Master of Arts in Teaching
Mission Statement
The mission of the Master of Arts in Teaching is to provide initial licensure candidates with a broad-based teaching curriculum designed to prepare candidates in the pedagogical and professional skills required of teachers and to develop professional performance in the classroom. To that end, each course contained in the program is carefully selected to promote and encourage a prominent degree of professionalism in the MAT candidate.
The School of Education & Public Service at Cumberland University is committed to creating competent, caring, qualified professionals and reflective practitioners. Cumberland has long been a leader in teacher preparation in Tennessee and is known for its exceptional academic reputation, high quality programs taught by experienced, passionate teachers, and an overall commitment to excellence. Cumberland offers an interactive, engaging, authentic, and personalized educational experience at a small, private, liberal arts university. This program is approved through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is a state-approved program for initial licensure in Tennessee.
The MAT degree requires thirty-six units of graduate credit, including field-based experiences and Student Teaching. Candidates may begin course work in either the Summer or Fall semester. Coursework and student teaching may be completed in as few as 5 semesters. *
*The School of Education & Public Service may require prerequisite courses for candidate’s from a non-education baccalaureate program.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
To begin coursework in the MAT, candidates must have:
- Online application
$50 application fee
- Official Transcript from regionally accredited institution showing Bachelor's degree
- A degree in a content area or proof of content knowledge for the type of licensure sought
- Grade Point Average on Bachelor's degree of at least 2.75 or 3.00 in Master’s program (if degree is present).
- A combined GRE score of 290 (new scale) or better with a 4.0 on the writing assessment; or MAT score of 380.
A student may take no more than 6 semester hours of graduate credit until the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) has been successfully completed.
NOTES:
Competency in a subject area must be demonstrated by all initial teacher licensure candidates by passing a Praxis II content area exam prior to completing 12 semester hours in the program.
MAT candidates student teach after all of their course requirements are satisfied.
MAT candidates may be required to take additional undergraduate courses to meet state licensure requirements, to be determined by a transcript analysis. Most undergraduate classes are held on campus and are usually day classes.
Programs in the MAT are individualized and must be approved by the Director of the MAT Program.