relevant state licensure requirements prior to enrolling.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

The Master of Science in the Master of Art in Teaching Community College Education (MATCED) consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours.

Course Number	Course Title	Hours
CCL 8113	Community College History/Philosophy	3
CCL 8313	Community College Instructional Assessment	3
CCL 8173	Community College Teaching and Learning	3
CCL 8253	Community College Research Methods	3
Credentialing/Content Area
18 graduate hours of selected courses		18
Total Hours		30

Admissions Process

Please note that your application will not be considered until all forms have been submitted and your application fee has been paid

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the program, the applicant must:

Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Meet the basic requirements specified for graduate students at Mississippi State University
Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career at an institution of higher education
Demonstrate academic proficiency based on the following indicators:
- Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on the last half of the bachelor's degree
- Three letters of reference
- Indication of teaching specialty (e.g., history) in the purpose statement

Admissions Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will select Master of Arts in Teaching / Community College Education as your major and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor.

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Comprehensive Exam

A written, final comprehensive examination is required of all candidates. The exam is given in March, June, and October. It will be taken through a distance method and requires students to respond in writing to questions on the following topics on the history and philosophy of the community college, educational research, and teaching and assessment. The program does not currently have a thesis option. If the student takes the exam while enrolled in other coursework, the exam is free of additional fees.

For additional information, see the Community College Education program website at
https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/academics/division-education/graduate-degree-programs/community-college-education

or contact the CCE program advisor
Mark Fincher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Community College Leadership
And CCE Coordinator
Mississippi State University
Mef348@msstate.edu