Graduate School of Management & Technology - Programs

Teacher Education Programs

• Program Overview
• Program Options
• Career Path
• Partnerships
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements

Non-Degree Programs

• Resident Teacher Certification
• Reading Courses in Elementary and Secondary Education

Join the program! Visit Admissions and Registration to learn more about these processes.

Admission Requirements and Application Information

• Student Profile
• Eligibility
• Required Application Documents

Student Profile

The program is designed for students who hold a degree outside the field of education and who wish to earn initial teaching certification in a specific secondary content discipline. In addition, the program aims to serve individuals who may be retiring from a previous profession, relocating, returning to the workforce after a period of absence or simply seeking a second career that builds on previous study.

Eligibility

The Master of Arts in Teaching program follows the general admission requirements of the UMUC Graduate School. Additional admission requirements for this program apply. To be eligible, you must have:

1. An official transcript analysis of previous coursework. See below for details about transcripts.

2. Completion of a major in the content area for which certification will be sought and have earned a 3.0 average in the major. Alternatively, and subject to UMUC approval, students must have completed 36 credits in content-related courses and have earned a 3.0 average in these courses.

3. Maryland-specified qualifying scores on the ACT, GRE, SAT or Praxis I exams. Titles and qualifying scores for these exams can be found on the Maryland State Department of Education Website. Applicants who need to take the Praxis I exams may enroll in UMUC's UCSP 650 Praxis I® Preparation course. See Required Application Documents to find out how to submit test scores.

4. A personal essay. See Required Application Documents for details.
   

Once UMUC receives the application, transcripts, test scores and personal essay, they will be evaluated to ensure that you have completed the necessary academic coursework. You may be instructed to complete additional academic coursework before being admitted into the MAT program.

Required Application Documents

1. Transcripts
   
   Include official transcripts of your academic records from your undergraduate degree-granting institution. The transcripts must be in their original sealed envelopes. This includes students who attended another institution in the University System of Maryland. Applicants who attended University of Maryland University College (Stateside, Asia or Europe) do not need to request a UMUC transcript. However, dates of attendance must be listed on the application form.
   
   

2. Test Scores
   
   Applicants who have already taken the Praxis, GRE, SAT, or ACT exams should have their test scores sent directly from ETS or ACT to the following address at UMUC:
   
   

   UMUC Graduate Admissions
   3501 University Blvd. East
   Adelphi, MD 20783 USA

   Applicants who will be taking the Praxis exams should use the following code to ensure that the scores are sent directly to UMUC: UMUC Praxis code RA5406
   
   Applicants who will be submitting a copy of their SAT exam should use the following code to ensure that the scores are sent directly to UMUC: UMUC SAT code 0551
   
   

3. Personal Essay
   
   As part of your admission packet, you are asked to write a personal essay. Your essay should be well-organized; it should use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. The essay should be between 500–750 words and should answer the following question:
   What attributes do you possess that you believe will make you a successful teacher? Please explain.
   
   Your essay should address the following:

• The specific subject area in which you plan to teach (i.e., computer science, earth/space science, English or mathematics).
• Your motivation for becoming a teacher, and more specifically, your motivation for teaching at the secondary level and in the content area in which you seek certification.
• Your explanation of why the traits you have selected are important to being an effective teacher. These traits can be evident in any of the following: your personal life, your professional life or your student life.
• Experiences you have had in helping others (children or adults) learn.
• Your vision of what it means to help all students in your class learn.

Submit your essay to:

UMUC Graduate Admissions
3501 University Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783 USA