Earn your teaching license and make a difference in Mississippi classrooms through flexible, affordable pathways to teaching.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, the Master of Education in Teaching Arts at Mississippi College gives you an alternate route to becoming a licensed teacher in elementary or secondary education. You’ll gain the knowledge, hands-on experience, and support you need to step confidently into the classroom and start making a difference in local schools.
Elementary Licensure Secondary Licensure
For K-6 elementary licensure, you can choose between two, 33 credit-hour pathways: the Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) or the Conventional Alternate Route. Both lead to your master’s degree and full licensure, with differences in admission requirements, clinical experience, and the timing of licensure assessments.
The MTR pathway is a hands-on, accelerated option that allows you to begin teaching while completing your degree. You’ll gain real classroom experience through a guided residency while working toward licensure.
MTR Program Highlights:
*Limited grant funding is available for candidates in the MTR pathway and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify, candidates must commit to teaching in a district designated as a Geographic Shortage Area.
With the Conventional Alternate Route pathway, you’ll complete all testing requirements before entering the program. This pathway gives you the added confidence of having met licensure exam requirements before stepping into a full-time, elementary teaching role.
If you plan to teach at the secondary level, you’ll follow a structured alternate pathway designed to prepare you for subject-specific instruction and classroom success. These programs require you to complete all licensure exams before entering the program and stepping into a full-time, teaching role.
Earn your license to teach grades 7-12 in select content areas:
Earn your license to teach grades K-12 in select endorsement areas:
The degree consists of the following requirements:
Pre-teaching Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6506 – Classroom Management for Elementary and Secondary Teachers (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6554 – Tests and Measurement (3 sem. Hrs.)
PSY 5435 – Psychology of Exceptional Children (3 sem. hrs.)
Following the successful completion of PSY 5435, EDU 6506, and EDU 6554, candidates may apply for a Special Class Mississippi A Educator License. This three-year non-renewable license permits candidates to teach grades 4–6 in a Mississippi public school while completing the remaining degree requirements.
Internship Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6537 – Dimensions of Learning I (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6538 – Dimensions of Learning II (3 sem. hrs.)
Students must be admitted into the program; complete EDU 6506, EDU 6554, and PSY 5435; and provide a copy of a valid teaching contract with a Mississippi public school prior to enrollment in either EDU 6537 or EDU 6538. Students may not complete EDU 6537 or EDU 6538 while teaching under an emergency, or interim, license. In addition, students must be contracted to teach in their initially licensed subject area.
After completing the pre-teaching courses, internship requirements, and additional coursework (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, EDU 6554, EDU 6537, and EDU 6538), candidates may apply for a Mississippi A Educator License (5-year renewable).
Education Core Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6504 – Research – Methods and Procedures (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6540 – STEM: Project-Based Science Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6439 – Advanced Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
Specialized Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6467 – Advanced Early Literacy I (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6468 – Advanced Early Literacy II (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6488 – Advanced Diagnosing and Assessing Reading Difficulties in Children (3 sem. hrs.)
TOTAL: 33 semester hours
The degree consists of the following requirements:
Pre-Teaching Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6506 – Classroom Management for Elementary and Secondary Teachers (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6554 – Tests and Measurement (3 sem. hrs.)
PSY 5435 – Psychology of Exceptional Children (3 sem. hrs.)
Following the successful completion of the required pre-teaching courses (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, and EDU 6554), candidates may apply for a Special Class A Mississippi Educator License (3-year non-renewable) with the Mississippi Department of Education. This special license permits candidates to teach in a Mississippi public school in their area of initial licensure.
Internship Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6537 – Dimensions of Learning I (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6538 – Dimensions of Learning II (3 sem. hrs.)
Students must be admitted into the program; complete EDU 6506, EDU 6554, and PSY 5435; and provide a copy of a valid teaching contract with a Mississippi public school prior to enrollment in either EDU 6537 or EDU 6538. Students may not complete EDU 6537 or EDU 6538 while teaching under an emergency, or interim, license. In addition, students must be contracted to teach in their initially licensed subject area.
After completing the pre-teaching courses, internship requirements, and additional coursework (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, EDU 6554, EDU 6537, and EDU 6538), candidates may apply for a Mississippi A Educator License (5-year renewable).
Education Core Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6504 – Research – Methods and Procedures (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6540 – STEM: Project-Based Science Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
Specialized Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6523 – Current Methodology in Secondary Education (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6439 – Advanced Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6535 – Curriculum Development (3 sem. hrs.)
TOTAL: 30 semester hours
The degree consists of the following requirements:
Pre-Teaching Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6506 – Classroom Management for Elementary and Secondary
Teachers (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6554 – Tests and Measurement (3 sem. hrs.)
PSY 5435 – Psychology of Exceptional Children (3 sem. hrs.)
Following the successful completion of the required pre-teaching courses (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, and EDU 6554), candidates may apply for a Special Class A Mississippi Educator License (3-year non-renewable) with the Mississippi Department of Education. This special license permits candidates to teach in a Mississippi public school in their area of initial licensure.
Internship Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6537 – Dimensions of Learning I (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6538 – Dimensions of Learning II (3 sem. hrs.)
Students must be admitted into the program; complete EDU 6506, EDU 6554, and PSY 5435; and provide a copy of a valid teaching contract with a Mississippi public school prior to enrollment in either EDU 6537 or EDU 6538. Students may not complete EDU 6537 or EDU 6538 while teaching under an emergency, or interim, license. In addition, students must be contracted to teach in their initially licensed subject area.
After completing the pre-teaching courses, internship requirements, and additional coursework (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, EDU 6554, EDU 6537, and EDU 6538), candidates may apply for a Mississippi A Educator License (5-year renewable).
Education Core Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6504 – Research – Methods and Procedures (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6540 – STEM: Project-Based Science Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
Specialized Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6523 – Current Methodology in Secondary Education (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6439 – Advanced Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6535 – Curriculum Development (3 sem. hrs.)
TOTAL: 30 semester hours
The degree consists of the following requirements:
Pre-teaching Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6506 – Classroom Management for Elementary and Secondary Teachers (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6554 – Tests and Measurement (3 sem. Hrs.)
PSY 5435 Psychology of Exceptional Children (3 sem. hrs.)
Following the successful completion of the required pre-teaching courses (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, and EDU 6554), candidates may apply for a Special Class Mississippi A Educator License (3-year non-renewable) with the Mississippi Department of Education. This special license permits candidates to teach in a Mississippi public school in their area of initial licensure.
Internship Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6537 – Dimensions of Learning I (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6538 – Dimensions of Learning II (3 sem. hrs.)
Students must be admitted into the program; complete EDU 6506, EDU 6554, and PSY 5435; and provide a copy of a valid teaching contract with a Mississippi public school prior to enrollment in either EDU 6537 or EDU 6538. Students may not complete EDU 6537 or EDU 6538 while teaching under an emergency, or interim, license. In addition, students must be contracted to teach in their initially licensed subject area.
After completing the pre-teaching courses, internship requirements, and additional coursework (PSY 5435, EDU 6506, EDU 6554, EDU 6537, and EDU 6538), candidates may apply for a Mississippi A Educator License (5-year renewable).
Education Core Courses (6 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6504- Research – Methods and Procedures (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6540 – STEM: Project-Based Science Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
Specialized Courses (9 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6523 - Current Methodology in Secondary Education (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6439 – Advanced Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (3 sem. hrs.)
EDU 6535 - Curriculum Development (3 sem. hrs.).
TOTAL: 30 semester hours
Explore admission, maintenance and graduation requirements for our alternative route programs.
