Admission into the Teacher Education program

The first step towards admission into the Teacher Education program for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is to apply online to the School of Graduate Studies.  

This application includes:

• Proof of residency.
• Transcripts verifying that you hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning that did not result in a teaching license; and graduated with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of a 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.
• An associated fee.

Please note that the deadline for completed Graduate School Application is the 3rd Monday in January.

All the necessary forms are available on the School of Graduate Studies website. You can apply online by clicking the  School of Graduate Studies application.

If you have any questions about the graduate school, wish to set up a campus tour, and/or need general assistance please contact David Moore, Graduate Studies Recruiter, by email at mooredr@etsu.edu or by phone at (423) 439-6149. 

For specific questions regarding the application to the graduate school please contact our Graduate Program Specialist, Fiona Goodyear, by email at goodyear@etsu.edu or by phone at (423) 439-6148.

Once you have initiated your graduate school application, you should begin completing the requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education program.

This includes:

1. Passing scores on the Praxis II Content Knowledge exam for the specified discipline.  This exam must be passed before acceptance can be granted into the program; therefore students should take the test no later than the February test date. We suggest taking it earlier in case a test must be repeated. 
   • Praxis II Middle Grades Science 6-8 (Test Code 5440) OR Praxis II Middle Grades Mathematics 6-8 (Test Code 5169)
   • Secondary Content Area Praxis II test(s) for chosen K-12 or 6-12 licensing area. 
   • More information about Praxis test can be found here and in the Praxis section of this website. 

2. Pass a criminal background check. Click here for more information.

3. Pass the Teacher Admission Board Interview and cold writing sample*. 

*Applicants will be notified of dates for a Teacher Admission Board interview after the program coordinator receives completed applications from the School of Graduate Studies. In anticipation for the interview, teacher candidates should prepare to write about and/or answer questions pertaining to educational values, technology in education, learning environments, diversity, and educational issues. 

Once you are accepted into both the graduate school and the program you will be required to complete residency paperwork pertaining to your student teaching placement and will be offered the opportunity to apply for scholarships.  Both residency paperwork and scholarship applications are due on March 1. 

Please feel free to contact us with additional questions or to schedule an appointment to meet with the Teacher Education Program Graduate Coordinator.