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MAT

Master of Arts in Teaching

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Master of Arts in Teaching 

You’ve made an impact in your field, now you’re ready to teach the next generation.

 

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at Tennessee Wesleyan is designed for working adults who have decided to bring their skills and experience into the classroom.

 

MAT is an Initial Licensure program, providing college graduates who did not complete a traditional teacher education program the opportunity to earn their graduate degree and teaching license.

 

The MAT program offers the following licensure areas:

Secondary Education and Elementary Education students complete a 36-semester hour program of study, with Special Education candidates completing 38 hours. Each program has a job-embedded track where TWU will waive the six-hour student teaching requirement if a student is currently in a teaching position.

 

Students can also take TWU MAT courses to receive their Special Education Endorsement.

 

One Saturday a Month

The TWU MAT program is offered in a hybrid format. Students complete the majority of their coursework online, with one meeting on campus each month.

 

The hybrid format accommodates professionals’ busy schedule, without sacrificing important face-to-face time with colleagues and professors.

 

Candidates for the MAT Program must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of 2.75 -OR- 3.0 in the last 60 hours of their degree.

Submit the following to be considered for admission:

  • Completed application for MAT program
  • Official transcript from degree-granting institution
  • 2 professional letters of recommendation supporting applicant’s academic qualifications. (Recommendations must be from individuals knowledgeable of applicant as a student or employee.)
  • Essay stating the candidate’s reasons for desiring a career in teaching (No longer than 2 pages) 


Applicants wishing to pursue the job-embedded pathway and who do not have an earned baccalaureate degree in the content area must submit qualifying scores on the required content assessment. All other applicants accepted must pass all content area assessments before clinical practice.

TBI Background Check must be provided prior to enrollment, but is not required for admission.

Once all required materials have been received, the MAT Graduate Advisory Council (GAC) will evaluate the candidate’s application. All applicants will be informed in writing of the committee’s decision.

The coursework portion of the MAT program takes 12 months, followed by student teaching. Job-embedded students have a provisional license and are teaching full-time, waiving their required student teaching.

The non-job embedded track takes an additional 3-6 months to complete, depending on a student’s current job and personal schedule.

For the 2019-2020 school year the MAT cost is $610 per credit hour. The MAT program does not have additional fees each semester. However, you will be responsible for books and supplies.

Graduate students are eligible for federal unsubsidized loans up to $20,500 each year. To receive these loans, you may fill out the FAFSA online starting October 1.