Option 1: Non-Licensure Option
Admission Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree (non-license program)
Admission to Harding University is determined on an individual basis with the following criteria considered: (1) academic preparation, (2) character, (3) educational interests and (4) academic potential. Effort is made to admit all students who qualify and who can benefit from the unique educational program and opportunities available at Harding irrespective of their religious faith, national origin, sex, race or color. When applying, students should be aware of the distinct purpose of Harding University and be willing to commit themselves to upholding institutional values.
NOTE: This degree does not lead to or add any licensure.
Applicants for the Master of Arts degree program must:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher, or a GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 hours, attested by an official transcript.
- Hold a current teaching license.
Application Procedure
- An application form for admission may be obtained online at www.harding.edu/education or by contacting the chair of Graduate Studies in Education, Box 12261, Searcy, AR 72149-2261; or e-mail gradstudiesedu@harding.edu.
- Applications must be accompanied by a $40 application fee which is not refundable and will not apply against the general registration fee if the applicant enrolls.
Provisional Admission
A student who does not fully meet the requirements listed above may receive provisional admission if he or she:
- Holds a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average below 2.50 but not less than 2.35, attested to by an official transcript. Provisional status is removed when the student completes 12 graduate level hours with at least a 3.0 grade point average, six of which must be in the academic area of concentration.
- Holds a provisional teacher’s license. Provisional status is removed when the student submits an initial five-year license before the provisional license expires. This applies to all programs requiring a teaching license as a prerequisite.
Prerequisites
The student must hold a current teaching license.
Other Program Requirements
Upon acceptance into the program, students must consult with director of their program concerning the required course of study, register for classes online through Campus Pipeline each semester, and complete financial registration with the Business Office online.
Graduate students taking 500-level courses concurrently with undergraduate students taking the corresponding 300- and 400-level courses will be assigned additional work.
All work must be completed within a period of eight calendar years. Course work taken more than eight years before graduation will not be acceptable.
Transfer Students
Correspondence credit will not apply toward the master’s degree. Students may transfer from other graduate schools, subject to the approval of the chair of graduate studies, a maximum of 3 semester hours of elective credit in which they have earned a “B” or higher. This should be done at the time of application to the program. To be considered for transfer, courses taken at other universities must have been taken prior to beginning the M.A.T. program but still fall within the time limitation for finishing the degree.
Academic Standing Requirements
These requirements are common to all programs in education and are listed in the Cannon-Clary College of Education section.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
Requests for degree may be submitted prior to a student’s final semester but must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester. The graduation fee must be paid to the Business Office the last semester before graduation.
To earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (non-licensure option), a student must successfully complete the following 35 semester hours of coursework. These requirements must be completed within eight years of graduation. (Prerequisite: Current teaching license.)
Option 2: Licensure Option
The areas of licensure available under this option include:
P-4
Early Childhood
4-8
Language Arts and Social Science
Math and Science
7-12
English
Family and Consumer Science
Foreign Language (Spanish/French)
Life Science/Earth Science
Mathematics
Physical Science/Earth Science
Social Studies (Arkansas history course required)
Speech/Drama
P-12
Art
Kinesiology/Health
Music (vocal/instrumental)
Candidates pursuing this degree can select one of two tracks:
Track 1 – Provisional Licensure – 38 hours
Candidates will secure a teaching position as a teacher seeking non-traditional licensure and will become eligible for and obtain a provisional license in the area of expertise in which they are seeking licensure. Candidates must begin work on their degree during the summer semester prior to beginning full-time teaching in the fall.
Track 2 – Traditional Student Teaching – 38 hours
Candidates will follow a more traditional teacher preparation program culminating with a semester of student teaching.
Admission Requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree-Licensure Option (both tracks):
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Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher, or a GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 hours, attested by an official transcript. In addition:
Early Childhood Licensure (P-4) - Candidates must have taken the following courses or their equivalent:
EDFD 203 – Child and Adolescent Development (3 credit hours)
HIST 336/536 – Arkansas History (3 credit hours)
RDNG 412/512 – Emergent Literacy (3 credit hours)
RDNG 413/513 – Language Arts and Literacy (3 credit hours)
Middle Level Licensure (4-8) - Candidates must have taken the following courses or their equivalent:
HIST 336/536 Arkansas History (3 credit hours)
RDNG 412/512 Emergent Literacy (3 credit hours)
RDNG 413/513 Language Arts and Literacy (3 credit hours)
Secondary Licensure (7-12 or P-12) - Candiates must have a major or minor (or the equivalent of 30 credit hours) in the area in which they are seeking licensure.
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Test Scores –
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Praxis I – Scores must meet the state required minimums.
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Praxis II – Specialty area exams – Scores must meet the state required minimums.
- Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) - Scores must meet the state reuirement minimums. (Taken immediately after completing EDFD 611 .)
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GRE or MAT
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Graduate Record Exam (GRE) – target score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections.
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Miller Analogies Test (MAT) – target score of 380.
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TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language – Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a minimum score of 550 unless they already hold a degree from a regionally accredited American college or university.
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Three references are required from people familiar with the applicant’s professional or academic performance.
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Upon evaluation of an applicant’s transcript, leveling courses may be required to meet licensure requirements (i.e. a minimum of 30 hours in the area the candidate is seeking licensure). Professional Track (Track 1) applicants must also:
- Submit a satisfactory Criminal Background Check to the Arkansas Department of Education and the FBI and a Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check to the Arkansas Department of Human Services as required by the state of Arkansas.
- Procure a teaching position within a K-12 school system to begin in the fall following the summer of their admission to the program.
- Complete the Arkansas Department of Education application for a provisional teaching license.
- Submit a copy of ADE Provisional Teaching License prior to beginning teaching
- Submit a copy of a current teaching contract to verify employment prior to beginning teaching.
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Provisional Admission
An applicant may be admitted provisionally without submitting a Praxis II or GRE/MAT score, but must submit an acceptable score during the first semester admitted.
Other Program Requirements
Upon acceptance into the program, students must consult with director of their program concerning the required course of study, register for classes online through Campus Pipeline each semester, and complete financial registration with the Business Office online.
Graduate students taking 500-level courses concurrently with undergraduate students taking the corresponding 300- and 400-level courses will be assigned additional work.
All work must be completed within a period of eight calendar years. Course work taken more than eight years before graduation will not be acceptable.
Transfer Students
Correspondence credit will not apply toward the master’s degree. Students may transfer from other graduate schools, subject to the approval of the chair of graduate studies, a maximum of 6 semester hours of resident graduate work in which they have earned a “B” or higher. All coursework to be transferred must be completed before a student’s last semester.
Academic Standing Requirements
These requirements are common to all programs in education and are listed in the Cannon-Clary College of Education section.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
Requests for degree may be submitted prior to a student’s final semester but must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester. The graduation fee must be paid to the Business Office the last semester before graduation.
To earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (licensure option), a student following Track 1 or Track 2 must successfully complete the following 38 semester hours of coursework. However, students pursuing Track 1 must complete all coursework within two years, which is the maximum validity of a Provisional Teaching License issued by the state of Arkansas. Track 2 students must complete all requirements within eight years of beginning their program of study.
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