Coordinator:
Linda Tyson
470H Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3197
tyson@oakland.edu
Program description
The Master of Arts in Teaching in elementary education (MATEE) with elementary certification is designed for career changers and individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education. Designed for individuals who are considering a career in teaching elementary or middle school, it is a quality, two-year program with Oakland University’s excellent reputation for preparing teachers to enhance employability.
Program delivery
Classes are held in the evening and on scheduled Saturdays, except for the final semester of student teaching. Courses are taken as a cohort group with coursework beginning in the fall semester.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
- April 1 for fall semester
Readmission and program transfer
Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.
International application deadlines
International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by April 1 for fall admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.
Special Graduate classification
Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.
Students may request special graduate classification beginning with the dates below.
- August 1 for fall semester
- December 1 for winter semester
- April 1 for summer semester
Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.
University graduate application requirements
- Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study
- Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
- Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
(Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Program application requirements
- Requirements for recommendations
The two recommendation forms must be from individuals in a supervisory relationship to the applicant
- Goal statement
- Evidence of completion of one teaching major or two teaching minors with a minimum grade of 2.5 in each course
- Résumé
- Experience Working with Children Form(s)
- Passing scores on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills test.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better (improved grades in recent coursework will be considered).
- A 2.5 minimum grade in each course applying to major or minor teaching endorsements. Major or minor courses taken after beginning the MAT Elementary program, as well as professional courses, will require a minimum grade of 3.0. Additional major and minor courses may be necessary for individuals whose prior coursework does not include sufficient credits for the core competencies set by the Michigan Department of Education for teaching a major and minor content area.
- Individual interviews may be conducted in addition to these requirements.
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.