Admission Requirements
To begin coursework in the MAT, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Completed admissions application and acceptance to the university
$50 application fee
Non-refundable
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*
Minimum 2.75 GPA in Bachelor’s degree or 3.00 GPA in a Master’s program
(if degree is present)
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* on a PRAXIS II Specialty Area Content Knowledge Test for the appropriate teaching endorsement.
*established by the TN State Department of Education
Immunizations
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.
Alternate Pathway: Job Embedded Clinical Experience Requirements
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To be eligible for the job-embedded clinical experience (alternate pathway), candidates must present proof of content knowledge for the endorsement sought through completion of a degree in the content area or submission of a passing score on the PRAXIS II specialty area content or core knowledge exam for the Tennessee teaching endorsement sought.
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Must meet all eligibility requirements for the Tennessee Practitioner's License (as outlined by the TN State Department of Education)
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Must enroll in and complete designated Cumberland University courses related to the job-embedded clinical experience during the first year of employment
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Must successfully participate in the TEP I and TEP II Interview process.
Traditional Pathway: Educator Preparation progression required for initial licensure candidates
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All coursework must be completed prior to the final student teaching semester.
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Candidates must successfully pass content-knowledge related praxis exams, and passing scores must be on file with the EPP, prior to the final student teaching semester. Candidates may take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam during the student teaching semester. NOTE: Starting in Fall 2019 candidates must pass all sections of the relevant edTPA exam to qualify for a teaching license in the State of Tennessee; the Principles of Learning and Teaching will not be an option.
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The candidate must successfully participate in the TEP II Interview process and receive approval for participation in the final student teaching semester.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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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 of the program.
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MAT candidates student teach after all of their course requirements are satisfied.
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MAT candidates may be required to take additional undergraduate courses in a content to meet state licensure requirements, to be determined by a transcript analysis. Most undergraduate classes are held on campus and are usually day classes.
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Programs in the MAT are individualized and must be approved by the Director of the MAT Program.
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Please see our online Teacher Education Progression Handbook (TEP Handbook) for all requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Progression of our programs, and for all requirements for admission to the student teaching semester.
Contact us. We’re here to help.
If you have any questions or need any help through your next steps, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Program Director, Sandy Smith at (615) 547-1327 or email sandy.smith@cumberland.edu. We’re here to help guide you through this process and discuss your future at Cumberland University.
The Admissions Office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm CST. Please contact the Admissions Office at 615-547-1246 locally or 800-467-0562 to speak with our Graduate Enrollment Specialist or email graduateadmissions@cumberland.edu.