Master of Arts in Teaching Grades 1 - 5
Overview
The Elementary Holmes Program is a one-year master’s program for candidates who have completed an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from LSU. In the second semester of one’s senior year a series of Holmes pre-requisite courses are taken once admitted into the Holmes Program. The graduate year is designed to give candidates thoughtful experiences with practice and theory with a focus on preparing candidates to be 21st century educators. Successful candidates are awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and teacher certification in grades 1-5. The coursework completed for the Holmes Program may lead toward additional certifications.
What is the difference between the four year and the Elementary Holmes Program?
Elementary Holmes candidates complete a pedagogical and content concentration as undergraduates in lieu of student teaching. The undergraduate Holmes concentration enhances the pedagogical resources and content knowledge of prospective teachers prior to their graduate year. The concentration is intended to assure that each Elementary Holmes candidate has the subject matter expertise and pedagogical approaches that will aid in the crafting of curriculum.
Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree, candidates enter the Elementary Holmes Program for a graduate year of study (summer, fall, and spring). During the graduate year, candidates complete extensive master’s-level coursework, an intense year-long candidate teaching internship, and a teacher action research project, which is presented at the Holmes conference in the spring of the graduate year and submitted for possible publishing to appropriate peer reviewed journals. Graduates leave LSU with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and teacher certification in grades 1-5. The coursework completed leads toward additional endorsements.
During the Holmes Program, students take graduate level courses with a reading focus to assist them in adding on additional reading endorsements after the completion of three years of teaching experience (add-on endorsement requirements are set by the Louisiana State Department of Education and are subject to change).
The intensive program helps future teachers become reflexive 21st century practitioners capable of assuming leadership positions in diverse elementary-level schools. Elementary Holmes graduates are viewed as more experienced beginning teachers due to their extensive content and pedagogical knowledge and field experiences during the graduate year.
What are the undergraduate course requirements for the Elementary Holmes concentration and when are they taken?
The undergraduate Holmes concentration enhances the pedagogical resources and content knowledge of prospective teachers prior to the graduate year for those accepted into the graduate program. The concentration is intended to assure that each Elementary Holmes candidate has the subject-matter expertise and pedagogical approaches to aid in the crafting of authentic curriculum.
Candidates apply for admission during the spring of the junior year and admission decisions are finalized in the fall of the senior year. Once admitted into the Holmes Program candidates will register for the required concentration courses which are taken in the spring of the senior year.
The undergraduate concentration will consist of the following courses:
- EDCI 2272 Art Education for Elementary Schools (3)
- Math/Natural Science Course (3) - select a course from a pre-approved set of course offerings
- Social Science Course (3) - select a course from a pre-approved set of course offerings
- EDCI 4710 Consultation, Collaboration, and Co-teaching (3)
- EDCI 7131 Disciplinary Literacy (3) - taken for graduate credit, applies toward MAT
When do I apply for the Elementary Holmes Program?
The new program approach allows candidates to complete the traditional sequence of coursework required for the four-year bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education until the spring of the senior year. Candidates wishing to enter the Elementary Holmes Program will now begin to apply during the spring of the junior year and admission decisions will be finalized during the fall of the senior year.
Candidates applying for admission into the Elementary Holmes Program should follow the timeline below in regards to the application process. Please contact the Office of Student Services with any questions regarding the application process and timeline.
- Follow the undergraduate Elementary Education Recommended Path regarding needed course and critical requirements
- Meet with the Office of Student Services, 236 Peabody Hall to discuss the structure of the Elementary Holmes Program
- Attend an Elementary Holmes Informational Meeting during the fall semester (all Elementary Education candidates are notified via email of the meeting date)
- Follow the undergraduate Elementary Education Recommended Path regarding needed course and critical requirements
- Meet with the Office of Student Services, 236 Peabody Hall to discuss the structure of the Elementary Holmes Program
- Attend an Elementary Holmes Informational Meeting during the fall semester (all Elementary Education candidates are notified via email of the meeting date
- Pass all PRAXIS I (Reading, Writing, and Math) tests or meet the PRAXIS I Waiver (ACT/SAT score of 22/1100 or higher on file with LSU)
- Follow the undergraduate Elementary Education Recommended Path regarding needed course and critical requirements
- Meet with the Office of Student Services, 236 Peabody Hall to discuss the structure of the Elementary Holmes Program
- Attend an Elementary Holmes Application Meeting (February*)
- Take the GRE (more information on GRE) in the spring of the junior year. The GRE may be taken once every 60 days. Applicants to the Holmes Program are required to submit GRE scores by the first day of the fall semester of the senior year
- Meet the Elementary Holmes admission gpa of at least a 3.0
- Obtain an Elementary Holmes Application Packet from the Office of Student Services in August.* These are sent via email to interested candidates.
- Submit all application materials by the first week of school during the fall of the senior year
- Take required PRAXIS II tests
- Candidates admitted into the Holmes Program must complete the Holmes concentration courses in the spring of the senior year rather than student teaching like their four year program peers
*Dates are subject to change
What are the admission requirements for the Elementary Holmes Program?
Candidates applying for the Elementary Holmes Program should meet the following requirements:
- 3.00 undergraduate gpa
- “C” or better in all required courses for the degree in Elementary Education
- Passing Praxis Core (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) scores or ACT/SAT score of 22/1100 or higher on file with LSU
- Passing Praxis Specific Tests
- Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (test #5001, qualifying scores Reading and Language Arts Subtest 157; Mathematics Subtest 157; Social Studies Subtest 155; Science Subtest 159)
- Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 (test #5622, qualifying score 160)
- Acceptable GRE scores
- Candidates should have at least a 153 on the verbal portion of the GRE and at least a 144 on the quantitative portion of the GRE.
- It is further recommended by the Holmes faculty, that candidates have a 3.5 or higher on the analytical writing portion of the GRE.
- Admission to the LSU Graduate School
*Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the Elementary Holmes Program
* Admission into the LSU Graduate School does not guarantee acceptance into the Elementary Holmes Program.
What will the Elementary Holmes application process require?
Candidates applying to the Holmes Program must attend an Elementary Holmes Application meeting in the spring of their junior year to learn the specifics of the application process. During the application process candidates must present passing scores on all required tests (Praxis Core or meet Praxis Core Waiver, Praxis Specific Tests, and GRE), complete the online LSU Graduate School application, an on-site writing prompt, and attend an interview with the Holmes admission committee.
What can I expect during the graduate year of the Elementary Holmes Program?
The Elementary Holmes Program is 3 semesters long (summer, fall, and spring) and consists of the completion of graduate level coursework, a school-year long student teaching internship, and a teacher action research project that is presented at the Holmes conference in the spring of the graduate year and submitted to peer reviewed journals for possible publication.
In addition to the graduate course taken in the spring of the senior year, candidates take the following courses during the graduate year of the Elementary Holmes Program:
Required coursework
EDCI 7482 Seminar in Teaching Research I (3)
EDCI 7483 Seminar in Teaching Research II (3)
EDCI 7105 Literacy for Elementary Grades (3)
EDCI 7480 Teaching Practicum I (6)
EDCI 7682 Diagnosis/Assessment in Literacy (3)
EDCI 7484 Master’s Project I (3)
EDCI 7481 Teaching Practicum II (6)
EDCI 7683 Guiding Classroom Literacy Instruction (3)
EDCI 7485 Master’s Project II (3)
Teacher Education Disclosure
The Holmes MAT Elementary Education program meets the educational eligibility criteria for certification in Elementary Grades 1-5 in the State of Louisiana. Graduates of this Louisiana state-approved teacher preparation program will qualify for a Level 1 Professional Certificate and the English as a Second Language endorsement. Graduates of the program who wish to teach in another U.S. state or country may require additional eligibility criteria to qualify for licensure and/or certification in those locations. We are unable to confirm the licensure and/or certification requirements of other states or countries. Therefore, if you intend to pursue such credentialing in another state or elsewhere, it is advised that you contact the applicable state or country credentialing authority to familiarize yourself with its specific requirements and determine if this program meets the applicable eligibility criteria. If you have additional questions in this regard, please contact us to assist you in your career planning.
Procedures for filing appeals and complaints are accessed here.