Education Degrees Offered at North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina A&T University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best MATs in Elementary Education Online.
Through the College of Education at North Carolina A&T University, students can earn degrees in multiple subjects. It offers both a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and a Master of Arts in Education with concentrations in elementary education. The MAT program includes concentrations in chemistry, biology, math, English, special education and other fields. Depending on their concentrations, students may prepare to work in a K-12 setting or a 9-12 setting.
The university’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education is open to all types of undergrads. It helps students become licensed teachers in North Carolina and meet the state’s requirements for getting their licenses. The program features two clinical practice classes. In the first clinical practice, students observe teachers in the field. The second phase requires that students create lesson plans and assign work to their students. Some of the classes in the bachelor’s program include Language Arts in Elementary Schools, Behavior Management, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and Diagnostic Assessment and IEP.
Another version of the bachelor’s program is a dual-track that lets students earn licenses in both elementary education and special education to work in K-6 settings. It takes around five years to complete both degrees and allows students to take classes that earn them credit in both. Students need to meet certain requirements to enroll in both programs.
Also available is a Master of Science (MS) in School Counseling, which includes evening classes. Students only need to spend one night on the North Carolina A&T University campus. They also have the option of taking summer classes to graduate in less than three years. Those who only take classes during the two main semesters will spend more than three years in the program. The program lets students qualify to take the exam required of school counselors. Students can also earn an MS in Adult Education, which prepares them for working on vocational schools, community colleges and other settings with adult learners.
About North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina A&T University is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina and one of the state’s only historically all-black colleges. Established in 1891 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, it initially offered classes in math, horticulture, agriculture, and English. Since moving to Greensboro, the college became North Carolina A&T University a part of the University of North Carolina School System. Its official name is the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, but it uses nicknames such as NC A&T and A&T. U.S. News and World Report ranks A&T as the best public historically all-black college in the nation and the seventh out of all similar schools. It also ranks on the list of the best social mobility colleges by College Net. Money Magazine named NC A&T as the best university in the UNC system in terms of future earnings potential too.
North Carolina A&T University Accreditation Details
NC A&T has regional accreditation, which gives it the authority to offer degree programs at the top three levels. It comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). With this accreditation, students can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and get help paying their costs. All of the A&T education programs have accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) too.
North Carolina A&T University Application Requirements
Undergrads applying to any of the A&T education programs need to meet the university’s general admissions requirements. This includes providing a transcript that shows the student took 15 units of English, social studies, foreign language, math and science courses. They need to take Algebra I and II as well as Geometry. Students who are over the age of 21 need to show that they a GED or a high school diploma. A&T asks for a standardized test score and an application with an application fee too. All of the university’s education programs require a high school grade point average of 2.8 or higher, scores of C or higher in all education classes and the passing of a criminal background check. A passing score on the PRAXIS exam is required for admission to the elementary and special education programs.
The university’s MAT program will only accept students who took at least 24 credits of teaching and education classes at the undergraduate level and a grade point average of 2.8 or higher. Students with a lower GPA may attend the university but will need to take more introduction courses. Those who do not have degrees in education will likely need to take prerequisites from North Carolina A&T too. Applying to a graduate program requires that students apply online and then submit a personal statement, letters of recommendation and their college transcripts. North Carolina A&T has a priority deadline of February first and a final deadline of January first. It needs to receive all documents and the student’s application fee by one of these deadlines.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads at NC A&T can qualify for a fixed tuition rate, which saves them from any tuition increases later. North Carolina residents pay $4,691.91 each semester to take 12 or more credits. Nonresident undergrads pay $11,396.91 each semester. For a traditional double or shared dorm room, they’ll pay an extra $2,104.50 every semester. Students also need to purchase a meal plan that starts at $1,806.70 and gives them 10 meals every week. Graduate students at the university take nine credits to qualify as full-time students. They pay $5,244.41 every semester as a resident and $11,644.41 as a nonresident.
Any student attending A&T can qualify for a financial aid package once they file the FAFSA. Work-study is available for all students and includes positions on and away from the campus for undergrads as well as assistantships for graduate students. There are federal loans available for students that include PLUS programs for graduate students and the parents of undergrads. Students can get scholarships from A&T too, but the university does not automatically award all of these funds to incoming students. Some programs require that students submit separate applications to the College of Education. That department and North Carolina A&T University offer financial aid options that cover the total cost of enrollment.