MAT Admission and Application

Procedures & Requirements

To Apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching Program:

Click the "Apply Now" button in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.
On the "Apply to CWU" page, click "APPLY AS A GRADUATE STUDENT"

Application Due Dates

Winter cohort:

July 15^th: Due date for both the MAT Application & the Grad School Application
ALL application materials must be received by July 15th.
This includes all test scores for the MAT application and all transcripts & letters of recommendation for the Grad School application.
January: Start date for classes

Summer cohort:

January 15^th: Due date for both the MAT Application & the Grad School Application
ALL application materials must be received by January 15th.
This includes all test scores for the MAT application, and all transcripts & letters of recommendation for the Grad School application.
June: Start date for classes

Grad School Application Instructions

Order Official Transcripts:

Request official transcripts from all community colleges, colleges, and universities you have attended. Transcripts are considered official only when sent directly to the graduate office by the issuing institution or through an authorized service such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, WES, or an equivalent evaluation service.

Submit Transcripts
Transcripts may be sent digitally or by mail to:

Email: masters@cwu.edu

Mail:
School of Graduate Studies and Research
400 E. University Way
Barge Hall Room 103
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7510

If your institution only offers mailed transcripts, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Transcripts from CWU
If you previously attended Central Washington University, our office already has access to your transcripts. No further action is required.

International Students
Applicants who have attended universities in China, India, Pakistan, or Nigeria must submit a complete course-by-course evaluation through a recognized translation and evaluation service, such as WES or another approved agency from the full list of providers.

Completing the Application

What's Needed

Statement of educational and professional objectives (Statement of Purpose). Why do you want to be a teacher? What inspires or motivates you? A statement of purpose for graduate education is a critical component of a graduate school application. It serves as a formal essay that communicates your academic background, professional goals, and motivation for pursuing graduate studies.
1. Write a statement, approximately 500 words, of educational and professional objectives outlining your career goals and detailing any additional information that will help the admissions committee understand your educational objectives and needs. The statement of educational and professional objectives is one of the most important deciding factors for entrance into graduate school. One resource that may help guide your organization of the statement is the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
2. Your statement should portray you as:
  - Passionately interested in your field and/or how you will apply the knowledge to your future profession
  - Well-prepared academically and personally able to take on the challenges of graduate school
  - Able to have rapport with professors and fellow grad students - in other words, collegial
Letter of recommendation. The application will prompt you for two, but your application will be stronger with three.
1. The application will prompt you to enter contact information, including email addresses, for 3 professional references.
2. These letters should be written by professors, supervisors, or others capable of assessing your potential for success in a graduate program.
3. An academic writing sample is not required for this program.
Transcripts
Test Scores: TOEFL or Duolingo English proficiency scores are needed if you are an international applicant. The GRE & GMAT test scores are NOT required by the Graduate School.

Information you need to know and/or provide

Your personal and contact information (please use your personal email when filling out the Graduate School application).
Names of colleges and universities you attended
You can save the application and complete it later
A credit card to pay the application fee ($75)

GPA Requirement:
Applicants must earn a minimum of a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in all graded coursework attempted in at least the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of recognized academic work.

If you’d like to calculate your GPA, this calculator tool could be useful.
CWU does not guarantee the accuracy of this tool.

Filling Out the Application

Please select the following options during Step 2 – Your Academics:

Program or Certificate?: Program
Degree program you intend to study: Master of Arts for Teachers
Specialization: Elementary Education, Special Education, or Secondary and K-12
- If you are seeking any subject other than "Elementary Education" or "Special Education," please select "Secondary and K-12."
Campus: Online

MAT Supplemental Application Instructions

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) supplemental application is included as part of the online Graduate School application. Applicants must be admitted to both the Graduate School and the MAT program.

The deadlines for both the Graduate School and MAT Program are:

January 15: Summer Cohort (June Start)
July 15: Winter Cohort (January Start)

Required materials to complete the MAT application:

Numerical score from WEST-B, ACT, or SAT in reading, writing, and math
- If your reading and writing scores are combined, it is required that you take the writing WEST-B
Numerical score from NES or WEST-E tests
World Languages or Bilingual Education endorsement only: Score from ACTFL WPT & OPI tests

Email the following required score reports to MATprogram@cwu.edu

Score reports from WEST-B, ACT, or SAT
Score reports from NES or WEST-E tests
World Languages or Bilingual Education endorsement only: Score reports from ACTFL WPT & OPI tests (Advanced-Low or higher for World Languages, and Advanced Mid Level for Bilingual Education).

ALL required test scores must be received by the application deadline

Character and Fitness Form
Please complete the Character and Fitness Form, then upload the form before you submit your application.

Finding Your Test Scores

You may have luck finding your score reports if you follow the links below:

WEST-B scores

SAT scores

ACT scores

Test score release dates:

Please ensure that your test scores will be received by the application deadline.

NES score reports are released within 2 weeks of testing.
WEST score reports are released according to a schedule

Application Review:

Applications will only be reviewed when all materials have been received. (Test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc)
Complete applications received by the application deadline will be assured of a review for the next beginning cohort.
Complete applications received after the application deadline will be reviewed for the next cohort start.

Interviews:
Interviews are a mandatory component of the application process. These interviews take place via an online video meeting, like Zoom.

The interview committee includes the MAT Program Director and other members of the CSEL Department Faculty and/or the CSEL Department Chair.

Transfer Credits:
Prior graduate credits taken do not transfer into this program.