MAT Program Admission

Because the University seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its teacher education program candidates and their students, candidates are required during the course of the program to demonstrate their dispositional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include ability to work with diverse students, families, and colleagues, the ability to perform content specific tasks, and suitable time and resource management.

Core performance standards for admission and progression:

1. Demonstrates effective oral communication skills.
2. Demonstrates effective written communication skills.
3. Demonstrates professionalism.
4. Demonstrates a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

Admission Requirements

Program requirements for admission into the MAT Program:

• You must have a 2.75 GPA in an undergraduate program from a reputable institution.
• Exams are not required for admittance to the MAT Program.
  • Please note: Praxis II Content exams are required from admission into the Teacher Education program (TEP).
  • You will receive more information about TEP admissions once you are admitted to the MAT program.

2.5 – 2.74 GPA Requirements:

• You must take and pass the Praxis CORE Academics Skills for Educators (CORE) Writing Exam with a score of 162.
• You must obtain a 3.0 GPA on the first semester of MAT coursework and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.

2.25-2.49 GPA Requirements:

• You must take and pass the Praxis CORE Academics Skills for Educators (CORE) Writing Exam with a score of 162.
• Submit the EDA recommendation form > completed by a former instructor or employer.
• You must obtain a 3.0 GPA on the first semester of MAT coursework and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.

Teacher Education Program (TEP) Admission

All graduate students pursuing a teaching license must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before completing 12 hours of licensure coursework. Not being admitted to TEP at the appropriate time, could result in delaying graduation and not meeting certification requirements. To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP), a graduate candidate must: 

• have a 3.0 graduate GPA.
• must have passed the Praxis content area examination. 
• have a cleared TBI background check on file in the Office of Teacher Education.

JEP/Permit Candidates (Teachers of Record): If you already work as a full-time teacher at a school, you will need to update your most recent paystub and school ID or a letter on letterhead from your principal confirming that you work at the school and have a cleared background check on file.

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

Program Requirements-MAT

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 Office of Teacher Education and Clinical Practice 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.

Special Education Licensure Program Requirements

Early Childhood (PreK-1) Program Requirements

• SPED 6601 - Student Phys/Health Dis Credit Hours: (3)
• SPED 7121 - Ed Prog Presc Ed/Disbl ** Credit Hours: (3)
• SPED 7141 - Field Exper Early Child ** Credit Hours: (3-6)

MAT Degree Requirements:

In addition to the above:

• EDPR 7521 - Introduction to Research Design and Methodology ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ICL 7993 - Current Trends/Topics Exploring Diverse Issues in Education ** Credit Hours: (3)

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.