Master of Arts in Teaching Program Columbia College

Learn to Teach at Columbia College

Teaching is an art. Master it at Columbia College.

If you are a certified teacher interested in increasing your knowledge and income, then Columbia College's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is for you.

This MAT program is designed with working adults in mind. Columbia College prides itself on offering some of the most affordable, accredited and accommodating programs in the country. As a nonprofit college, the institution's primary stakeholders are its students. This is why Columbia College molds its graduate program to fit even the busiest of schedules thanks to start-and-stop flexibility, convenient eight-week sessions and the option to take classes in the evening (select campuses only) and online. As a result, students will be able to juggle their jobs and family obligations -- all while earning their graduate degrees. Certification requirements may vary by state.

For the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, Columbia College and the Education Faculty have endorsed national certification of teachers, and have adopted the core proposals of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as goals of the program. When conducting best practice, teachers are committed to students and their learning; know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students; are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning; think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and are members of learning communities.

All MAT students who are public school teachers are encouraged to use their program of study as a springboard to obtaining national certification.

A Successful Teaching Environment

To help students reach their goals, Columbia College believes that truly effective teaching must be modeled, not just taught. Therefore, faculty members are encouraged to engage students in active learning, problem solving, research in field situations, interactive dialogue and questioning, and constant exploration of what is and what could be. Students are supported in their efforts to identify and evaluate relevant issues as they relate to various aspects of teaching and learning; to engage in critical and creative thinking with colleagues, peers, and professors; to develop as whole persons, valuing individualism, uniqueness and diversity of others; to consistently use reflection and research as the foundation for decision making; and to value and promote professionalism and a commitment to learning which is never ending.

Columbia College instructors are practicing professionals who have real-world experience and doctorates in the field of education. Online instructors undergo the same credentialing process as the college's full-time, on-campus faculty and receive intensive training for teaching in an online environment.

About Columbia College

Columbia College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college also participates in the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. All online degrees at Columbia College meet the same accreditation standards as its on-campus degrees.

The "US News & World Report" ranked Columbia College in the top tier among America's Best Colleges for the 8th consecutive year, and the "Princeton Review" named Columbia College a 2012 Best Midwestern College. Columbia College has also been recognized as a leader in military-friendly education and was named among the Top Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities for the 4th year in a row. G.I. Jobs magazine also recognized Columbia College as a military-friendly school based on its Yellow Ribbon benefits, military and veteran enrollments, generous transfer credit policies, flexible learning programs and tuition benefits.

Columbia College has a history dating back to 1851 when it was founded in Columbia, Mo., as Christian Female College. The college changed its name in 1970 when it became a 4-year coeducational institution. The Columbia College network extends to more than 34 locations nationwide, with 18 campuses on military bases, plus online. Columbia College educates more than 29,000 students each year and has more than 67,000 alumni worldwide.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 43
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? Yes
• Distance learning programs available? Yes
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Culminating experience
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied59
• Accepted50
• Acceptance Rate84%
• Enrolled49
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $55
• Application Fee - International $55
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline August 9th August 9th Yes
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline December 27th December 27th Yes
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degrees3 letters of recommendation, minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, and resume, goal statement
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 500 paper based, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 15
• Types of financial support availableCareer or Field-Related Internships, Federal Work-Study, Scholarship and/or loans

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students83
• Female Percentage84%
• Male Percentage16%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students83
• Part-time Percentage77%
• Full-time Percentage23%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino4%
• Black / African American1%
• White / Caucasian83%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native1%
• Asian2%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races4%
• Unknown5%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty12
• Full-time Percentage42%
• Part-time Percentage58%
• Female Percentage83%
• Male Percentage17%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchK-12 teaching and schools around the world
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last year$2,250