Admissions mat

MAT Application Information

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Deadline: January 19, 2024

Priority Admissions Deadline: December 15, 2023
Space Available/Final Deadline: March 1, 2024

Attend Virtual Information Session

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OVERVIEW

The application for the 2024-25 cohort of the MAT + Teacher Credential program is available, starting in early October 2023. The 2024-25 cohort will begin its coursework on June 24, 2024. Individuals who complete the program requirements will earn a Master's of Arts in Teaching degree and a teaching credential.

For early consideration into the program, the Priority Admissions Deadline is December 15, 2023. The final deadline to submit an application is January 19, 2024. The space available deadline will be March 1, 2024.

We strongly encourage applicants to attend a remote Information Session prior to applying into the program. For list of available dates, visit this page.

Basic Skills/CBEST Requirement Update
There have been changes made to the Basic Skills/CBEST and CSET requirement for prospective MAT applicants. Please see information below and on the admissions checklist for more information. In-depth Information is also provided on the CTC website: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/basic-skills-requirement-(cl-667).

International Applicant Information
Several obstacles related to California residency requirements make it difficult for International Applicants to apply for the MAT program:

CA residency requirements including needing a valid Social Security Number to apply for the Certificate of Clearance and Credential
CA testing requirements necessitate being present in the state to take the CBEST and CSET

Although this is a blended Masters and Credential program, one of the primary goals of this program is to prepare students to become certified K-12 public school teachers for the state of California in compliance with policies set forth by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

The following documents are required for MAT admission:

Completed online application with personal history and statement of purpose.
A baccalaureate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Transcripts – Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended since high school in the online application. If an applicant is admitted, official transcripts, where a degree was earned, will be sent directly to the Graduate Division office.
Three letters of recommendation, including at least one letter from a previous college or university instructor.
Certificate of Clearance.

The following documents are NOT required for MAT admission:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Prerequisite coursework
Documented fieldwork hours
CPR Training (will be completed during the program)
Constitution Exam (if not waived, will be completed during the program)

Application checklist

Application Checklist

Step 1: Complete your online application including your personal history and statement of purpose (please upload your admissions documents in the supplemental documents upload portal in the online application).

Personal History

Please address those personal qualities, skills, and professional experiences you believe will contribute to success in the program and effectiveness as a teacher.

Statement of Purpose

Please address the reasons behind your decision to become an educator and challenges you perceive as important to the field of education. In addition, reflect on your responsibility as an educator to improve the lives of underserved and low-income students.

Step 2: Upload your admissions documents in your online application.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing. Admission notifications are sent by e-mail.

Admission documents

Please review detailed information below for each required admission document.

Official Transcripts

Upload unofficial transcript from every post-secondary program attended in the online application. Please include transcripts from summer sessions, extension programs, and distance learning. If you attended UC Irvine as an undergraduate, you must also submit your unofficial transcript. If an applicant is admitted, official transcripts will be requested only from the institution(s) where a degree was earned and must be sent directly to the Graduate Division office.

*Please note, no transfer credit will be accepted towards MAT coursework requirements.

Three Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter must be from a previous college or university instructor. Your referees may submit letters of recommendation electronically using the online graduate application system. The MAT admissions committee recommends that letters speak to (a) your academic potential, (b) your ability to work with children or youth, and (c) your fitness for the professional environment of teaching.

Certificate of Clearance

Submit your Certificate of Clearance issued by the California Teaching Commission (CTC). For more information please read the directions provided by the CTC.

CBEST/Basic Skills

Submit a PDF of your passing CBEST or equivalency for waiving the requirement.

CSET/California Subject Exams for Teachers

Submit a PDF of any CSET exams you have passed (the CSET must be passed before enrolling in the program in June; consequently, evidence of completion strengthens your application).

Post Admissions Requirements (for admitted students only)
Negative TB test results (dated January 1st, 2024 or after)
Please DO NOT upload TB Test to the SLATE online application

The UCI Student Health Center will email instructions on how to upload TB immunization records
You will be contacted in mid-May with instructions to provide a negative TB test result dated on or after January 1st, 2024. Negative TB test results dated before January 1st, 2024 will not be accepted.

cbest – Basic Skills Requirement

Passing Score Report or Coursework Verification to be submitted by June 1, 2024. If this requirement is already completed, please submit it with your application.

Applicants have the following options to complete the Basic Skills Requirement:

Passage of CBEST.
Passage of a basic skills examination from another state.
Passage of CSET 142 (this option is for multiple subjects candidates ONLY).
Passing scores set for SAT exam.
• 500 English and 550 Math
Passing scores set for ACT exam.
• 22 English and 23 Math
A 3 or above in an approved AP English and AP Math exam.
• English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition
• Calculus AB, Calculus BC, or Statistics
Meet the Basic Skills Requirement by Coursework
Individuals may meet the requirement by providing official transcripts to a Commission-approved preparation program or submitted with their application packet to the Commission. The transcripts must show passage of courses in reading, writing, and mathematics as outlined below. Courses must have been taken at a regionally-accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B- or better, be degree applicable, and be at least 3 semester units (or equivalent quarter units). Qualifying coursework does not include professional development or continuing education units or in-service training or workshops. Qualifying coursework includes the following:
1. For reading proficiency: a course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis.
2. For writing proficiency: a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication, or writing.
3. For mathematics proficiency: a course in algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics.
  
  A course that does not fall within the indicated areas may still qualify with an additional letter of explanation. A letter from the registrar or relevant department chair of the college or university must state that a course passed by the applicant covered reading, writing, or mathematics at the same level as one of the listed courses. Such a letter could also attest that a single course sufficiently indicates proficiency in reading and writing combined.
  
  Please use the CL-130 form and provide this document with your application if you meet the Basic Skills requirement by coursework.
Meet the Basic Skills Requirement by Coursework and Exam
The Basic Skills Requirement can be met through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams. This option is only available through a Commission-approved preparation program. The qualifying coursework must meet the requirements as described above in item number 7. The mixing-and-matching of relevant component or components from all exam options permitted under current law is acceptable.

Parts of different options may not be combined to meet the Basic Skills Requirement. If you are completing CBEST through SAT, ACT, or AP, you must provide the official College Board PDF score report to verify completion of the Basic Skills Requirement.

CSET – Subject Matter REquirement

Passing Score Report or Subject Matter Verification to be submitted by June 1, 2024. If this requirement is already completed, please submit it with your application.

Applicants who provide evidence of CSET passage when applying to the program increase the strength of their application.

Applicants must verify subject matter competence in one of five ways:

CSET passing score report in all required subtests for the credential type.
Official institutional verification of completed Subject Matter Preparation Program (SMPP). SMPP is completed at the undergraduate level at an approved institution.
Academic Major in subject they will teach
Table of acceptable degree majors
1. Multiple Subject candidates: Liberal Arts, Elementary Education, and Liberal Studies degrees as well as Liberal Studies degrees that include any focus or concentration in the title. Examples include, but are not limited to, Liberal Studies: Urban Education and Liberal Studies: Elementary Education.
2. Single Subject candidates: Please refer to Table of acceptable degrees. Any degree major that includes the names of the subject area of the single subject credential is acceptable. Also acceptable are “Applied” Majors (e.g Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics) and exact majors in one of the single subject areas that may have additional modifiers (e.g. Biology: Environmental Biology; Art: Art History). Degree must have been earned at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education.
  
  Optional: Applicants may upload a word document with a statement that they had met Subject matter requirement through an approved major title. Alternatively, we will review the transcript to confirm that the SMR requirement has been met for this option.
Coursework: completion of a course addressing each of the Commission-adopted subject matter domains for each subtest. Coursework can be used to pass any or all subtests. This option is different from the Subject Matter Waiver Program. Click here for more information.
Combination of coursework and examination(s): completion of coursework and/or passing of the CSET subtests may meet or exceed the completion of the subject matter domains for all subtests. This would combine options 1 and 4 to meet the Subject Matter Requirement. For example, if your subject requires three subtests you could pass the exam for two subtests and use the coursework option to demonstrate proficiency for the third subtest.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Priority Deadline: December 15, 2023

Applicants who submit a complete application with all of the required admission documents on or before December 15, 2023 will be eligible to participate in an admission interview in early February and receive an early admission decision.

Applicants interested in the priority deadline should review the pulldown menus “Application Checklist” and “Admission Documents” to determine which documents are required for eligibility.

Final Deadline: January 19, 2024

The final deadline for submitting an application and required admission documents is on or before January 19, 2024. Candidates who meet this final deadline will be eligible for an admission interview.

Space Available Deadline: March 1, 2024

Applications received after January 19, 2024 but before March 1st are not guaranteed to be reviewed unless there is space available in the content or subject area.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Financial Aid
The UCI School of Education provides various merit and need-based scholarships to support a talented and diverse cohort of MAT candidates. Federal and private loans are also available. Information about these resources can be found here.

Financial Incentives
UCI Summer Session has not confirmed the pay for “8 Only” incentive for the Summer 2024 term. Information will be updated as soon as it is available. For more information about “pay for only 8”, please go to the UCI Summer Session.

Additional Information
Please visit the UCI Financial Aid Office website for additional information.

Licensure and Certification Disclosures
NOTICE TO STUDENTS re: PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION

Contact Us

For more information regarding admissions, please contact the Office of Student Affairs, at 949.824.5312, or matstudentaffairs@uci.edu.