Enrollment has begun for Williams Baptist College’s first master’s degree program.  Williams received approval from its accrediting agency in January to begin offering a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, which will be completely online.

Classes are set to start in May, according to Dr. Brad Baine, WBC’s academic dean.

“This approval will allow Williams to provide graduate students the opportunity to enter the teaching profession,” Baine said.  “An individual that meets the criteria of admission into the Williams MAT program and has completed the Arkansas Department of Education requirements for a provisional teaching license becomes immediately eligible to be hired in a school district.”

Baine said the college will offer a “loyalty incentive” to individuals who received their undergraduate degrees from Williams, providing a ten percent discount on the tuition cost of all the MAT courses.

He also added that the program is open to those who have received a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree and taken the necessary licensure exams.

Dr. RoseMary Weaver, dean of graduate and online programs at Williams, is heading the new master’s program.  She noted the program will be flexible to accommodate the schedules of its students.

“This is not your typical ‘go to class’ degree. The Masters of Arts in Teaching at WBC is online, and quality is the standard,” Weaver said.  “It also allows students to take advantage of the respected status of Williams Baptist College educators.”

The Williams Teacher Education Program at WBC offers bachelor’s degrees in eight different majors and has produced hundreds of teachers over the past two decades.

Those interested in the Williams MAT program can contact Dr. RoseMary Weaver at rweaver@wbcoll.edu or (870) 759-4230.