General Program Information
Ryan Nivens, Ph.D., Program Coordinator
404 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7529
Fax: (423) 439-8362
e-mail: nivens@etsu.edu
Faculty: Janice Cloud; Edward Dwyer; Aimee Govett; LaShay Jennings; Karin Keith; Lori Meier, Renee Moran; Ryan Nivens; Jamie Price; Laura Robertson; Terryl Rock; Natalia Ward.
The Teacher Education for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is designed for students who wish to apply for initial teacher licensure and have obtained a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education. The TEML Middle Grades (6-8) prepares teacher candidates to teach in a 6th grade through 8th grade classroom in two of the four disciplines with one being mathematics or science.
Upon admission to the MAT program, transcripts will be analyzed to determine which content courses completed as a part of the undergraduate program will apply toward licensure, and if any additional courses must be taken during the TEML program. If candidates do not have a suitable undergraduate major in a licensure area, it is possible that additional undergraduate coursework will need to be taken in order to meet the licensure requirements set by the state.
Any student wishing to transfer in applicable graduate credit must follow graduate school regulations. However, no credit will be granted for graduate coursework taken more than five years ago. All applicants must take and pass all required licensure tests before student teaching.
Program Admission Policy
Acceptance into the MAT program requires:
- An application to the School of Graduate Studies which includes:
- Transcripts from all colleges attended verifying a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning that did not result in a teaching license; and a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Three letters of recommendation attesting to academic ability and professional aptitude.
- An essay which can be completed electronically on the graduate school application or typed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. The prompt for this essay will be provided on the graduate school application.
- Associated fee.
- Achieve a minimum test score on the GRE: 151 on Verbal Reasoning and 153 on Quantitative Reasoning.
You may request a waiver of the GRE requirement to the Graduate Coordinator and the School of Graduate Studies if you meet or exceed minimum score requirements on one of the following state mandated tests:
a. ACT: 22 composite score, ACT 21 composite score will be considered; OR
b. SAT: Reading 543 and Math 533; SAT combined score of 1020 will be considered; OR
c. PRAXIS CORE: Reading 168 and Math, 162; PRAXIS CORE Reading 156 and Math 150 will be considered.
- Achieve passing score(s) on the Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam(s) for the specific licensure area(s). This exam must be passed before acceptance can be granted to the M.A.T. Teacher Education Program.
- Pass a criminal background check for the teacher education program.
- Achieve a passing score on Teacher Admission Board interview (Target or Acceptable).
* Please visit the TEML Website for more details. (https://www.etsu.edu/coe/cuai/graduate/mat/default.php)
Formal admission to Teacher Education through the Teacher Admission Board Interview occurs prior to admission to the MAT degree.
Additional Information
The initial Tennessee teacher’s license will be issued only to those applicants who have completed a teacher preparation program in a Tennessee higher education institution approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education for the preparation of teachers in the area of licensure sought. In select instances, upon successful petition to the Program Coordinator and the Deans of the Clemmer College and the School of Graduate Studies, the student who has completed all other program requirements may be able to modify the professional semester requirements in order to complete the degree. Candidates for these substitutions must have their admission to ETSU’s Transitional Licensure Program verified by the Transitional Licensure Coordinator before commencing the petition process. It is understood that the MAT candidate who is permitted to modify the professional semester requirements will not seek licensure through East Tennessee State University based upon completion of this degree and that licensure issues will be resolved through the district in which the student is employed.
If the initial license is not obtained following completion of the approved program, requirements in effect at the time of application must be satisfied. In all cases, current state licensure requirements must be met regardless of when the student enters the program.
A person who holds a Tennessee Teachers Professional License may add teaching area endorsements by completing teacher education programs after the original license has been issued. Such programs include the addition of a secondary endorsement to an elementary license or the addition of an elementary endorsement to a secondary license. A person who holds a Tennessee Teaching License and wishes to add an endorsement in another teaching area should contact the certification analyst, room 321, Warf-Pickel Hall.
All applicants for a teaching license in Tennessee must submit satisfactory scores on the PRAXIS II. Applicants should request that a copy of their test scores be sent to:
East Tennessee State University
Recipient Code #1198
Request current information about Tennessee test requirements at the Office of Education Student Services, Room 321, Warf-Pickel Hall.
*IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ETSU STUDENTS SEEKING SCHOOL LICENSURE: Tennessee Teaching or other School Licensure/Endorsement requires an application made directly to the Certification Officer, Residency Office in the Clemmer College. Application should not be made until all relevant coursework, degrees, and qualifying test scores are completed. A complete set of transcripts from all colleges or universities attended will be required for the application. Students must have their test results reported to East Tennessee State University, Recipient Code 1198, by the testing company. Every effort will be made to send students up to date application forms and instruction near the end of their final semester. However, if you do not receive this information by the end of your program, you will need to contact: Dr. Sara Beth Hitt, Director of Residency and Field Experiences, Clemmer College, Phone: 423-439-4200; email:hittsb@etsu.edu.
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