Admission Requirements
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements, students applying to the Master of Arts in Teaching
(M.A.T.) program must meet the following conditions as part of being accepted into the M.A.T. program.
Requirements 1, 2, and 3 must be met prior to acceptance into the program. Requirement 4 must be completed
prior to enrolling in M.A.T. methods courses. Requirement 5 must be met prior to clinical practice/student
teaching.
1.
Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program must be demonstrated by
one
of the
following:
a.
Provide a 2.7 GPA minimum for most recent degree obtained
b.
Submit an official GRE with test scores above the 50
th
percentile (verbal and quantitative) and a
minimum rating of 3.5 on the analytical writing section. The exam must have been taken within the last
five years.
2.
Demonstrate basic academic proficiency. Proficiency may be demonstrated by
one
of the following:
a.
Submit official Praxis I: Pre-professional Skills Test (PPST) with prescribed minimum scores (minimum
scores are 175 on the reading test, 173 on the writing test, and 172 on the math test.) Information on
test sites and registration is available directly from ETS at
www.ets.org
(CIU code is 5116).
b.
Submit an official GRE with test scores above the 50
th
percentile (verbal and quantitative) and a
minimum rating of 3.5 on the analytical writing section.
3.
Disposition and motivation toward teaching. Complete a successful interview with the program director
and/or education faculty member in person or by phone.
4.
Appropriate undergraduate background. It is generally agreed that the best preparation for classroom
teaching is a well-balanced undergraduate program. An applicant may provide evidence for this
requirement in one of the following methods:
a.
Demonstrate reasonable competency (a grade of “C” or above) in content areas by completing at least
36 semester hours that include courses from each of the four following areas before student teaching:
•
Language Arts (e.g. literature, composition, speech)
1
•
Natural Science (e.g. life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences)
2
•
Social Studies (e.g. American history, world civilizations, psychology, sociology, anthropology)
2
•
Mathematics (e.g. college math, algebra, geometry, analysis, calculus)
2
1
The course requirement for language arts must be met before enrollment in EDU 5619.
2
The course requirements for science, social studies, and mathematics must be met before enrollment in
EDU 5600.
b.
Submit a score of 150 or above for the Praxis II Exam: Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam
(0014). This exam tests content in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Information
on test sites and registration is available directly from ETS at
www.ets.org
(CIU code is 5116).
5.
Foundational knowledge in Bible and theology must be met prior to clinical practice/student teaching. This
requirement is satisfied by one of the following:
a.
An undergraduate degree in Bible from an accredited Bible college or Christian liberal arts college or
university
b.
A Bible certificate
c.
A total of 30 semester hours of coursework in Bible and theology
d.
A minimum of nine semester hours of specific Bible/theology courses. It is recommended that these
courses be taken before admission to the College of Education, but they must be completed prior to
application for student teaching. Courses may be either at the undergraduate or the graduate level.
Candidates must have at least three hours of coursework from each of the following areas: Bible survey,
Bible hermeneutics (interpretation), and theology.
Students and prospective candidates may register for up to 14 semester hours prior to being fully admitted into
the M.A.T. program. Only students fully admitted into the M.A.T. program may register for M.A.T. methods courses,
practicum, and clinical practice/student teaching. Any student accepted on probation will have one semester to
qualify for full acceptance.
Residency and Transfer Policies
Policies governing transfer credits are outlined in the Admissions section of this catalog. Transfer credits may be
received on a limited basis, but the majority of coursework must be taken at CIU. Candidates wishing to receive
OLUMBIA NTERNATIONAL NIVERSITY
OLLEGE OF DUCATION