4+1 Regents B.A. to M.A.T. and Teacher Certification

Current Shepherd University undergraduate students may be eligible for the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree program and select up to four graduate courses (12 graduate credits). Students reduce the number of hours required to complete the bachelor’s degree by the number of graduate hours they complete (up to a maximum of 12). The courses taken at the graduate level count toward the fulfillment of the necessary 39 hours for the M.A.T. degree. Students must earn at least a ‘C’ grade on graduate courses to matriculate into the degree program and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.

A student may apply to the Accelerated Bachelor’s/M.A.T. program when:
• 75 undergraduate hours are completed with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 OR
• 60 undergraduate hours are completed with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0,
• Content courses completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5, and
• Grade of ‘C’ or better is received in COMM 202, ENGL 101, and ENGL 102.
• Completion of at least 50% of prerequisite coursework in a selected teaching concentration.

Endorsement is obtained from the undergraduate advisor for the following:
• Ability to handle graduate level coursework concurrently with undergraduate courses.
• Ability to manage complex schedule involving field placement.
• Interpersonal abilities to work with teachers and public-school students.

All students will work closely with their undergraduate advisor and the M.A.T. program coordinator to make sure they are selecting
coursework that covers both degree requirements. Each semester, an Accelerated Bachelor’s/M.A.T. registration form requiring both the
undergraduate and graduate advisors’ signatures for enrollment in graduate level classes is required prior to the undergraduate
graduation. This form should be turned into the Graduate Studies Office, and a copy will be sent to the Registrar to authorize course
registration at the appropriate level and assign waivers to undergraduate requirements once the graduate course is satisfactorily
completed.

Additionally, students are encouraged to meet with the University’s Financial Aid Office since financial assistance (whether in the form of
grants, scholarships, loans, etc.) is unique to each student/family situation.

Graduate coursework/credit will appear ONLY on the graduate transcript, and graduate course grades will be calculated at the graduate
level. The undergraduate transcript will indicate that graduate courses were used to fulfill the undergraduate requirement(s). Each degree
is awarded once the specific degree requirements are successfully met.

Contact: Sherry Donovan, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, 304-876-5010 or Dr. LeAnn Johnson, M.A.T Program Coordinator, 304-876-5508