Admissions Requirements

Admissions Process

Admission to the Central MAT program occurs in three phases.

Phase I

The initial admission is conditional and is based on review of the following materials:

• Completed Central Graduate School Application
• Official Transcripts from all higher education institutions
  Transcripts are reviewed for:
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.70
  • Completion of the preponderance of a major in the content area that meets state certification standards for secondary applicants; priority will be given to Special Education applicants who have a major in a content area taught in secondary schools
  • Completion of the preponderance of general education coursework that meets current Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) standards for certification.

Phase II

Conditionally admitted candidates are assigned a MAT advisor to assist them as they compile the full admissions portfolio which includes the following materials:

*The full Phase II application requires submission of all requirements via Taskstream, the School of Education's data management system.

• MAT Program Application Cover Sheet (completed in Taskstream)
• Candidate statement explaining the experiences and reasoning that led to selection of a teaching career and this program at Central
• Evidence that all degree and coursework requirements have been met with a satisfactory GPA through submission of a second set of official transcripts on Taskstream
• Submission of basic skills test scores in reading, mathematics, and writing that meet guidelines for admission to the professional program for teacher certification
• For secondary candidates only: Satisfactory scores on the required state content knowledge examinations in the certification area, Praxis II or ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test
• For special education candidates only: Meet passing standards on Praxis Elementary Education Assessment: Mathematics Subtest or earn a B or better in MATH 113; Praxis II and the Foundations of Reading test will be taken during the program, and do not need to be taken prior to admission
• Evidence of the ability to work with diverse groups of students in an educational setting for a minimum of 60 hours as described on the Statement of Experience Form
• Two references that assess the candidate's ability to work with children and other adults on the recommendation form provided; personal references are not accepted
• Evidence of ability to write at a graduate school level demonstrated by:
  • GRE writing score
    OR
    Central writing examination (typically scheduled with an admissions interview)
• Resume documenting educational and work experiences
• Completion of Connecticut criminal background clearance (see Instructions for Completing Fingerprinting Form); forward results to host district(s) upon placement for field experience

Phase III

Upon submission of a completed admissions packet:

• Participate in a program admission interview
• Complete an on-site writing examination