MAT Program Admission
Teacher candidates must perform content specific tasks with high levels of accuracy and demonstrate appropriate management of time and resources. The ability to work in educational settings with students, families, and colleagues from varied backgrounds is also an essential requirement.
The following are the minimum requirements for admission:
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A bachelor’s degree
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Undergraduate GPA
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2.75 from an accredited college or university
Exams are not required for admittance to the MAT Program.
Please note: Praxis II Content exams are required for Teacher Education Program (TEP) admission.
Retention
To remain in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program, candidates must maintain a graduate 3.0 grade point average (GPA). Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA will result in academic probation. A 3.0 GPA is required to graduate.
Teacher Education Program (TEP) Admission
All graduate students pursuing a teaching license must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) by the end of the first semester. Obtaining TEP admission as indicated is necessary to avoid delayed program matriculation.
To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP), a graduate teacher education candidate must have:
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A 3.0 graduate GPA.
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A passing score on the Praxis content area examination, if required by your program.
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A cleared TBI background check on file in the Office of Teacher Education.
NOTE: MAT admission, TEP admission, and Graduate School admission are separate processes.
Program Requirements-MAT
A minimum of 30-36 graduate semester hours must be earned by candidates seeking licensure and the MAT degree.
Please note that all initial licensure candidates must take ICL 7993. Candidates with a Job-Embedded Practitioners License must complete ICL 7992 in place of ICL 7993, during the final semester of their program.
Special Education Licensure Program Requirements
Students seeking Special Education Licensure and the MAT degree must complete the following requirements:
Special Education Level I Licensure Requirements:
Special Education Level II and III Licensure Requirements:
Licensure areas (choose one):
Early Childhood (PreK-1):
Students in the Interventionist Licensure program are required
Students in the Interventionist Licensure program are required to complete a minimum of 116 clock hours of clinical/field experience during the day in special education settings prior to clinical teaching semester. Students in the Comprehensive and Early Childhood licensure programs are required to complete a minimum of 124 clock hours of clinical/field experience during the day in special education settings prior to clinical teaching semester. These field experiences will be incorporated into courses required for licensure.
MAT Degree Requirements:
In addition to the above:
Other Requirements
- 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.
- 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.
- Students must enroll in the appropriate clinical teaching semester course during clinical teaching semester.
- Applications for clinical teaching semester must be filed one semester before clinical teaching semester.
- 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.
- Licensure in Tennessee requires acceptable scores on specified Praxis II Tests of pedagogy and teaching content knowledge.
- 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.