Developing expert educators for tomorrow's classrooms.

If you need an affordable Master of Arts in Teaching online 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’ Master of Arts in Teaching online 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.

Anchor: Stats
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

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 University of the Cumberlands' MAT program, you can find the online Master of Arts in Teaching 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 Master of Arts in Teaching online 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.

Anchor: Mission & Goals

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.

Strengthen your research, communication, and critical-thinking skills.
Master a chosen content area, such as math, English, history, etc.
Learn best practices for coaching and mentoring teachers.
Understand how to teach reading in your content area.
Complete a degree that increases your effectiveness and boosts your credibility.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

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.

Anchor: FAQs

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. 

BEFORE you submit any additional admissions requirements, please submit a graduate application.

For admission to the teacher education certification program, the following items are necessary:

  • Completed Graduate Application and payment of the $30 associated fee
  • A completed Bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required to apply to all teacher certification programs, including certification for special ed teachers.  Submit official transcripts from all applicable colleges/universities attended; must be received directly from the issuing college or university. Transcripts sent in from students cannot be accepted even if they are in a sealed envelope. Official transcripts can be accepted in two ways:

Mailed to:
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Electronically:
(ie: National Clearinghouse, eScript, Parchment)
gradadm [at] ucumberlands.edu (gradadm[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)

Official transcripts must show a cumulative degree GPA of 2.75 or above or a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed (including undergraduate and graduate coursework). If your GPA does not meet this requirement, the Graduate Admissions Committee will need to review your transcripts to determine your best option. If you are applying to a teacher education certification program other than Special Education or Elementary, your transcripts will need to be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to ensure that you meet the required background hours for your program.

The Elementary (P-5) program and the Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) P-12 tracks within the teacher education certification program do not require background hours.

Middle School candidates have the option of pursuing certification in one or two emphasis areas:

  • For candidates pursuing 2 emphasis areas, Middle School certification requires a minimum of 24-27 background hours (English-24, math- 25, science- 26, social studies-27). Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.
  • For candidates pursuing one emphasis area, Middle School certification requires a minimum of 30 background hours or a major in your desired emphasis area. Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.

Secondary, All Grades, and Business & Marketing certifications require a minimum of 30 background hours or a major in your desired emphasis area. Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.

Good question. To be admitted, you will need to submit:

  • Submit (3) three Letters of Recommendation - One letter must be from a recent or current employer or professor. Letters must be received directly from the person making the recommendation. Please ensure they use the same name and correct spelling of your name listed on your application (no nicknames). No recommendations from relatives please. We cannot accept letters emailed from the student.
  • No entrance exam is required for the teacher education certification program. 
  • Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are: 
    • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550 
    • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79 
    • IELTS - 6
    • Duolingo - 100
  • Any international course work completed must have official transcript evaluations completed and submitted to the University by the evaluation firm. Evaluations MUST include GPA for admission.
    Approved Evaluation Firms are:
    • World Education Services (WES)
    • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
    • International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
    • Educational Perspectives (EP)
    • SpanTran

Criminal Background Check
This background check ensures that candidates have the appropriate clearance for working with P-12 students, faculty, and staff during various field/clinical experiences. Please complete the National Background check at https://www.criminalwatchdog.com/. The cost of the National Background check is $18.95 and the results are instantaneous. Background checks must be submitted in PDF form.

For additional admissions information, please contact:

University of the Cumberlands
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Phone 606.539.4390
Toll-Free 855.791.7199
Email gradadm [at] ucumberlands.edu (gradadm[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)

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.

Students walk to class near the Grace Crum Rollins Center
Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts

Get to know your future professors!

Samuel Misher

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Teaching

Samuel Misher

Contact Information

Dr. Bill Simpson

Dr. Bill Simpson

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Teaching

Dr. Bill Simpson

Contact Information

bill.simpson [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Teaching
Master in Education

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Contact Information

eric.rosser [at] ucumberlands.edu
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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!

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Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources

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