MAT in Middle Grades Education through the UGA Teacher Residency Program
Earn while you learn!
Applications due June 13, 2025
What is a Residency Program?
We know that the best place to learn is in the field. A residency is an innovative approach to teacher preparation where future teachers work alongside skilled teacher mentors while taking university courses and being paid to work.
University of Georgia’s Teacher Residency Program is a full-time, in-person, 3-semester program that prepares, supports, and retains middle grades teachers. In this initial certification program, teacher residents will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Middle Grades Science for 4th-8th grades. (Additional content areas will be included in the 2026-2027 school year.)
Why This Residency?
A Supportive Pathway into the Teaching Profession
Our residency program aims to remove barriers and build futures for those who want to be teachers. Teacher residents in our program will:
- Receive free tuition and other reduced UGA costs.
- Earn a stipend while in the program.
- Experience wrap-around supports including working closely with a mentor teacher who will coach their resident and provide feedback on a daily basis.
- Be placed in the same school with the same teacher all year, participating in the school and district’s professional development opportunities.
- Learn in UGA classes with low faculty-to-student, which allows for deep and hands-on learning.
Upon graduation, teacher residents commit to teach in the school district where they are placed for 3 years after completing the program. We are partnering with Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia, for residency placements.
Curriculum
Below is an example of the program of study for the residency program. By the end of the program, residents will have more than 1400 hours of experience in middle grades classrooms. Structured as a cohort model, our teacher residents take their core courses with the same group of residents across three semesters, which allows teacher residents to cultivate relationships and begin teaching with a community of support.
The program begins during preplanning (late July 2025).
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Educating Young Adolescents Science Content & Methods 1 Content Area Reading | The Middle Grades Curriculum Science Content & Methods 2 Inclusion of Students with Special Needs | Teaching in the Middle Grades Science Content & Methods 3 ESOL Grades P-12 |
| Field Experience | Work in a Clarke County classroom with a mentor teacher 4 days a week starting with preplanning in late July. | Work in a Clarke County classroom with a mentor teacher 4 days a week starting with preplanning. | Prepare for teaching position to begin in the Fall. |
UGA students in the Teacher Residency Program will be immersed in topics and experiences, such as
- developing an understanding of middle grades students’ communities and cultural contexts and how we can bring those community and cultural assets into our curriculum and instruction
- examining how youth, educators, and schools are always connected to and impacted by a larger network of systems;
- designing engaging curriculum and instructional practices that are equitable and accessible for all students; and
- assessing and responding to middle grades students’ learning needs.
These academic experiences will draw on residents’ work in their placement classrooms and vice versa for a complete residency experience.
Become a University of Georgia Teacher Resident
Required Criteria
Required Criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree in a field outside of education from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA for all undergraduate courses should be 2.5 or above on a four-point scale*
- Commitment to serve as a teacher in the Clarke County School District for 3 years upon program completion
* Your application will still be considered if your cumulative undergraduate GPA is below 2.5. Please submit a request for more information here if your GPA is below 2.5.
An entrance exam is not required.
How to Apply
The Graduate School handles admissions for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia, including those in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, orientation, and many other useful links to guide you through attending UGA at the graduate level.
Step 1: Complete UGA Teacher Residency Application by June 13, 2025.
You will be asked to upload a resumé that includes a list of three references.
Step 2: Interview
After submitting the UGA Teacher Residency Application, selected applicants will be invited for an interview.
Step 3: Apply to UGA Graduate School by July 1, 2025
Finalists will be offered a residency position and will need to complete the UGA Graduate School application by July 1, 2025. To complete the application:
- Select Athens campus from the dropdown menu.
- Select MGED M.A.T. (Middle Grades Master of Arts in Teaching) from the degree dropdown menu.
Note: Faculty may request additional materials from applicants before making a recommendation on the application.
Applicants will receive notification directly from the Graduate School about the applicant’s acceptance decision.
Have Questions?
We want to hear them! Please share your questions or request to speak with a UGA Teacher Residency team memberTeacher Residency Faculty and Staff
Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor
Clinical Associate Professor
Professor
Clinical Professor
Students Affairs Professional II
Partners
Additional Resources
The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.
Most graduate students at UGA are not assigned to a faculty advisor until after admittance. A close working relationship with your advisor is paramount to progressing through your program of study.
Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.
Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.
Our students have a range of opportunities available outside the classroom as well, from professional organizations, experiential learning, clubs and other non-academic experiences.
See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.