Project LEAP Scholarship Program (MAT-S / Alternate Route)

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Learning and Educating through Alternative Programs (LEAP) is a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education Scholarship Program designed to attract highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent college graduates to fill the secondary teacher shortage in Mississippi.  The project, which is a collaborative effort between the Meridian Campus and the main campus in Starkville, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) along with thirty school districts in the state have partnered with MSU and MSU-Meridian to promote this project. The scholarships are competitive and awarded when funding permits. Students who are selected for the scholarship will sign a contractual agreement with Project LEAP to teach for a minimum of three years in one of the partner school districts listed below:

Admission Requirements:

• Submit application to the MSU-Starkville or MSU-Meridian campus admissions office with official transcripts
• Hold Bachelor's degree from a regionally/nationally-accredited institution of higher learning
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 (based on 4.0 scale) for a minimum 15 hours of coursework in the content area of certification (competitive)
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 (based on 4.0 scale) on the last half of baccalaureate work(competitive)
• Provide GRE scores
• Provide letters of recommendation from supervisors/employers, professors, or both
• Provide documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of work (volunteer or salary supported) with children.
• Meet minimum score requirements on the Praxis II-Specialty Area Test. See passing area scores attached
• Satisfactory completion of an interview.
• Procure a teaching job during the degree program in order to completed EDS 8883 and EDS 8893 (a job must be secured by the student after the completion of first nine hours of study with one of our partnered school districts or the student will not be eliglble for scholarship privileges)

Basic Requirements to be considered for this scholarship program: 

• 1) Passing Scores on the Praxis I and Praxis II (in the area that licensure will be sought) prior to admission
• 2) Graduate School Online Application
• 3) Strong score on the Graduate Record Examination (suggested 450+ verbal, 3.5+ on writing) prior to admission
• 4) Commitment to the 14-month cohort process
• 5) Contractual three-year agreement to teach in one of the thirty partnered school districts

Project LEAP's 14-month cohort includes the following class schedule:

Summer I (9 hours face to face):

Advanced Planning and Management
Measurement and Evaluation
Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning or Advanced Methodologies in Middle and Secondary Schools 

Fall (9 hours/ internship, online course): 

Dimensions of Learning I (Internship) (6 hours)
Content Methods of Teaching (online)

Spring (9 hours/internship, online course): 

Dimensions of Learning II  (Internship) (6hours)
Teaching Reading in Secondary School (online)

Summer II (9 hours face to face): 

Principles of Effective Instruction
Special Education in the Regular Classroom
Middle and Secondary Curriculum

All LEAP Scholarship  Participants must meet all Mississippi Department of Education licensure requirements, including the completion of a minimum of 21 in the subject area that licensure will be sought.

Students that are awarded the LEAP Scholarship will receive $2500 per summer (Total $5000) when funding permits.

This targeted program of study consists of 36 semester hours of graduate level coursework and qualifies individuals for certification in a secondary teaching field for:

• English
• Mathematics 
• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 
• Social Studies
• Business Education 
• Technology Education
• Physical Education
• Music
 

For more information about Project LEAP contact:
Dr. Matthew Boggan, Project Director
mboggan@meridian.msstate.edu  
fax: 601-484-0279
or
Dr. Teresa Jayroe
tbj2@ra.msstate.edu
or
Dr. Susie Burroughs
cdb27@colled.msstate.edu
or
Ms. Susan Steward, Project Coordinator

Last Updated: 9/25/09