UNCP teacher assistant teaching
MAT

Teaching

Ready to lead your own classroom? UNC Pembroke’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program makes it possible. With 14 specializations and flexible online and hybrid options, you can find the path that fits your passion and your schedule. Build real-world skills that matter and start building a future that makes a difference. This degree also serves as a licensure pathway for all approved Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs). 

Focus Areas

Art, Birth to Kindergarten, Elementary Education, English Education (9-12), Health/Physical Education, Mathematics Education (9-12), Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle Grades Mathematics, Middle Grades Science Education, Middle Grades Social Studies Education, Science Education (9-12), Social Studies Education (9-12), Spanish Education, Special Education

Application Deadline

Aug. 11, 2025

Classes Start

Aug. 18, 2025

 

Master of Arts in Teaching

At UNC Pembroke, the MAT program offers 14 avenues to the classroom. Explore your options, sharpen your skills and start shaping futures. If you have questions about a specialization, please contact the program director listed below.

Share your passion for art with students in grades K–12. In this program, you’ll build skills to teach, inspire and create. You’ll learn:

  • How to design strong art lessons for all ages
  • Best practices for teaching art in elementary and secondary schools
  • Ways to create hands-on, engaging projects
  • How to connect art to different cultures and ideas

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Passing score on the Praxis II, an appropriate degree or 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate art coursework.

You’ll complete online coursework, studio projects and a teaching internship. When you finish, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina art teaching license.

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Naomi Lifschitz-Grant

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Help students build confidence in math and problem-solving. In this program, you’ll learn how to teach math to middle school learners in ways that make concepts clear and practical. You’ll build skills in:

  • Curriculum design and classroom technology
  • Statistics, probability and data analysis
  • Geometry, functions and advanced math topics
  • Creating lessons that connect math to real life

You’ll complete coursework in teaching and math content, then finish with an internship. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license for grades 6–9.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Names of two professional references, including one school administrator (if applicable).
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher (4.0 scale) for full admission. Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission. 
  • Submit a 150-250 word statement detailing their goals, teaching philosophy and connection to the MAT program. Please include a brief discussion of your current teaching assignment in your statement of purpose.
  • A passing score on the Praxis II.
  • Appropriate degree or 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate mathematics coursework.

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Hillary Sessions

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Help children build a strong start that lasts a lifetime. This fully online program prepares you to teach and support young learners from birth through kindergarten. The program is designed to help you pass the edTPA and qualify for North Carolina licensure. With flexible online classes and a hands-on internship in a preschool or kindergarten setting, you’ll graduate ready to lead in early education.

You'll study:

  • Early childhood development
  • Assessment 
  • Behavior guidance 
  • Early literacy, science and math

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Sandra Plata-Potter

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Help students explore how the world works. In this program, you’ll build a broad foundation across biology, chemistry, physics and earth science. You’ll learn:

  • How to teach science through hands-on lessons and experiments
  • Strategies to explain complex ideas in simple ways
  • How to connect science to everyday life
  • Methods to engage and inspire middle school learners

You’ll complete science content courses, teaching methods classes and an internship. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license for grades 6–9.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Names of two professional references, including one school administrator (if applicable)
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher (4.0 scale) for full admission. Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission. 
  • As a part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a 150-250 word statement detailing their goals, teaching philosophy, and connection to the MAT program. Please include a brief discussion of your current teaching assignment in your statement of purpose.
  • A passing score on the Praxis II
  • Appropriate degree in the content area, or 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate science coursework

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Rita Hagevik

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This 30-credit master’s program helps you grow as a teacher and a leader. You’ll explore best practices, data-driven instruction and strategies that support all learners. Coursework is a combination of online and hands-on fieldwork. Designed for busy educators, you can apply what you learn right away. Our program is fully accredited and leads to advanced licensure in North Carolina for individuals already licensed in elementary education. Whether you're aiming to become a curriculum facilitator, instructional leader or anything in between, this program gives you the tools to take that next step.

 

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Kelly Ficklin

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Help students make sense of history, culture and society. In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation across history, geography and social sciences. You’ll learn:

  • How to teach social studies through discussion, projects and primary sources
  • Ways to connect historical events to current issues
  • How to design lessons that help students think critically about the world
  • Strategies to engage middle school learners in social studies topics

You’ll complete content courses, teaching methods classes and an internship. When you finish, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license for grades 6–9. 

Additional Admissions Requirements

The following prerequisites are required:

  • History (15 hours)
  • Political Science (6 hours)
  • Psychology or Sociology (3 hours)
  • Geography (3 hours)
  • Economics (6 hours)

Prerequisites may be waived in part or whole if you have a passing Praxis II social studies content score at the time of admission.

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Serina Cinnamon

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Help high school students find their voice through reading, writing and critical thinking. This concentration builds your skills in teaching literature, writing and language. You’ll study topics like literary research, creative writing, rhetoric and linguistics. Along with online coursework, you’ll complete field experiences, a teaching internship and an edTPA portfolio. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to teach English in grades 9–12 and qualify to apply for North Carolina licensure.

Additional Admission Requirements

If you don’t have an undergraduate degree in English or a passing score Praxis II, you’ll need to complete the following prerequisites before applying to the MAT in English Education program:

  • ENG 3040 (Principles of Literary Study)
  • ENG 2050 (World Literature Before 1660) or ENG 2060 (World Literature After 1660)
  • ENG 2230 (American Literature Before 1865)or ENG 2240 (American Literature After 1865)
  • ENG 2470 (British Literature Before 1790) or ENG 2480 (British Literature After 1790)
  • ENG 3710 (English Grammar) or ENG 3460 (Aspects of the English Language)
  • At least one 3000 or 4000 level literature course

You should finish these courses before you apply. If you're missing one but have enough content hours to qualify, you may be allowed to take it alongside your education courses. 

If you have fewer than 24 undergrad English credits or a GPA below 2.7, we recommend completing these prerequisites before applying.

Program Type: Hybrid

Program Director: Dr. Joseph Sweet

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Inspire high school students to ask questions, explore and think like scientists. In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation across biology, chemistry, physics and earth science. You’ll learn:

  • How to teach science through experiments, labs and real-world examples
  • Strategies to make complex topics easier for students to understand
  • Ways to connect science to everyday life and current events
  • How to design lessons that build problem-solving and critical thinking skills

You’ll complete science content courses, teaching methods classes and an internship. After graduation, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license for grades 9–12.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Names of two professional references, including one school administrator (if applicable)
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher (4.0 scale) for full admission. Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission. 
  • As a part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a 150-250 word statement detailing their goals, teaching philosophy, and connection to the MAT program. Please include a brief discussion of your current teaching assignment in your statement of purpose.
  • A passing score on the Praxis II
  • Appropriate degree in the content area, or 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate science coursework

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Rita Hagevik

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Help students stay active, healthy and strong. In this program, you’ll learn how to teach health and PE at every grade level. You’ll build skills through:

  • Advanced teaching methods for health and PE
  • Classroom management strategies
  • Adapted PE for students with special needs
  • Current issues and best practices in the field

You’ll complete online coursework, gain field experience and finish with an internship. When you graduate, you'll qualify to apply for NC licensure.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • 24 credit hours of Health and PE related content or 
  • Pass the Praxis II (5857), Praxis Physical Education Test

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Thomas Trendowski

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Prepare students to think deeply about history, society and the world they live in. This program gives you the tools to lead high school social studies classrooms with confidence. You’ll focus on:

  • Teaching historical thinking and research skills
  • Exploring geography, sociology and world history
  • Using primary sources and real-world connections in lessons
  • Helping students analyze events, cultures and global issues

Through advanced coursework, teaching strategies and an internship, you’ll graduate ready to make an impact—and to start earning your North Carolina license for grades 9–12. 

Additional Admissions Requirements

The following prerequisites are required:

  • History (15 hours)
  • Political Science (6 hours)
  • Psychology or Sociology (3 hours)
  • Geography (3 hours)
  • Economics (6 hours)

Prerequisites may be waived in part or whole if you have a passing Praxis II social studies content score at the time of admission.

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Serina Cinnamon

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Make math real, useful and exciting for your students. In this program, you’ll learn how to teach high school math in ways that keep math engaging. You’ll study topics like curriculum design, technology in math classrooms, statistics, geometry and advanced analysis. You’ll also practice your skills through a teaching internship. When you finish, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina license to teach math for grades 9–12.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Names of two professional references, including one school administrator (if applicable).
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher (4.0 scale) for full admission. Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission. 
  • Submit a 150-250 word statement detailing their goals, teaching philosophy and connection to the MAT program. Please include a brief discussion of your current teaching assignment in your statement of purpose.
  • A passing score on the Praxis II.
  • Appropriate degree or 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate mathematics coursework.

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Hillary Sessions

View Course Information

Share your love of language and culture with the next generation. In this program, you’ll build the skills to teach Spanish to students in grades K–12. You’ll learn:

  • Methods for teaching Spanish speaking, reading and writing
  • Theories of how students learn a second language
  • Topics in Spanish and Latin American language, literature and culture
  • Strategies for creating engaging, real-world Spanish lessons

You’ll complete Spanish content courses, teaching methods classes and a teaching internship. When you graduate, you'll qualify to apply for NC licensure.

Additional Admissions Requirements

  • A 200–250 word statement of purpose in both Spanish and English
  • Admission interview with the program director. This interview will assess your listening and speaking skills and follows ACTFL standards (similar to the Oral Proficiency Interview).

If you don’t have an undergraduate degree in Spanish, you’ll need to complete the following prerequisites before applying to the MAT in Spanish program:

  • SPN 3200: Literary Analysis and Criticism in Spanish (3 credits), and
  • SPN 3700: Advanced Grammar and Composition (3 credits)
  • Or, have passed the Praxis II Spanish: World Language 5195

Program Type: Hybrid

Program Director: Dr. Ana Cecilia Lara

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Help students grow into strong readers, writers and thinkers. In this program, you’ll build skills to teach language arts to middle school students. You’ll learn:

  • How to teach writing, reading and literature
  • Methods for engaging young learners in language arts
  • How to build lessons that connect books, ideas and real life
  • Strategies for using children’s and young adult literature in your classroom

You’ll complete coursework in English content and teaching methods, explore a variety of literature and writing topics and complete a teaching internship. When you finish, you’ll be ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license for grades 6–9.

Additional Admission Requirements

If you don’t have an undergraduate degree in English or a passing Praxis II, you’ll need to complete the following prerequisites before applying to the MAT in English Education program:

  • ENG 3040 (Principles of Literary Study)
  • ENG 2050 (World Literature Before 1660) or ENG 2060 (World Literature After 1660)
  • ENG 2230 (American Literature Before 1865)or ENG 2240 (American Literature After 1865)
  • ENG 2470 (British Literature Before 1790) or ENG 2480 (British Literature After 1790)
  • ENG 3710 (English Grammar) or ENG 3460 (Aspects of the English Language)
  • At least one 3000 or 4000 level literature course

You should finish these courses before you apply. If you're missing one but have enough content hours to qualify, you may be allowed to take it alongside your education courses. 

If you have fewer than 24 undergrad English credits or a GPA below 2.7, we recommend completing these prerequisites before applying.

Program Type: Hybrid

Program Director: Dr. Joseph Sweet

View Course Information

Prepare to meet the needs of exceptional learners. This accelerated concentration trains you to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities in K–12 classrooms. You’ll study instructional strategies, behavior supports, assessment tools and special education policies. With a mix of 100% online coursework, field experience and a full-time internship you’ll graduate ready to support every student’s success. When you graduate, you'll qualify to apply for NC licensure.

 

Program Type: Fully Online

Program Director: Dr. Marisa Scott

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GENERAL Requirements

To be considered for admission — either full or provisional — you’ll need to meet the requirements listed below. Some programs may have additional requirements or prerequisites, so be sure to check. If you’re unsure or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the program director for your specific area of interest.

  • Submit a completed online application
  • Pay a $55 non-refundable application fee ($60 for international applicants and waived for military members)
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities you’ve attended
  • 2.75 minimum cumulative GPA, or 2.65-2.75 GPA for provisional admission*
  • Two professional references
  • 150-250 word personal statement
  • No GRE or GMAT required

*For GPAs below 2.65, contact the Graduate School at 910.521.6271 or grad@uncp.edu.

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Teach While You
Earn Your MAT

If you’ve been offered a teaching job in North Carolina but haven’t completed a licensure program yet, you may be eligible for a residency license. This option lets you begin teaching while you earn your MAT at UNCP. It’s a great fit for career changers and others ready to step into the classroom now.

You’ll work toward your MAT and your full teaching license at the same time. Just make sure you complete all licensure exams and requirements before your residency license expires.

 

Learn About Residency Licensure

Teacher with a student

 

 

After UNCP

Eugene “Tre” Smith III
When you come into UNCP it’s amazing just how you have that rapport with the advisor, with the professors. You know that they’re caring. You know that they’re here to have you obtain the information. And that’s what’s so good about the MAT program. They cared about the material and they were invested in it.

Eugene “Tre” Smith III

MAT

Common Careers

  • Preschool Teacher
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Middle Grades Teacher
  • High School Teacher
  • K-12 Teacher

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or call us at 910.521.6271

 

 

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UNCP's Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Each undergraduate and graduate teacher education program area offered by UNCP is approved by the NC State Board of Education.