Admission Procedures Admission Requirements Appeal of Graduate Admission

Transfer Residency Requirement Academic Policies Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is a 39-semester-hour program for individuals who possess a degree other than education, do not have a teaching certificate, and wish to become certified teachers. Individuals seeking admission to the MAT program must submit transcripts for review to ensure they meet the content requirements for the content field. The MAT program is structured so that individuals will focus on pedagogy (education) and curriculum courses, and complete a one-semester internship during the first year. Advanced content necessary for a master’s degree is the focus of the second year.

MAT degrees are available in the following content areas:

• Art Education (P-12)
• Health and Physical Education (P-12)
• Middle Grades Certification with Concentration(s) in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science
• English Education (6-12)
• Mathematics Education (6-12)
• History Education (6-12)

For additional program information, visit the College of Education website.

Graduate Studies’ Admission Procedures

^TOP

Application materials may be obtained from the Graduate Studies’ website, www.ung.edu/graduate/mat. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Studies, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program.  Notification will be mailed from the Education Department to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted but do not enroll by the academic year following the year of acceptance must reapply through Graduate Studies. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three terms must also reapply through Graduate Studies. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for individuals who complete an application, are accepted, but do not enroll.

MAT Admission Requirements

^TOP

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or evidence of a graduate degree, or an undergraduate overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies admission procedures. Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
5. Official scores for GACE I and GACE II. GACE I may be exempted with a master’s degree in any field; or acceptable scores on the SAT, ACT; or Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE).
6. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Certificate of Immunization. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended.

All acceptances are contingent upon a clear criminal background check.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, individuals must have:

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of at least 2.75 calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies’ admission procedures.
2. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of at least 900 (verbal and quantitative combined) if taken before August 1, 2011; or 301 (verbal and quantitative combined) if taken on or after August 1, 2011; or official scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of at least 391; or evidence of a graduate degree; or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies’ admission procedures.
3. Passing scores on the GACE I or equivalent - SAT of at least 1,000 (English and mathematics scores combined); or ACT of at least 43 (mathematics and verbal scores combined); or Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of of at least 1,030 (verbal and quantitative scores combined) if taken before August 1, 2011; or GRE score of at least 297 (verbal and quantitative scores combined) if taken on or after August 1, 2011; or evidence of a graduate degree.
4. Passing scores on the GACE II prior to enrolling in the second semester of the program.
5. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Certificate of Immunization. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended.

All acceptances are contingent upon a clear criminal background check.

Students enrolled in field-based courses who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received. Students are responsible for all course material and for all announcements and assignments. The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed class resides with the instructor.

Criteria for Evaluation of Transcripts

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree requires that candidates have completed teaching content requirements prior to being admitted into the program. Below are two methods to determine whether a candidate meets the content requirement.

• No additional content is required if the applicant has a degree in or directly related to the area in which the applicant is seeking initial certification. For example, an applicant with a History degree seeking initial certification to teach History, has completed GACE I (or the equivalent), and has completed pedagogy and content in GACE II.
• In consultation with an advisor, an applicant with a degree in a content field not related to the area in which certification is being sought may be required to take additional content courses prior to admission into the MAT program (example, an applicant has a Psychology degree and is seeking initial certification to teach Biology).

Irregular Admission

Students who have not completed any determined content courses as outlined above may be granted irregular status for their first term in order to complete additional content courses. Students admitted irregularly will be reviewed at the end of their first semester to determine eligibility for continuation in the program and eligibility for regular admission status. Irregularly admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate course taken during the irregular period will not be allowed to continue in the MAT program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the MAT program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Irregularly admitted students may not pre-register for classes and are not eligible for financial aid.

Provisional Admission

Students who do not meet the regular admission criteria stated above may be granted provisional admission pending a successful admission appeal (see Appeal of Graduate Admission). Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than six hours total of graduate credit. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following completion of six hours. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate courses taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MAT program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the MAT program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Provisionally admitted students may not pre-register for classes and are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

Individuals interested in taking graduate education program courses, but who do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as non-degree graduate students. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MAT program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of 12 hours of graduate credit. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies’ admission procedures. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
4. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Certificate of Immunization. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended.

Any non-degree student who receives a grade of C or below will subject to a program review to determine the student’s eligibility to enroll in coursework for the subsequent term. If a non-degree student is suspended from the program, the student must wait at least one year before applying for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the MAT degree program must notify the MAT program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Studies, and meet all program admission requirements. All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the MAT program coordinator.

Transient Student Admission

Students may not enroll in 5000-level MAT courses in a transient status.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

^TOP

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. An appeal must be made in written form to the College of Education, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A student whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally and is not eligible for financial aid while under provisional admission status. Applicants may not appeal for regular admission.

Transfer Residency Requirement

^TOP

To be awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, students must earn a minimum of 27 hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Education must approve all transfer education credit. Content area courses must be approved by the appropriate academic department and Dean. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned.

MAT Academic Policies

^TOP

Program of Study

A program of study must be completed with an advisor before the beginning of the MAT program and submitted to the UNG Registrar’s Office prior to earning 20 hours.

Academic Standing Policy

MAT students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation – Student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a U or any other grade below B.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree or sit for the comprehensive examination while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. Only grades of D or F must be repeated in order to receive degree credit. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
    
2. Suspension – A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades below B (including U’s).
   b. Student has already served three consecutive terms on academic probation.
   
   No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student must apply to Graduate Studies for readmission. After serving a suspension period of one calendar year, a student seeking to reapply must submit a new application to Graduate Studies and a letter written to the Dean of the College of Education presenting a rationale for readmission. If readmitted, the student will have the same grade requirements for progress and will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean and the MAT program coordinator. Readmission will not be considered for students who have received four grades below B (including U’s).

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or the MAT program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the MAT program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Education.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Arts in Teaching program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics section of the Graduate Catalog.

MAT Degree Requirements

^TOP

Graduation requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching degree include:

1. Completion of 39 designated semester hours of study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no more than three grades of C.
2. Completion of at least 27 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than 12 semester hours of transfer credit.
3. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credits, within a six-year period.