Developing expert educators for tomorrow's classrooms.
If you need an affordable online Master of Arts in Teaching program that will prepare you to impact the lives of students through teaching in schools and communities around the world, then University of the Cumberlands is the place. Cumberlands’ online MAT program provides a supportive and collaborative online learning environment for both current and future educators, preparing you to either begin or advance your teaching career.
By the Numbers
Programs & Requirements
Master of Arts in Teaching
Teachers live for those “aha” moments — the times when the light bulb goes off for students and they understand a concept. You can change the lives of innumerable children; all it takes is heart, grit, and the right training. With seven concentrations to choose from in Cumberlands' online MAT degree program, you can find the program that meets your needs.
Course Requirements
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology of Teaching
REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations
EDOL 547 Diversity in a Multicultural Society
EDOL 541 Clinical II
IECE 530 Methods & Materials for Teaching Kindergarten
IECE 533 Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education
IECE 634 Early Childhood Curriculum & Methods
IECE 536 Screening & Assessment in Early Childhood
IECE 537 Health & Safety Issues in Early Childhood
IECE 635 Classroom Management in Early Childhood Settings
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience (Exit Course - Take when all other coursework is completed)
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
EDOL 539 The Modern Elementary School
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology of Teaching
REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations
REOL 534 Reading Readiness in Primary Programs
HIOL 530 Methods and Materials of Social Studies
MAOL 532 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Math
SCOL 530 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Science
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
EDOL 537 The Middle School
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology in Teaching
REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations (English Concentration)
OR
REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas (All other Concentrations)
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
Area Of Specialization: 3 hours for each area (Candidates may choose to specialize in one OR two content areas.
1. Candidates must have a major or 30 hours in a single content area within that specialization for one specialty area or 24-27 hours in each of two specialty areas.
2. Additional graduate or undergraduate hours may be required of the candidate.
3. The decision regarding the requirement of additional coursework will be made by the Chair of Graduate Education during the admissions process.
ENOL 532 Methods and Materials for Teaching English OR
MAOL 532 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Math OR
HIOL 530 Methods and Materials of Social Studies OR
SCOL 530 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Science
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
EDOL 538 The Modern Secondary School
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology of Teaching
REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations (English Concentration)
OR
REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas (All other Concentrations)
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
Area of Specialization: 3 Hours
Requirement: Candidates must have 30 undergraduate hours OR a major within their area of specialization. Also, additional graduate or undergraduate hours in Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Earth Science may be required of the candidate. The decision regarding the requirement of additional coursework will be made by the Graduate Admissions Office during the admissions process.
ENOL 532 Methods and Materials for Teaching English OR
MAOL 532 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Math OR
HIOL 530 Methods and Materials of Social Studies OR
SCOL 531 Methods and Materials for the Teaching of Science at the Secondary Level
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 540 The P-12 Classroom
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology of Teaching
REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION: 3 hours required per concentration
ART531- Methods and Materials for Teaching Art
HEOL530- Methods & Materials for Teaching Health
PEOL530- Methods & Materials for Teaching Physical Education
MUOL533- Methods & Materials for Teaching Music
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
EDOL 537 The Middle School
EDOL 538 The Modern Secondary School
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
EDOL 639 Seminar: Methodology of Teaching
REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
Area of Specialization: 3 Hours
Candidates must have 30 undergraduate hours or a major within their areas of specialization
BUOL 531 Methods & Materials of Business Ed
EDOL 520 Clinical I
EDOL 523 Introduction to Educational Technology
SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDOL 621 Educational Psychology
SPOL 631 Special Education Assessment and Evaluation
REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations
EDOL 547 Diversity in a Multicultural Society
MAOL 531 Teaching Math to Learners with Disabilities
SPOL 637 Methods, Materials, and Instructional Design for Students with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities
SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations
SPOL 533 Collaborative Curriculum and Transition Planning
SPOL 638 Legal Aspects, Rules and Regulations of Special Education
EDOL 541 Clinical II
EDOL 699 Clinical III: Professional Experience (for Option 6)
OR
EDOL 698 Clinical III: Professional Experience
Troops to Teachers
UC has established a program whose aim is to help those who have valiantly served our country transition into a full-time teaching career. Pending availability of funds, financial assistance may be provided to eligible individuals as stipends up to $5K to help pay for teacher certification costs or as bonuses of $10K to teach in schools serving a high percentage of students from low-income families. Through the Troops to Teacher Program, individuals may apply to the University of the Cumberlands' Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program, which is designed for qualified individuals who have graduated from an accredited institution of higher learning with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale but who do not have initial certification or teaching licensure. Visit www.dantes.mil/ttt/ to learn more.
Take the Next Step
Missions and Goals
The purpose of the University of the Cumberlands Master of Arts in Teaching program is to help students gain an understanding of critical concepts and a mastery of crucial skills in the world of higher education.
Teaching Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Elementary Teacher: $61,350
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.
Middle School Teacher: $61,320
Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.
Early Childhood Education Teacher: $30,210
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
Special Educator: $61,820
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Corporate Educator: $61,570
Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.
High School Teacher: $61,820
High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
Common Questions
A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is designed to help develop expert educators for the classroom. MAT degree programs often dive deeper into their area of study or pursue coursework intended to help educators integrate technologies into their curriculum.
Depending on the concentration you choose, your career options as an MAT graduate can vary. For example, the middle school concentration will help you pursue relevant teaching opportunities for junior high-aged groups in subjects like English, math, social studies, and Science. Similarly, the secondary education concentration will help you pursue high school teaching positions. Or, you could use the business and marketing concentration to pursue opportunities outside of the school classroom, such as corporate training. The options are endless.
To suit the needs of both current teachers and those coming straight from undergraduate programs, our online MAT program is made to be completed in as little as 18 months or as much as a few years – whichever fits your personal schedule and end goal best.
Our online Master of Arts in Teaching degree gives professionals with undergraduate degrees an opportunity to pursue a career in the classroom. This program also personalizes education to career outcomes — in and out of education — with concentrations in six key areas: Elementary Education (P-5), Middle School Education (5-9), Secondary Education (8-12), All Grades (P-12), Business and Marketing (5-12), Special Education — Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12), and Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.
There are a number of positive outcomes for earning an MAT — ranking up, earning more, opening the door to new opportunities, etc. But the biggest reason why teachers pursue this graduate degree is also the reason why they entered the teaching field in the first place: a passion for sharing knowledge and helping others learn. If you share this passion, then an MAT degree is worth it!
Yes! University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
For more information:
KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.
CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077
You will be working with staff in the School of Education to make sure you are on track. UC offers a variety of programs in education so certain requirements do not apply to everyone. It is important to review your specific Plan Program/Curriculum Contract to know what is required of you.
The School of Education has provided a list of items you are required to have turned in by the time you complete your program. The list can be seen on your MyUC account located under the “Student Tab”. The list appears in red and will show the item(s) that are past due. Please do not be alarmed when you see this, it is a computer glitch and you need not worry. We are simply letting you know what is still needed from you at this point, as well as, what will be required of you to complete the program. It is our hope that you will have a smooth transition when you exit your program.
Certification & Reciprocity for Education Programs
Learn more about the certification process for Cumberlands education programs.

Faculty Experts
Get to know your future professors!
Samuel Misher
Samuel Misher
Contact Information

Dr. Bill Simpson

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources
Education students in our graduate programs will need to access program handbooks, forms and other resources throughout their academic career.
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Find out more about the MAT program, our professors, and anything else you want to know about!

Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources
Education students in our graduate programs will need to access program handbooks, forms and other resources throughout their academic career.