Admission is based on a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, grade point average (overall and content area), transcript analysis, passing scores of required examinations, and other information found on the application form. All Master of Arts in Teaching candidates fill out the MAT Program Graduate Application For Admission.
An official copy of your undergraduate transcript showing your degree and the date on which it was granted must be mailed directly from your undergraduate or graduate college or university to the Office of Graduate Studies. Concord alumni do not need to submit a transcript; alumni transcripts are located in the registrar’s office. However, if you have attended more than one college or university, an official transcript must be sent from that institution to the Office of Graduate Studies in a sealed envelope. A hand delivered transcript is not acceptable.
Decisions on applications for admission to the MAT program shall be based upon a careful consideration of the applicant’s total record including GPA, Examination Scores, Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, Grit Scale*, and a Completed Application. For acceptance into the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Prior to enrollment in the program:
- Complete the Application for Admission (Word document), and submit it with a $30.00 fee
- Content area courses must have a grade of “C” or better, an overall GPA of 2.75 and a 2.75 in the content area from a regionally accredited institution. All graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the MAT Program.
- Successfully complete the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Exams.
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Computer Delivered Test Code - 5751
- Reading (Individual Exam): Minimum score needed: 156 Computer Delivered Test Code – 5712
- Writing (Individual Exam): Minimum score needed: 162 Computer Delivered Test Code – 5722
- Math (Individual Exam): Minimum score needed: 150 Computer Delivered Test Code – 5732
A student may obtain a waiver for the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Exams by providing an official letter from the Registrar’s Office if one or more of the following criteria have been met. These waivers are accepted only in the state of WV.
- attained, from a single administration, a qualifying score on the American College Test (ACT®) or Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT®) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE®) as listed below:
- A composite ACT test score of 26 or higher
- A combined score of 1125 on re-centered SAT(exams taken 3/2005-4/2016)
- A score of 1170 on revised SAT combined Critical Reading & Math (exams taken 5/2016-present)
- A GRE combined score of 800 verbal and quantitative (prior to 11/2011), or at least a score of 286 (12/2011 – the present)
- hold a valid out-of-state certificate in the content area
- hold certification through the NBPTS
- hold or have held a West Virginia Professional Certificate
- hold a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
- Passing scores on PRAXIS II: Subject Assessment Test(s) as specified in Policy 5100. Individuals who have completed a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education are also exempt from PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators test according to WV Policy 5100 (§126-114-6 – 6.2.30).
- Provide 2 letters recommending admission into the program. At least one letter must be from a professional that is knowledgeable of your content background;
- Submit a completed Grit Scale*. This is a self-assessment that has no “right” or “wrong” answers that will assess a candidates’ “promise for teaching” . Please respond to each item as honestly as possible.
Prior to Student Teaching:
- Successful completion of all coursework with at least a “C” or better in all courses and a 3.0 overall GPA.
- Provide official scores of the PRAXIS II PLT: Principles of Learning and Teaching.
* "Grit Scale" Duckworth, A.L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M.D., & Kelly, D.R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 9, 1087-1101.