Master of Arts in Teaching

Steps For Applying To And
Completing The MAT

1.  Request a transcript analysis by Dr. Sue Hollandsworth, certification officer in South Charleston (746-1909 or 1-800-642-9842, ext. 61909), or Ms. Tammy Aliff, certification officer in Huntington (304-696-2857).  An unofficial copy of your transcript may be used for the analysis.  The analysis will identify the courses that can be used to meet content specialization requirements and the list of additional courses you will need to take.

2.  If you decide to apply to the program after reviewing the transcript analysis, complete an application for admission as a degree student to Marshall University Graduate College, MAT Program.  Please note that all admission requirements to the university and the MAT program must be submitted prior to being considered for admission.  The application for admission form is available on-line at www.marshall.edu. 

3.  Other admission requirements include the application fee, official transcripts from the institutions where you have studied, and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).  The recommended score on the GRE is a total of 800 on the verbal and quantitative sections, and the recommended score on the MAT is 30. The GRE is given each semester at various locations throughout the state including the Marshall University Testing Center in Huntington and the Sylvan Learning Center in Charleston.  Information about the Miller’s Analogies Test, which is administered weekly at the Graduate College and periodically in Huntington, is available on voice mail at (304) 746-1944, 1-800-642-9842, ext. 1944, or (304) 696-2777. 

4.  If you do not qualify for an exemption (enhanced ACT score of 26 or higher, a re-centered SAT score of 1125 or higher, or a master’s degree or higher), you must register to take the reading, writing, and math subtests of the Praxis I, Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST).  The PPST is given at most colleges in the state, the Pro Metric  Center in Charleston, and the Marshall University Testing Center on the Huntington Campus.  You must pass all three subtests of the PPST prior to being admitted to the MAT program. The required PPST scores are:                    

Reading = 174       Writing = 172         Math = 172

5.  Please note that an overall GPA of 2.70 and a GPA of 2.70 in the content area are required for admission to the MAT program.  All graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

6.  You may enroll in graduate courses only after you have been fully admitted to the University and the MAT program.  When you are admitted you will be sent two copies of your Plan of Study (POS).  It is extremely important that you sign both copies, keep one for your records, and return the other one for the additional, required signatures.  This POS will serve as your official record of graduate course requirements

7.  In the last semester of your program you will be enrolled in EDF 677, MAT Level III Clinical Experience, a 15 week, full-time student teaching experience under the direct supervision of a certified teacher(s).  Prerequisites for student teaching include the following: 

• 3.0 GPA in all graduate (professional education) courses
• 2.7 GPA overall and in the content courses
• Completion of at least 90% of content courses (100% recommended)
• Completion of EDF 537 and EDF 637, Level I and II Clinical Experiences
• Completion of all other MAT coursework (33 hours)

8.  Early in your final semester of course work:

• Apply to take the comprehensive examination for the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree, 
• Apply for graduation. 

9.  Before you can apply for certification, you must take and pass the PRAXIS II Specialty Area test and the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test appropriate for your certification level.  The Specialty Area test should be taken as soon as you have completed your content courses.  The PLT may be taken during or following your final semester.  Information and registration forms for both tests are available online at www.ets.org.

10.  Apply to the West Virginia Department of Education for certification.  Forms are available at the central office of any county school district or the certification officers.                        

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