Applicants wishing to utilize Option 6 Temporary Provisional Licensure must be fully admitted to Teacher Education and have a letter of eligibility in hand prior to applying and accepting a teaching position.
Already licensed teachers are not eligible for the MAT program. If you wish to add additional certifications to your license, you should consider our Proficiency Option.
The following items are necessary for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program:
- Completed Graduate Application and payment of the $30 associated fee
- Official Transcripts - GPA Review or Background Hour Review may be necessary (please see below for details)
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- One letter must be from a recent or current employer or professor
- No recommendations from relatives please
- Recommendation letters are an electronic form housed within the Graduate Application
- Criminal Background Check (please see below for details)
- 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:
Official Transcripts:
A completed Bachelor's degree is required to apply to the MAT program. 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 two ways:
Mailed to:
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Electronically:
(ie: National Clearinghouse, eScript, Parchment)
gradadm@ucumberlands.edu
Official transcripts must show a cumulative degree GPA of a 2.75 or above (on a 4.0 scale) OR a GPA of a 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) 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 MAT program other than Elementary or Special Education, your transcripts will need to be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to ensure that you meet the required background hours for your program.
Background Hour Requirements:
The MAT – Elementary (P-5) program, MAT – Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) P-12 program, and the MAT – IECE 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 (Health, Physical Education, Art, or Music), 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.
For a preliminary background hour review, please submit the following request form:
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 Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Phone 606.539.4390
Toll Free 800.343.1609
Email gradadm@ucumberlands.edu