Master of Arts in Teaching

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree prepares you not only for the practical duties associated with teaching - this takes you to a new level in your teaching career. This master’s degree program provides teachers the opportunity to earn an advanced degree that will raise their income as well as empower them to be highly effective and qualified teachers.

An education is something no one can take away from you, and you’ll get the full value of a Master’s degree at SNU. Our classes are designed by educators and for educators. Classes take place in locations across Oklahoma so you can attend in a location convenient to you. Apply today to begin your journey toward a meaningful career as a teacher, wherever you choose to serve

week course format

start dates per year

Graduate in as few as

18 months

total credit hours

$490

per credit hour

Learn one night a week on campus or 100% online

How it Works

Earning a degree while working full time or raising a family has never been more possible. Here’s why adult students are thriving and reaching their goals at SNU:
- Classes take place Wednesday nights face to face, or fully online
- Students focus on one class at a time before moving on to the next.
- Students study alongside other adults in similar stages of life.
- Instructors with vast amounts of experience guide students through courses.
- Textbooks can be delivered directly to your door at the beginning of each class.

Financial Aid Opportunities

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides funds to students who are enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program of study, at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program.

Students must agree to teach full time for at least four years in a high-need field at a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency.

They must also meet other requirements and complete TEACH Grant counseling and the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay. Learn more about the types of counseling for TEACH Grants and check your counseling status here.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans.

Courses

MAT supports students for the practical duties of their future career as a teacher— and it also prepares them to enter the field as an insightful, well-rounded individual ready to make a difference. For an in-depth understanding of learning outcomes, review the courses and descriptions below.

The Art of Teaching

Credit hours: 3

An introductory course exploring the historical and practical aspects of American education. Students evaluate current educational trends, issues, and practices. They also explore teaching as an art and what it takes to become a truly outstanding teacher.

Classroom Leadership

Credit hours: 3

This course focuses on three approaches to classroom management: proactive, responsive, and supportive. The candidate will complete and submit the assignments online through Performance Learning systems (PLS).

Educational Technology

Credit hours: 3

This course provides an examination of the characteristics of teaching and learning with technology. Students will become proficient in using a variety of computer application tools and in integrating those tools across the curriculum. Students will explore questions related to the sociological, psychological, developmental, and ethical implications of technology use and the appropriate use of advanced computer applications in classrooms. The goal of the course is to not only create a comfort level with the use of instructional technology but also to simply expose students to different possibilities as they expand their knowledge and form their own processes of utilizing technology in their teaching practice.

Educational Psychology

Credit hours: 3

This course will cover the intermediate application of educational psychology theories and integrated understandings that can be used to develop more effective instruction. Students will practice using student interviews and existing information to develop a comprehensive understanding of a student from a wide variety of perspectives (i.e., multicultural, motivational, behavioral, etc.)

Reading Assessment and Instruction

Credit hours: 3

The focus of this course is on the necessity of using assessment as part of the teaching/learning process. Emphasis is placed on authentic classroom assessment as well as on standardized assessment and the relationship of assessment to standards and learning. Students will develop four types of authentic assessment.

*Elementary (PreK-5) Education Majors only

Secondary Teaching Methods

Credit hours: 3

This course will provide teachers with information and experiences that will help them develop and deliver effective instructional programs across four curricular areas in secondary grades (6-12). Major areas of content focus are the nature of the teaching/learning process, including research-based models of instruction, planning, classroom management, learning environments, motivation, and student engagement. Teachers will become familiar with and demonstrate evidence of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for effective teaching.

*Secondary Education Majors only

Sociology Cultures/Communities/Schools

Credit hours: 3

Candidates will develop an understanding of the diversity that exists in the local community and how the school should respond. Discussion will also center on promoting the value of local school/community cultures.

Legal Implications for Teaching

Credit hours: 3

This course is intended to familiarize students with case and statutory law which help students develop the skills to effectively identify legal issues within the educational environment. Students will be expected to apply their knowledge of education law to the development of school practices which inform those practices and decision making.

Collaborative/Interdisciplinary Teaching Methods

Credit hours: 3

This course will address the theoretical frameworks and assessments for consultation and collaboration including paraprofessionals and student families. Professional relationships with teaching faculty will be targeted as academic and behavioral support are needed to ensure student success.

Professional Focus Capstone

Credit hours: 3

The Professional Focus Capstone is a field-based course that provides students background knowledge of child and adolescent development principles as well as principles of effective teaching and training practices. Students in the course work under the joint direction and supervision of both a teacher with knowledge of early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence education and exemplary educators in direct instructional roles with elementary-, middle school-, and high school-aged students.

Internship

Credit hours: 3

The Internship represents the culminating experience for MAT Degree in the preparation of prospective teachers as knowledgeable, reflective practitioners and emerging leaders who conduct themselves ethically and professionally. The semester-long internship provides students many opportunities within diverse classroom settings to refine the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they have developed as active participants in the MAT Program.

Meet our SNU Faculty

jjones218@snu.edu

Dr. John R. Jones

Program Director

Dr. John R. Jones is Professor and Director of Master of Arts and Teaching Program at Southern Nazarene University. Prior to coming to SNU he served as program area coordinator for the educational leadership program in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. Beginning with the academic year of 2022 he will be starting his 51^styear in education. For sixteen of those years he served as a public-school teacher and high school principal in three different Oklahoma School Districts. In 1986 he transitioned into higher education, which has allowed him to serve at four different universities in three states. His leadership experience is very extensive as ten of those years he served as a university vice president, five years as a graduate dean, and eight years as a dean of a college of education.

In 2015 he started working for the second time for the University of Oklahoma His experiences in public-school and in higher education have given him a rich background that allows him to see things through multiple lenses. You will see from his teaching he is a firm believer in helping individuals build their artistic skills that are associated with teaching.

Regarding this, his leadership and teaching experiences have afforded him the expertise needed to publish numerous articles that relate specifically to instructional leadership and teaching and learning.

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scase@snu.edu

Dr. Stephoni Case

Education and Leadership

Dr. Stephoni Case has served as Director of the Master’s in Educational Leadership and the Director of the Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership at SNU since 2014 and 2018. Her commitment to building strong education leaders runs deep, and she has experienced growth and professional success with learners in the Master’s program. Dr. Case also led the way to launch the Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (DEAL) in the Spring of 2019. With the help of an incredible group of leaders in higher education, she welcomed more than 100 students into their doctoral journey in the program’s first year.

Outside of the classroom Dr. Case is an active member in the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and National Education Finance Association (NEFA). Her research agenda includes study of the intersections of religiosity and decision making, as well as culture and school finance.

Dr. Case brings a variety of experience to our students serving as:

- Assistant Professor in English at SNU from 1992 - 2009

- Program Director and Instructor for The Center for School Business Management at Oklahoma State University from 2010 - 2014

- SNU Professor and Program Director for Master's in Educational Leadership (MAEL) (since 2014- to present)

- Program Director for Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (DEAL) (since 2018 -to present)

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kshellen1@snu.edu

Dr. Kent Shellenberger

Education and Leadership

Kent Shellenberger, Ed.D, is a career educator with 45 years of professional experiences in common and higher education. He currently serves as an instructor in the traditional and graduate SNU programs. Dr. Shellenberger’s professional involvement includes: active state involvement as the elected member of the American Association of School Administrators’ governing board and Oklahoma Federal Relations Representative; member of the State Superintendent Advisory Council; Legislative Liaison for United Suburban Schools Association; Cooperative Council of School Administrators (CCOSA) Innovative Leadership Academy and a governor appointed board member of the Oklahoma Educational Quality and Accountability Commission (OEQA) and the Specials Needs’ Task Force Legislative Committee.

Dr. Shellenberger’s dissertation was “PRINCIPALS’ AND TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF LEADER SUCCESSION IN SELECTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.” He has been a presenter at the First Year Superintendent’s Academy and breakout facilitator of OSSBA/CCOSA annual convention. He also authored quarterly articles for Better Schools while president of CCOSA, OASA and Federal Relations Representative. Dr. Shellenberger was recognized as Oklahoma State Superintendent of the Year and is a member of the Oklahoma Educator’s Hall of Fame.

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Admission Steps

Enrolling at SNU is a simple process. With rolling start dates, there’s no need to wait months at a time to begin your educational journey. Once you have earned your bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA* from an accredited university, take the following steps:

Step 1. Apply online at degrees.snu.edu/apply.

Step 2. Complete your FAFSA at fafsa.gov using school code 003149.

Step 3. Send official transcripts to SNU at pgsadmissions@snu.edu or ATTN: PGS Admissions, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008.

Step 4. Submit a one-paragraph essay explaining why you want to pursue this degree.

After you submit your application and all materials, you will be contacted about your acceptance and how to enroll.

*Students who do not meet GPA requirements may earn provisional acceptance upon approval by the MAT Program Director and will require that provisionally accepted students must attain the grade of B (3.0) or above in the first term of the MAT program.

[Note that according to the Oklahoma’s Guidelines and Eligibility for the Alternative Placement Program, “To be eligible for Alternative Placement certification, applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree with a retention GPA of 2.5 or higher from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE).” There will be applicants whose undergraduate GPA falls between 2.5 and 3.0; these applicants may be admitted by the MAT program Program Director on a provisional basis.]

Program Resources

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Designed by educators for educators ~ become a highly effective and qualified teacher.

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Program Overview

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How it Works