Admission Requirements

To be admitted in good standing to any Cumberland University graduate program, you would need proof of having completed a bachelor’s or higher degree from any regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75.

No entrance exams

We’ve eliminated entrance exams from our admissions process, which means you will not  have to take the GRE exam. All you need to get started is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA, or 3.00 in previous Master’s programs.

(regionally accredited university)

Hold a valid teaching license

$50 Application fee

Non-refundable

Immunizations

(on-ground only)

Official transcripts sent from all previously attended colleges and universities

Three dispositions rating forms completed by district-level administrator or educators

Employment by a TN school district

County/district must have partnership agreement on file with the School of Education & Public Service at Cumberland University

Current résumé

Demonstration of effective oral and written communications skills

A minimum of two years of successful working experience prior to starting the program.

Portfolio required for applicants to the licensure track.

District Support Letter for Candidate Admissions signed by the Director of Schools or a designee.

(form letter can be downloaded from the program website)

Successful completion of an interview conducted by a program admission committee that includes both P-12 instructional leaders and higher education faculty that can determine if the candidate has

  1. Implemented innovative learning strategies in his/her classrooms
  2. Shown good communications, human relations, and organizational skills
  3. Used student data and work samples to make instructional decisions
  4. Demonstrated high ethical standards.
  5. Other requirements as stipulated by the Tennessee Department of Education for admission to instructional leadership programs are required and described on the program’s website.

Licensure Only Admission Requirements

The Instructional Leadership (Licensure) concentration is designed to prepare candidates seeking licensure as beginning administrators. Candidates completing the K-12 Instructional Leadership concentration must successfully pass the Praxis SLLA Exam (required for the ILL-B License – Test Code 6990) to obtain both the M.Ed. degree and licensure. Approved Instructional Leadership preparation programs are required that all candidate applicants hold a current teacher’s license, have a minimum of two years of successful education working experience, and submit a confidential application portfolio that contains the following:

Admission Criteria

  • Three dispositions rating forms completed by district-level administrator or educator
  • Employment by a TN school district (County/district must have partnership agreement on file with the School of Education & Public Service at Cumberland University)
  • A current résumé
  • Demonstration of effective oral and written communications skills
  • Successful completion of an interview conducted by a program admission committee that includes both K-12 instructional leaders and higher education faculty that can determine if the candidate has
  • Implemented innovative learning strategies in his/her classrooms;
  • Shown good communications, human relations, and organizational skills;
  • Used student data and work samples to make instructional decisions; and
  • Demonstrated high ethical standards.
  • Interview Requirement – During the interview, the candidate must be prepared to discuss how he or she has a working knowledge and track record of implementing the Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards. A case-study analysis writing sample will be completed on campus during the interview visit. 

Candidates enrolled in the M.Ed. program will be engaged in assessments that are based on ISSLLC and TILS standards underlying the core curriculum for instructional leaders. The continued development of the portfolio throughout the M.Ed. program will afford candidates opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation. The portfolio should serve as a way to highlight expertise and competence that will be used to gain future employment as a K-12 administrator. To complete the program, licensure-seeking candidates must complete an oral defense of their portfolio in the last semester of work. The defense of the portfolio, and its artifacts, shall function as the comprehensive exam for all leadership candidates seeking the ILL-B Administrative License.

Entrance Portfolio Requirements

  • A copy of the TN SDE Experience Verification Form signed by the appropriate LEA personnel (http://www.state.tn.us/education/lic/doc/ed2034a.pdf);
  • Copy of the two most recent performance appraisal/evaluation
  • Current professional development plan with goals to improve performance, pursuant to last evaluation
  • Evidence of ability to improve student achievement and also demonstrated leadership in coaching other teachers to raise student achievement.
  • Evidence of knowledge about curriculum, instruction and assessment
  • A personal statement of career goals and how the preparation program would assist the candidate in reaching stated goals
  • Recommendations as specified in partnership agreement
  • Evidence that describes qualities of collaboration, cooperation and relationship building

We Recommend Evidence of the Following:

  • Challenge students through rigorous, standards-based teaching
  • Integrated technology into daily teaching
  • Worked collaboratively on teaching/learning issues with teaching teams
  • Analyzed research and applied it to practice
  • Demonstrated leadership in the larger community
  • Demonstrated the ability to articulate and implement a vision.
  • Shown commitment to continuous improvement
  • Shown evidence of leadership and management potential, including evidence of most recent accomplishments in the area of instructional leadership
  • Provide for joint screening by university/non-higher education program provider and school system leaders with assessment tools
  • Conduct observations and videos of classroom and peer teaching

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, Barbara Parker at (615) 547-1393 or email bparker@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. 

Contact Graduate Admissions