Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed for people who are looking for an initial teaching license through course work focused on teaching skills and knowledge of current educational environments, field experiences in schools, and a full clinical teaching experience in schools.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Arts in Teaching is to provide initial licensure candidates with a comprehensive 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 Humanities, Education, and the Arts 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. Coursework and student teaching may potentially be completed in as few as 5 semesters, depending on prior coursework.

Graduate Admissions Requirements Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate students the following is required for students entering the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
To begin coursework in the MAT, candidates must have:

A degree in a content area or proof of content knowledge for the type of licensure sought;
Grade point average of at least 2.75 in a Bachelor's degree, or 3.00 in Master’s program;
A combined GRE score of 290 or better with a 3.7 on the writing assessment; a minimum Miller's Analogies Test score of 380, or a passing score (established by the TN State Department of Education) on a PRAXIS II Specialty Area Content Knowledge Test for the appropriate teaching endorsement.
Three letters of recommendation.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Competency in a subject area must be demonstrated by all initial teacher licensure candidates by passing a Praxis II content area exam within SIX MONTHS in the program. If a candidate does not have a passing Praxis content knowledge test score on file after six months, they cannot be considered a teacher licensure candidate. Without a passing score, the student may choose either to defer further coursework until the test is passed, or to complete the Master of Arts in Education program (which is not an initial licensure program).
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.
All teacher licensure candidates are to take MAT 5070 and either MAT 5200 or MAT 5222 (depending on course of study) in the Fall or Spring semester prior to student teaching.
MAT candidates student teach after all of their course requirements are satisfied. An additional administrative fee is assessed during the student teaching semester.
MAT candidates must take and pass the Comprehensive Exam in the final semester of coursework to be eligible to graduate.