Jackson State University and Education Online Services Corporation Announce Launch of the Master of Arts in Teaching Online Program

Jackson, MS, November 30, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The College of Education and Human Development at Jackson State University announces the launch of the online degree program for the Master of Arts in Teaching for the Spring 2012 semester. This announcement comes on the heels of the successful launch of Jackson State’s online MBA program for the College of Business which started classes this past August. Implementation of this degree program is a joint collaboration between Jackson State University and Education Online Services Corporation (EOServe Corp). Classes are forming now and are scheduled to begin on January 9, 2012.

"America needs more qualified teachers and we, at Jackson State, are happy to provide them," said Dr. Mark G. Hardy, Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs, Jackson State University. "We are continuing our long-standing tradition of preparing some of our country's best educators."

The Master of Arts in Teaching program focuses on expanding and enhancing alternate certification through high quality state approved teaching and learning curriculum. The Program’s mission is to provide state and national teacher preparation experiences to bachelor level graduates from diverse fields and professional experiential backgrounds who desire to teach in our nation’s K-12 education system. It is through these experiences that standard licenses are earned and highly credentialed teachers are placed in our nation’s schools.

“We are excited about our relationship with EOServe. It is through this relationship that we are able to bring our Family Care and Early Childhood program to many who otherwise would not have this opportunity. We feel the MAT program with EOServe Corp. will be another great opportunity to address the teacher shortage in America. We are elated to have EOServe Corp. as a partner along with their tremendous professionalism and expertise,” said Dr. Daniel Watkins, Dean of the College of Education.

Completing the Master of Arts in Teaching degree can provide added value on a new teacher’s resume as this advanced degree usually commands a higher salary and the general perception is individuals with Master of Arts in Teaching degrees are “teacher leaders.”

“We are greatly pleased to have some many good things in place at Jackson State University to allow us the opportunity to deliver our Master of Arts in Teaching Program online. This is a true reflection of the hard work that our students, faculty and staff have displayed over the years. Through it all, the College of Education remains 'at point' and continues to prepare high performing teachers and school leaders capable of impacting the world. We are excited for the opportunity!” exclaimed Dr. William Brown, Director of the Masters of Arts in Teaching program.

The online degree curriculum consists of 36 credit hours. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average. Federal financial aid is also available to applicants who qualify.

“Over the past year we have been working closely with the College of Education at Jackson State University to ensure its core values, mission and commitment to produce successful graduates on campus is now duplicated online. As a result, we have enrolled hundreds of students in the Bachelor’s of Child Care and Family Education degree program. We are looking forward to some of these students graduating in the coming year. It is because of the success of this program, we are now launching the Masters of Arts in Teaching where as many as 70 new students have already been accepted to start this Spring. We anticipate this program to be just as successful as the last,” stated Ezell Brown, Chairman of Education Online Services Corporation.

For further information and to apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program at Jackson State University, please visit http://www.jsumsonline.com/jsumat or call Dr. William A. Brown, Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program at 601-979-3412, or Maxine Merlin at the Education Online Services Corporation at 866-829-3416.

About Jackson State University: Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city.

About Education Online Services Corporation (EOServe Corp.)
Education Online Services Corporation was founded by a select team of academic and marketing professional who recognized the opportunity to assist colleges and universities in underserved communities with the development of full-service online degree programs. With the primary focus on graduating students, Education Online Services Corporation works closely with the admissions, financial aid, and academic departments of each institution to help them market and increase enrollment by expanding their on-campus degree programs to online degree programs.

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