Teaching, M.A.T.

Roland Sintos Coloma, Ph.D., Department Chair

Brandelyn Tosolt, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director

Purpose

This program is designed for individuals who wish to become certified teachers in middle schools or high schools or across P-12 grade levels for world language programs. Candidates who enter this program must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. It is intended for individuals who are looking for a career change, are recent graduates of bachelor’s degree programs, and desire to become dedicated educators in areas of need. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree and a recommendation for Kentucky certification in one of the certification areas shown below.  The MAT program does not provide certification in Elementary Education.

The curriculum for the MAT program is designed to be completed in five semesters (including one summer). Candidates enroll in the fall semester and continue through the following spring, summer, and fall terms, and then culminate with student teaching (clinical experience) or KTIP during the spring term of the second year. 

Areas of Certification available through the MAT:

Middle Grades 5-9	Secondary Grades 8-12	Grades P-12
English and Communications	Biological Sciences	French
Mathematics	Chemistry	German
Integrated Science	Earth/Space Science	Spanish
Social Studies	English
	Mathematics
	Physics
	Social Studies

Contact Information

Teacher Education Graduate Office - MEP 263C
gradedu@nku.edu or 859-572-1567

Admission Requirements

Phase I: Pre-Admission

To be considered for admission to the MAT program, please submit the following items to the Teacher Education Graduate Office (MEP 263C):

1. A supplemental MAT program application available online on the College of Education & Human Services website, https://nku.edu/content/dam/coehs/newdocs/teachered/MATSuppApp.pdf.
2. A letter to the MAT admissions committee that includes a brief autobiography; a description of personal and/or professional experiences related to the planned certification area; and teaching or other experiences with children other than in a family setting.
3. A current resume that includes work experience, prior education, and experience working with children other than in a family setting, whether through work or volunteerism.
4. An unofficial copy of all college transcripts from regionally accredited institutions documenting all undergraduate and graduate coursework. You must have an earned undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or 3.0 in the last 30 hours of undergraduate study.

Once the four pre-admissions documents are received, the Teacher Education Graduate Office will evaluate your transcripts relative to the content area you intend to teach and will schedule a panel interview by the MAT admissions committee.

An authorized faculty member of Northern Kentucky University will evaluate your transcript.  You will be notified by the Teacher Education Graduate Office when the transcript evaluation is complete.  If the evaluation indicates that additional content area coursework is needed, you will be required to complete the necessary undergraduate coursework for that certification area before being fully admitted to the MAT program.  No content course in which a grade below C was earned may be accepted as part of the content area, and the certification GPA (combined both previously earned credit as well as new credits required as a result of the transcript evaluation) must be no lower than 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants will complete a panel interview by the MAT admissions committee and an on-demand written essay to assess an applicant’s qualifications, dispositions, and ability to communicate clearly.

The MAT admission committee will review all applicants’ files and make preliminary admissions decisions based on materials submitted, the panel interview, and the on-demand written essay. Pre-admission applicants will receive written notification of the MAT admissions committee’s decisions.  Those with positive recommendation will also receive instructions outlining the procedures for application and admission (Phase II) to the program.  The committee will review all available data to assess the fit and overall potential of the candidate for success in the program before making a final offer of admission.   

Phase II: Application and Admission

When applicants receive a positive recommendation in Phase I (Pre-Admission) from the MAT admissions committee, they continue to Phase II (Application and Admission). To be considered for Phase II (Application and Admission) to the MAT program, please submit the following items to the Office of Graduate Education:

NKU application for graduate admission. Official transcripts from all institutions attended sent directly from the universities. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your potential for teaching. A criminal and federal background check. Recommended service to be used is https://portal.castlebranch.com/nq45. Official notification of appropriate Praxis II content exam(s) with the minimum score required by the state of Kentucky. To register, go to: http://www.ets.org and look for Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas under Kentucky state requirements. Transcript(s) showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with the grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 30 semester hours of coursework. Successful completion of the Praxis CASE (Core Academic Skills for Educators) test, administered by the Educational Testing Service, with minimum passing scores as follows: ​ Reading - 156 Mathematics - 150 Writing - 162
	OR
	Official notification of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with the following minimum scores:
Verbal Reasoning 150 Quantitative Reasoning 143 Analytical Writing 4.0

To register for the Praxis CASE test or the GRE, visit http://www.ets.org/gre.

If you are applying for the Alternative Certification option of the MAT Program under HB22, kindly submit: (1) a form from the school district superintendent indicating the district’s intention to employ; and (2) a completed CA-TP form for the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. Once accepted, you must obtain a signature on the MAT Verification of Employment form.

Admission to the MAT program will require approval by the MAT admissions committee and the Teacher Education Committee.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.