Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree Program

MAT Program Admission

Applicants must complete admissions requirements to be admitted. All admissions requirements must be met prior to being admitted into the MAT program. MAT admission requirements are designed to be both competitive and selective, to be knowledge and performance-based, to be clear and consistent, to maintain diversity, and to meet or exceed undergraduate requirements and minimum state requirements.

To be admitted to the MAT program a candidate must complete an application through the Office of Graduate Admissions which includes an official transcript reflecting an earned bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 or higher grade point average from an accredited institution. Applicants with a successful professional career may appeal this grade point average requirement. Documentation of a “successful professional career” is necessary and may include, but is not limited to, items such as an administrators’ letter of recommendation, teacher evaluations, lesson plans, teaching video, etc.

Teacher Education Program (TEP) Admission

1. Students who plan to pursue a graduate program of studies leading to teacher licensure must submit a formal application to the College of Education Teacher Education Program (TEP). Students are encouraged to apply for admission into TEP as soon as they enroll in any College of Education courses.
2. TEP admissions deadlines are September 15 for fall and January 31 for spring.
3. Requirements for provisional admission into TEP include:
   1. A grade point average of 3.25 at the graduate level and undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher;
   2. Pass all sections of the CORE Academic Skills for Educators;
   3. Pass the Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam required by the State of Tennessee for the licensure area being pursued.
   4. TBI Background Check
   5. Completion of teacher aptitude survey
4. Requirements for full admission to TEP must be completed prior to the Clinical Teaching Semester and/or the semester candidates enroll in ICL 7993 . They include:
   1. 3.25 graduate grade point average
   2. Passed Praxis II licensure exams

Passing scores on all required Praxis II Licensure Exams for Licensure and Graduation: Candidates participating in the Clinical Teaching Semester and/or ICL 7993  must submit a successful Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). Candidates who seek a Practitioner License must have a composite of 3.0 on the Teacher Evaluation used in their employing district.

Students must be provisionally admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before completing all Level I courses and starting Level II courses. (Level I Professional Core courses provide requisite foundations for teaching and should be completed before taking Level II Professional Specialization courses that focus on specialized strategies for teaching and learning in educational environments).

Students who do not apply to TEP or fail to maintain criteria during the program will not be allowed to continue in the program.

NOTE: MAT admission, TEP admission, and Graduate School admission are separate procedures.

Program Requirements

Students seeking licensure and the MAT degree must take a minimum of 30-46 graduate semester hours, depending on program and licensure area. Minimum hours may increase depending on licensure requirements. Students who are employed by a school district on a Practitioner License may have the Level III (clinical teaching semester) waived if they provide the necessary documentation to verify one year of successful teaching experience in their area of licensure with a composite Teacher Evaluation Score of 3.0 or higher. Students in this category should contact the Teacher Education Office in 202 Ball Hall for specific requirements. Please note that all initial licensure candidates, including candidates who on a Job-Embedded Practitioners License, must take ICL 7993 , either along with clinical teaching semester or the last semester before applying for license if working on a Practitioner License. This course serves as the culminating experience and will require successful completion of the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) to be able to be recommended for licensure.

Elementary Licensure Program Requirements

Other Requirements

1. All students seeking teacher licensure must successfully pass clinical teaching semester or must document successful completion of professional experience in lieu of clinical teaching semester.
   1. Students who are employed by a school district on a Practitioner License issued by the State of Tennessee may have the Level III clinical teaching semester waived if they provide the necessary documentation to verify one year of successful teaching experience and composite score of 3 or higher on the Teacher Evaluation used by their employing district. They must also be successful with the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) to be recommended for licensure. Students in this category should contact the Licensure Coordinator for specific requirements.
   2. Students must enroll in the appropriate clinical teaching semester course during clinical teaching semester.
   3. Applications for clinical teaching semester must be filed one semester before clinical teaching semester.
   4. Application for documenting successful completion of professional experience in lieu of clinical teaching semester must be filed at the beginning of the first month of the semester in which the candidate plans to complete the approved academic program leading to final licensure. The Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) must be completed during the semester the candidate on a Practitioner License plans to apply for their Professional License.
2. Licensure in Tennessee requires acceptable scores on specified Praxis II Tests of pedagogy and teaching content knowledge.
3. Validation of methods courses is not permitted.

Retention

To remain in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and the Teacher Education Program (TEP) the student must maintain a graduate grade point average of 3.25. Failure to maintain a 3.25 GPA will result in termination of a candidate’s TEP status and will result in academic probation in the MAT program.