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MAT in Middle Grades Education through the UGA Teacher Residency Program

Earn while you learn!

If you are passionate about making a difference in students’ lives and are committed to excellence in teaching, we invite you to join the University of Georgia’s Teacher Residency Program! Our 1-year program prepares future English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies teachers in grades 4-8.

Teacher Residency Applications for Summer 2026 admission are due March 2, 2026.
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UGA Teacher Residency Program Mission StatementUGA’s Teacher Residency Program prepares, supports, and retains teachers, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented, to engage students in meaningful and empowering learning opportunities.
UGA Teacher Residency Program Vision StatementThe UGA Teacher Residency Program envisions schools where students experience an engaging and relevant education, taught by teachers who understand and represent their communities. These educators work together to create and sustain welcoming, supportive, and enriching learning environments for all.

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 for 4th-8th grades in either English language arts, math, science, or social studies.

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 financial support and earn a stipend
  • Experience wrap-around supports, including working closely with a mentor teacher who will coach their resident and provide feedback daily.
  • 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 ratios, which allows for deep and hands-on learning.

We are partnering with Clarke County School District (CCSD) in Athens, Georgia. After graduating, teacher residents commit to teach in CCSD for 3 years.

Curriculum

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
  • 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, providing a comprehensive residency experience.

Program of Study

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, allowing them to cultivate relationships and begin teaching within a community of support.

Summer
Coursework:
  • Educating Young Adolescents
  • Content & Methods Course #1
  • Content Area Reading

Field Experience:
Experience working with youth grades 4/5 (e.g., in Summer school, youth camps).

Fall
Coursework:
  • The Middle Grades Curriculum
  • Content & Methods #2
  • Inclusion of Students with Special Needs

Field Experience:
Work in a Clarke County classroom with a mentor teacher 4 days a week, starting with preplanning.

Spring
Coursework:
  • Teaching in the Middle Grades
  • Content & Methods 3
  • ESOL Grades P-12

Field Experience:
Work in a Clarke County classroom with a mentor teacher 4 days a week.

Become a University of Georgia Teacher Resident

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 March 2, 2026

You will be asked to upload a résumé that includes a list of three references.

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Step 2: Interview

After submitting the UGA Teacher Residency Application, selected applicants will be invited for an interview.

Step 3: Finalists need to apply to UGA Graduate School by May 1, 2026

Upon being offered a residency position, finalists will need to complete the UGA Graduate School application by April 1, 2026. To complete the application:

  1. Select Athens campus from the dropdown menu.
  2. 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 their acceptance decision.

Have Questions?

We want to hear them! Please share your questions or request to speak with a UGA Teacher Residency team member .

Teacher Residency Faculty and Staff

Gayle Andrews

Professor and Graduate Coordinator

Hilary Hughes

Associate Professor

Amy Murphy

Clinical Associate Professor

Ajay Sharma

Professor

Kathy Thompson

Clinical Professor

Jennifer Thompson Smith

Students Affairs Professional II

Partners

National Center for Teacher Residencies

Clarke County School District

Boundless Educators Initiative

Additional Resources

Faculty and Advisors

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.

Meet the Faculty

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.

Tuition and Financial Aid

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.

Tuition Rates   Browse Financial Aid

Student Life

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.

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