Admission Policies and Procedures
Requirements for Admission to the Graduate Program
To be considered for acceptance as a graduate student, the applicant's file in the graduate education office must include the following items:
- Application Form
- Application Fee
- Two Recommendation Forms (non-relatives)
- Resume
- Letter of Intent: Submit a 1-page letter of intent on why you want to pursue the program. This letter is also used as a writing sample.
- Official Transcripts: To be admitted to a graduate education program, you must
have an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.75, or 3.0 in the last 60 hours. - Test Scores: The following test scores are accepted: GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or MAT (Miller Analogies Test), or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test—M.Ed. only). Applicants must score in the top 50% of test takers to be considered for admission.
- Interview with Program Director
On occasion, a limited number of applicants who do not possess the standard undergraduate grade point average or GRE/MAT scores considered necessary for regular admission (but otherwise demonstrate the probability for success) may be admitted conditionally. Conditional admission requires approval of the Program director. Further, these students may be required to complete a minimum of six graduate hours with a 3.0 GPA or above before the conditional admission is removed and these students’ enrollment is changed to regular degree-seeking status.
If non-degree student decides to pursue a graduate degree, admission requirements in effect at the time of application must be met. Upon admission to the graduate education program, a maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned during non-degree status may be applied toward graduation. The date of the earliest course approved for credit will be used as the beginning of the six-year time limit for completion of the degree.
Up to six hours of graduate transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution may be applied toward graduate degree requirements in education. Determination of transfer credit will be made at the time of admission by the School of Education.
Accreditation
Belmont University is a member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Association of Liberal Arts Colleges of Teacher Education. It has the approval of the State Board of Education of Tennessee as an authorized teacher education institution.
Licensure
Candidates who have completed the 18 credit hour professional education minor at Belmont University in the undergraduate program, with grades of C or above in each course, and a GPA in the minor of 3.0 or above, may be considered as meeting these competencies. With the approval of the Chair of the Department of Education, these specific candidates may have up to fifteen (15) hours of the 45 hours required for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) waived. Belmont University does not accept transfer courses as having met the professional competencies. To be eligible for this waiver in the M.A.T. program, candidates must take at least 60 credit hours at Belmont and complete the undergraduate degree at Belmont University. Students who elect the Montessori track may have up to six (6) hours of the 42 hours required for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) waived. Candidates for teacher licensure who replace Student Teaching with full-time teaching are required to enroll in a one or two-hour Practicum course for Belmont faculty supervision.
Teacher candidates are required to successfully pass through four Gateways in completing the requirements for licensure. Gateway 1 is Admission to the University. Gateways 2-4 are as follows:
Gateway 1: Acceptance into Belmont University
Gateway 2: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program
Gateway 2 occurs at the completion of the Professional Core courses. Requirements of passing Gateway 2 include: (1) a minimum EDU GPA of 3.0, (2) a minimum score of 1.5 on Gateway 2 interview, (3) background check, (4) liability insurance, and (5) exhibit appropriate professional dispositions. The department makes a recommendation to the Teacher Education Council (TEC) for formal acceptance into the program.
Satisfactory progress through the program: Failure to satisfy any requirement at a second opportunity is deemed as an appropriate circumstance to exclude the candidate from the program. Candidates have a right of appeal (in writing) to the Chair of the Department of Education.
Gateway 3: Retention in Reflection Professional Practice
Undergraduate and M.A.T. Post-bac initial licensure:
Gateway 3 occurs PRIOR to the beginning of Student Teaching. Requirements of passing Gateway 3 include: (1) a minimum EDU GPA of 3.0, (2) a minimum score of 2.0 on Gateway 3 interview,(3) passing scores on the Praxis II Content Areas Assessment* and the Praxis PLT Assessment*,(4) background check, (5) liability insurance, and (6) exhibit appropriate professional dispositions. The department makes a recommendation to the Teacher Education Council (TEC) for formal acceptance into Gateway 4.
*Note: The Praxis II Content Area Assessment and the Praxis PLT must be passed before the start of Student Teaching.
M.A.T. Internship initial licensure
Gateway 3 occurs in NOVEMBER OF THE FIRST SEMESTER of the Internship. Requirements of passing Gateway 3 include: (1) a minimum EDU GPA of 3.0, (2) a minimum score of 2.0 on Gateway 3 interview,(3) passing scores on the Praxis II Content Areas Assessment* (passed as part of the admission process) and the Praxis PLT Assessment*, (4) background check, (5) liability insurance, and (6) exhibit appropriate professional dispositions. The department makes a recommendation to the Teacher Education Council (TEC) for formal acceptance into Gateway 4.
*Note: The Praxis II Content Area Assessment must be passed prior to admission to the Internship Program. The Praxis PLT must be passed before November 1st of the Intern’s first semester.
Gateway 4: Completion of Reflection Professional Practice
Gateway 4 occurs at the completion of the program. The requirements for passing Gateway 4 include: (1) a minimum EDU GPA of 3.0, (2) exhibit appropriate professional dispositions, and (3) a satisfactory teaching evaluation. The department makes a recommendation to the Teacher Education Council (TEC) for formal approval of completion of program.
The regulations which are in effect at the time the student is admitted to the Teacher Education Program (Gateway 2) shall be considered binding unless directed otherwise by the licensure office of the Tennessee State Department of Education. Elementary Education candidates must complete all technical requirements relevant to licensure area and ALL CANDIDATES must complete the appropriate Praxis tests, as prescribed by the TN Department of Education. Completion of the specified courses in the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee a recommendation for licensure and/or a teaching position.
Satisfactory progress through the program: Failure to satisfy any requirement at a second opportunity is deemed as an appropriate circumstance to exclude the candidate from the program. Candidates have a right of appeal (in writing) to the Chair of the Department of Education.
Placement of Interns / Student Teachers
The placement of student teachers / interns is determined by the Belmont Department of Education. Every candidate is placed in two different schools based on grade level, student demographics, and location for their enhanced student teaching experience. In this way, the department ensures that the licensure candidates participate in experiences with culturally diverse and exceptional populations. This program is in conformity with the regulations for licensure of teachers in the state of Tennessee and meets the requirement of the teacher’s license.
In addition to fulfilling the General Education core requirements and the Professional Education requirements, candidates must have an academic major in addition to education, referred to as the partnering major in order to become teachers. Candidates will not be placed in schools where family members attend / work.
Admission to Candidacy in the M. Ed.
1. Students apply for admission to candidacy after completing EDU 6040, 6050, 6060, 6070. At this point in the program, a Mentor Committee is formed.
2. Students granted probationary admission may apply for admission to candidacy when they have completed prerequisites and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
M.Ed. Thesis/Project
Each student submits a proposal and preliminary bibliography for a thesis or project to the chair of the Mentor Committee. The committee approves or disapproves the proposal and, on acceptance, oversees the student's completion of the thesis or project.
Most of the three hours allotted to Thesis in Education will be thesis or project preparation. The student submits a final copy of the thesis or project, prepared according to the style manual agreed upon with the Mentor Committee. The committee will be available to the student for consultation during the preparation of the thesis/project and apprises the student of any deadlines for submission. Students must register for a Continuation of Study course each semester until the completion of the thesis/project. The Mentor Committee approves the thesis or project. The thesis or project must be submitted for binding one month before graduation.