University of Pikeville establishes new Master of Arts in Teaching programs

The University of Pikeville will begin enrolling students into its new Master of Arts in Teaching programs beginning in the Spring 2026 semester. The new programs include Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, and Secondary Education, and will give individuals who already hold a bachelor degree a two-year graduate pathway toward teacher certification.

According to an article on the University of Pikeville’s website, Coletta Parsley, Ed.D., the dean of the Patton College of Education, was quoted as saying of the new programs, “The approval of our new MAT programs represents an important step in expanding access to high-quality teacher preparation while addressing the growing need for certified educators across our region and beyond. These programs are designed to support aspiring teachers who have bachelor’s degrees in certifiable content areas but who have never achieved teacher certification. The MAT Programs will provide flexible pathways to prepare applicants to positively impact today’s classrooms in meaningful ways.”

There are two ways for individuals to complete the newly approved Master of Arts in Teaching programs. The first route, which is the traditional avenue for program completion, is 39 credit hours and is a typical academic program that will result in teacher certification. The Option 6 route, which takes 36 credit hours to complete, will allow students to complete the program and its coursework while actively teaching in a classroom. 

Program participants must never have been certified as a teacher before and must have completed a bachelor degree in a certifiable major with a grade point average of at least 2.75. 

Individuals who are pursuing a career in teaching in a high-demand subject are eligible to apply for the federal TEACH Grant, which is applicable to the Master of Arts in Teaching program. 

Jill Maynard, Ph.D., the MAT University Supervisor, will be the students’ point of contact as they complete the program. She will also work with partner schools to make sure the teacher candidates are well prepared to teach in their classrooms.

Maynard said, “I look forward to working with our MAT Program candidates as they progress through their clinical experiences in both the Option 6 and Traditional routes. As the MAT University Supervisor, I plan to provide ongoing support to help them reach their teaching goals.”

For more information about the University of Pikeville, visit the school’s website.