Educator Prep Program

Young elementary school student wearing headphones and reading an iPad.
Our Educator Preparation Program equips future teachers to lead with confidence, compassion and cultural awareness. With undergraduate and graduate options — including the BS in Elementary Education and MAT — the program blends classroom learning with real-world teaching experience and meets all North Carolina licensure standards.

Offerings & Requirements

Extensive Field Experience
No need to hunt for an internship. The Office of University School Partnerships and Clinical Practice will arrange all field experience and internship locations in North Carolina PreK-12 schools. Through these experiences, our students will gain valuable knowledge and skills by observing and working with teachers, students, administrators and parents.

Undergraduate Programs
UNCP offers bachelor's degrees in various teaching fields, including:

These programs incorporate coursework, field experiences and student teaching to prepare candidates for licensure in North Carolina.

Graduate Programs

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is tailored for individuals with a non-education bachelor's degree who seek both licensure and a graduate degree.

Specializations include: Art, Birth to Kindergarten, Elementary Education, English Education, Health/Physical Education, Mathematics Education, Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle Grades Mathematics, Middle Grades Science Education, Middle Grades Social Studies Education, Science Education, Social Studies Education, Spanish Education and Special Education. Many courses are available online.

Minimum Undergraduate Requirements

  • Complete at least 24 hours of general education coursework.
  • Achieve a grade of “B-” or better in EDN 2100 (Introduction to Education).
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
  • Earn a grade of “C-” or better in all professional studies and content courses.
  • Meet state-established scores on the Praxis Core, SAT, or ACT.
*Falling below the minimum requirements during the program will result in suspension from the program until the deficiencies are corrected at which time the candidate must request reinstatement in writing.

Admission Requirements for Graduate MAT Program
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (conditional admission possible for lower GPAs).
  • Provide two professional references.
  • Submit a 150–250 word statement outlining teaching goals and philosophy.
  • For some programs: Meet content-specific prerequisites or testing requirements, such as Praxis II scores or relevant coursework.
Accreditation
UNCP’s Educator Preparation Program is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and adheres to state and national standards. The program is committed to continuous improvement, regularly reviewing candidate performance and program outcomes.

Have questions?

or call us at 910.521.6539